Perserverance (Discontinued)

Hope

Alice sincerely hoped that things were finally going to be okay, but she started to become worried when Lucas was absent for the first time ever. When he returned the next day, everything seemed normal for the most part; he was a little quiet, but everything was going okay. That fell apart when Alice received a devastating phone call.
"Alice?"

"Lucas! What's up, babe?" She said smiling.

"Alice, there's something I need to tell you." His voice was grave.

Her heart sank, "What is it?" Her voice was shaky.

"Alice," he sounded like he was tearing up, and he paused.

"Lucas, what's wrong? If you have something you need to say, then say it!" What was going on? Was he breaking up with her? She started crying

"I have cancer."

They both sat silently for a few minutes. You cold hear the static on the line. Both of them were still there, but nobody wanted to say anything. Alice felt like if she opened her mouth, she would burst, but finally she spoke up. "What type?"

"Glioblastoma," he said, but when she didn't respond, he elaborated. "It's a fatal brain tumor."

She winced.

"It's going to be okay," she was crying now.

"Alice, I know it's not."

"Lucas, don't say that!"

"I'm just being realistic, Alice."

"I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything." He whispered, and they listened to the static on the line. It was comfortable to know they were still there, even if they had nothing to say. Lucas heard movement on Alice's end.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Nothing, i'm just taking a walk." She said back.

"It's freezing out!" He shouted.

"I'll be fine."

"Alice, it's raining cats and dogs," he muttered, peeking through his blinds, as the rain pounded against the windowpane.

"I like the rain," she whispered.
And for a while, he heard only woodsy ambiance and alice's teeth chattering faintly in the background, along, but then he heard a knock at his door.

"Hold on, i'll be right back," he said.

"Okay," and a smile stretched across her wet face.

He opened his front door to see Alice standing on his porch drenched from head to toe, waiting for him. He put his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. They just stood there like that for a while - hearts in synch, warm chests slowly rising and falling against each other. She nuzzled her sodden head against his upper bicep.

"I love yo," he said.

"I love you, too."

He slid open the door and they waddled down the hall, to his room, arms still locked around each other. They lied down in his  soft bed, and stared at the white ceiling.

His comforter was dampening but he didn't care. He rolled over and looked onto her deep blue eyes. Her smile stiffened when she remembered why she came here.

"Lucas," her eyes swelled with tears again.

"Alice, they're going to take care of it."
"I don't want to lose you, Lucas."

"You won't."

"You promise?"

He shut his eyes for a moment, and thought about it.

"I promise. Here," he said sitting up. He walked over to his desk and pulled a necklace from the top drawer.

He put it in her hand. She turned it over. It was a small silver lock.

He pulled a small matching key from under his polo. "I was going to give it to you tomorrow."

"I love it," she said fastening it around her neck.