My 2 Year Resolution

Chapter 2

December 26th 2015

"I'm so sorry Audrey. This is out of our control."

A weary doctor approaches me, with sunken eyes and pitiful expression.

"No!" I cry, "Why me? Why me?"

I look up at a blurry vision of a doctor telling me that I have two years left to live the life I know and love. I franticly look around trying to remember all the faces I know and love. My mum, my dad, Eric, Mya, Mya's husband and my little 3-year-old toddler Paisley all are looking down at me with pained expressions. In two years or less all these faces are going to be gone from my memory. All of them!

December 27th 2015

I'm shaken awake abruptly by Eric. I look up at him in awe. Even after three years of being in a relationship with him he still seems to take my breath away. His messy hair, his pale blue eyes and his tan skin make me look out of place as he lies next to me in the hospital room.

"So," I say, the words linger in my mouth, "Can you please explain to me again what has happened in the last two days."

Eric looked at me thoughtfully clearly lost for words. "Um...well...on Christmas, two days ago you were complaining about a terrible headache so you went to bed. That night I came in and you didn't wake up and your heart rate was soaring so Mya and I called an ambulance and took you to hospital. Don't worry we left Paisley with your mum before we left." I let out and breath that I didn't realise I was holding and nudged him to continue. "That night, the doctor came in and asked us if you had trouble remembering things." Eric paused let out a breath and continued. "I told him that in the past year you have been forgetting a lot of things like your phone number and your sister's birthday. The doctor told us that you have a rare brain tumour that is affecting the memory part in your brain. He said that you have two years left with your memory as you know it, until you have to have the tumour removed which will take away your memory with it." He then paused and held me tight and I closed my eyes too scared to face reality.

December 28th 2015

"Audrey? Audrey baby?"

I look up and see Eric smiling sheepishly. "Audrey, the doctor says we can go home so you can take time to work things out." He explains. I smile up at him weakly and say, "Sure, I can see Paisley." I raise my head up and kiss him lightly. Eric seems distant. "I love you." I say softly. "I know." Eric replies and then we walk hand in hand out to the car.

"Paisley, I'm home!" I cry. "Mummy!" I hear as I see a beautiful little girl running towards me in her flowing yellow dress with her brown ringlets and green eyes just like her grandma. "Mummy, where have you been?" She asks eagerly. I sigh deeply and say that I was sick with a bad cold. She nods and continues to tell me about her day. As she is speaking I see my mum and dad walking towards me with open arms and embrace me with tears down their cheeks. I close my eyes tight trying to hold back tears and in a coarse voice I say, "I'm okay, I'm okay!"

After a few minutes my parents kiss me on the cheek and leave me with Eric and Paisley. I then spend the rest of the day with Paisley and Eric trying to put the past days events behind me, for the moment anyway.
"Goodnight Mummy," sighs Paisley as she drifts off to sleep. "Goodnight my baby." I whisper back softly. I slowly close the door and walk into my bedroom. I see Eric there lying on the bed sleeping peacefully. I lie down next to him and before I drift off I say, "I love you."