Cancerous Skies

01 - Rain and Smoothies

Today was a good day. So far anyway.

I still didn't feel weak and nauseas, and it was almost 6 pm. 

My mom said that if I kept taking the medication the doctor had recommended, It'll probably make the weakness fade a bit, for at least a while. The thing is, I hate medicine. Any kind. Solid, liquid, chewable, etc. It's all disgusting. Just call me your druggie with ALL. 

It was raining. Slowly and delicately, like sprinkles. I was inside, sitting on my windowsill; watching, observing. 

I wanted to go see my best friend Tessa today, but when I asked my mom she took one look outside and said "no". Something about it's too dangerous. I might get hurt.

I haven't seen Tessa in almost 4 months, because I was too sick and couldn't do anything at the time. But now that I feel better, I want to see her again. I want to see a familiar face, other than my parents.

I picked up my cell phone, dialing her number. It rang a few times, before someone answered. "Hello?" A female voice sounded. It was Tessa's sister.

"Uh, hey, I was wondering if your sister was there?" I asked, biting my lip nervously. I was kind of nervous to speak with Tess now. What if she moved on? Found better and more interesting friends, ya know?

"Oh, she's right here. Hold on." I nodded; knowing she couldn't see me, "Tessa! Ariel's on the phone!" She yelled.

"She'll be a second." Megan replied. I said a soft "okay", waiting awkwardly. 

A few moments later I heard movement. Megan was giving the phone to Tessa. I heard a sigh. "Ariel?" 

"Yeah, it's me." I heard a sigh of relief. 

"Sorry, I had to make sure if it was you. Megan kept playing with me saying you were on the phone, when really, it was my ex." She explained.

"Ah, I understand. Well it's me, I promise." I said.

"Thank God! I've missed you so much, I've been a wreck ever since you were rushed off to the hospital. I was so worried that I would never see you again…" I noticed how her voice cracked at the end. She was trying not to cry.

"I'm here, Tess. I'm here. Please don't' worry, okay?" 

"How can I not, though? You're my best friend, Ari. We've known each other since preschool. I couldn't even bear the thought of-" I cut her off.

"Then don't think about it. Just pretend I'm not sick, pretend I'm the healthy Ariel from preschool, except older." I replied.

She cleared her throat and sniffled. "O-okay. What are you doing right now?" She asked. 

"Nothing, sitting in my room. I wanted to come visit you, since I haven't seen you since January; but my mom said it's too rainy for me to drive." 

"Then I'll come to you. Be there in five." Before I could reply, the line went dead. I smiled to myself, excited to see my best friend. 

An hour later we were sitting in my room, drinking smoothies that she bought along the way. I looked towards the window, seeing that it had stopped raining. 

Tessa was holding my hand like she usually did when we saw each other. People thought it was weird when we did that, because it's the "act of being a lesbian", but Tessa argued that point very well.

Tessa and I were walking down the street, fingers intertwined as we talked about the day we had. We both were laughing, having the best time even though it had been a boring day. Tessa always seems to know how to make everything better.

As we were walking, holding hands; two teenagers were walking by. One was girl around our age and the other was an older man around the age of twenty or so. 

They both saw us and when they did, the girl stopped and stared at our hands. "Why are ya two holding each other's hand?" She asked, giving us a dirty look.

"Because we can. Is there a problem?" I replied, raising an eyebrow at her ignorance. She scoffed at the both of us, looking back at the guy she was with; who must be her boyfriend, I assume. 

The man walked towards her, never taking his eyes off of the two of us. It was sort of uncomfortable. "Two girls holding hands is an act of being a lesbian." He said.

Tessa and I laughed, glancing towards one another in amusement. The couple glared in our direction. "It's not funny, it's true."

Tessa stopped giggling immediately. She walked up to the both of them, shooting daggers. "You're ignorant, the two of you. And I absolutely hate ignorance. You're saying that, if you're walking around town, and you see two girls holding hands they're automatically lesbians?" She asked. They both nodded, "Okay, so; two little girls, let's say they're five, are walking down the street with their parents trailing behind and they're both holding hands. The girls, I mean. In your perspective you're instantly going to think "they're lesbians", huh?" She had said, glancing back and forth between them. It seemed as if the teenage girl was about to say something, but she closed her mouth quickly, changing her mind.

Tessa continued. "You see that girl back there?" She had asked, pointing in my direction. They nodded again. "That is my best friend ever since preschool. I've cared for her, I've defended her, I protected her. And when her parents were there, I took care of her while they were gone."

"Why does she need taken care of? It seems as if she's old enough to take care of herself. Or..maybe not." The girl had said, smirking. The man chuckled.

I made my way to Tessa, standing beside her. I didn't like doing this, but it was needed. These ignorant people deserved such a thing. "Because," I stepped in. "When I was thirteen years old, I found out I was diagnosed with cancer. ALL to be exact. And ever since then I've needed someone to be there to take care of me, because I bleed easily. I get infections easily; and if someone wasn't there to watch over me, something could happen." I explained.

The girl gasped, her eyes growing wide. "I-I'm sorry, I-" I cut them off, shaking my head.

"No. Don't. I don't want your pity. But you both need to learn a thing called respect. You learned it in kindergarten, if you didn't remember." I spat. 

Tessa smiled, taking my hand again. "Oh, one last thing." She said as we turned away, "Best friends can hold hands, too." And with that, we were both walking towards my house again.

Tessa was waving her hand in front of my face, trying to get my attention. I blinked a few times, glancing towards her in surprise.

"Thank God! When you did that I thought something happened. You scared me." She said, placing a hand over her heart.

"I'm sorry, I guess I dozed off." I replied, smiling. 

"It's okay, I forgive you! Now, lets go for a walk since the rain has stopped and the sun is shining." I nodded, grabbing her hand as we talked out of the door.