One More Day

Chapter 3: If Only

I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital. I barely had any memory of how I got here. I just remembered the part where my door was continuously being knocked at before the lights went out. I was scared, but at the same time I was happy. Doctors had told me any day would be my last but he was wrong. I cheated death today. Nurse did some check up on me before telling my parents that they could see me. My mother came running inside.

"Are you okay?" my mother asked, with tears rolling down from her eyes constantly.

"Hey, hey. I am ok Mom. Don't you worry, I won't leave you that easily." I told her.

I hugged my mother to calm her down because she was still crying and I don't know for how long had she been crying like this. When I was able to calm her down, I told my mother that I needed to talk with my father alone. When she left the room, I told my father that I didn't want to spend the rest few weeks or days of my life lying on the hospital bed. He told me that it was for my own benefit but I didn't want that. After forcing him for quite a long time, he agreed. I was released from the hospital.

We drove back home from the hospital. I went out of the car and into my house while my father parked the car. I walked up to my room and found my door cracked open. I somehow managed to close it but not lock it this time. I lay on my bed and picked up my mobile. A pile of messages and missed calls in my mobile all from her. Each of her message showed that she was worried about me. I put my phone aside and closed my eyes.

"Was it just a coincidence that I met her or was it meant to be? Why am I worried about hurting her with the truth, losing her? What is she to me?" I asked myself.

All I could come up with was that I couldn't push her away. It's like suddenly she became a part of me; something without which I couldn't live. But I had to, it was the only way. Sometimes you have to make the hard choice for which you will hate yourself later but it is for the best for someone important to you."

I got out of bed and went down to the living room. It was almost evening. Suddenly the door bell rang. My mother went to check on the door.

"Peter, someone came to see you." she said.

I picked myself up from the sofa and went to the door. I froze. It was Elise.

"Come inside quickly." my mother told her.

It was pouring outside and she was fully soaked. She came inside and closed the door. My mother grabbed a towel for her and then went to the kitchen to get her a hot cup of tea. I walked with her to the living room.

"How, how did you find me?" I asked, totally unaware.

"You weren't answering my calls or my messages so I asked around the neighborhood and found your house." She replied.

"Why didn't you answer my calls? Why did you walk away from me that day?" She asked, looking for answers.

I couldn't give her the answer she expected from me.

"Please go, I don't want you here." I told her.

"What?" she asked, hesitantly.

My mother came into the living room with the tea.

"She was just leaving mother." I said, with a serious face.

"Why, what is wrong?" my mother asked curiously.

"It is getting late. I should get going." she told my mother in a gloomy manner.

I walked her to the door. She just looked at me. I could see tears in her eyes as I shut the door in front of her face.

I could hear her cry right outside the door and I couldn't do anything stop it. I hit my hand on the wall so hard that it started bleeding. I ran to my bedroom and sat down in the corner with my hands on my ears.

"Why? Why me, God? What did I do wrong?"

My mother came upstairs and asked me the reason for my such behavior.

"What happened? Why did you make her leave like this?"

I stayed quiet to which she asked me again curiously.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"She doesn't know about the Cancer." I replied.