Poems For Daniel

Two

The next day, I arrived to the hospital with the key Daniel gave me around my neck. I had it out on the chain and around my neck all day for display. Some people questioned why I was wearing a key. I simply told them my lanyard was missing so I'm wearing my key on a chain instead...

I can't let people at school know about Daniel, seeing as though I'll be judged. I can hear the taunting voices already. "What's the point anyway? He's going to die anyway," a friend would nonchalantly speak. "I'm praying for you, Girl. You need some help," my older sister would say while stifling a laugh. "Ewww! A guy with cancer?! What are you? A freak? You better stay away before you catch something," one of my ignorant peers would cringe at me in disgust. "You're sick!" another would say. "So, you'd let a nigga in the hospital hit it, but not me? What do I have to do? Break an arm?" Jeremy, a guy who claims me in front of his friends but doesn't say anything to my face when we're alone, would say. 

I can't let anyone know about my slight infatuation with Daniel. I'll be shunned. I'll be judged harder than I already am. I just want to crack sometimes. I want to tell not only Daniel how I feel, but also the whole world. "I love Daniel Simmons the Third, and nothing's going to change my heart or my mind!" I would scream on top of a rooftop. But, I'll just keep my love to myself as of right now... But, once I have the courage, I'll do it... I'll do it.

I found it a bit peculiar that Daniel wasn't roaming the halls like he always is when I arrive. No matter how horrible he felt that day, he would roam the halls just so I wouldn't have to walk alone. He also told me that he did it so he could be the first to brighten up my day...

I walked slowly down the hall, occasionally looking at the key. I would smile a little wider each time I glanced down at it. This is possibly the best thing Daniel could've ever given me besides his heart. I was touched and beyond the point of just "happy". Happy is a definite understatement. I nearly rejoiced when I received it. This key... could be the key that unlocks his heart. This key could open secrets and feelings that I've never seen or heard from Daniel. This key could reveal feeling and secrets that he's too shy to share with anyone but me. I smiled broadly, feeling heat rising to my cheeks at the circulating thoughts. I can't wait to see Daniel today...

I walk toward his room, seeing several nurses and a doctor surrounding Daniel's bed. "Call it," the doctor ordered. "2:46 p.m," a nurse announced while looking at her watch. "What's going on?" I inquired, stepping into the room. All of the nurses and the doctor's heads turned in my direction. Then I spotted Daniel sleeping with a slight smile on his face and his hand clutching my beanie. He was holding it to his heart. I looked at each person, awaiting an answer. Nurse Vendell approached me and pushed me out of the room. "Go wait in the waiting room," she ordered.

"But--."

"Go!" she commanded. 

I eventually followed her orders, looking over my shoulder and back at her, occasionally. I took a seat and placed my backpack in the seat next to me. I waited nearly twenty minutes before Nurse Vendell approached me with something black in her hands. I felt a thump in my chest, staring at the black object while trying to figure out what it was. I stood up as she looked down and took a deep breath. "Daniel... Daniel's dead," she spoke. Almost immediately, the tears came to my eyes. "No... Daniel. Oh my god, Daniel," I began sobbing, dropping back into the seat I was previously sitting in. "Now, he wanted me to give you this. I don't know what this is for, but it was a note saying that you should know what to do with it," she handed me the black box.

It... It was Daniel's black box.  

I took it into my hand, blinking back my tears. "Th-Thank you," I spoke in a shaky tone. I grabbed my bookbag and slowly began walking out of the hospital. Taking out a sheet of paper and a pen from my bag and using the box as a flat surface to write on, I began writing my last poem for Daniel. Just as I was writing the very last word of it, there was a long car horn. I was blinded by headlights while the box fell from my hands. 

BAM!

Everything darkened... Everything was silent... 

...The world stopped...