Happily

Chapter 3

The sound of water clattered in my ears. Sweat lures off of my pale skin, and onto the dry sand surrounding me.

It was getting too hot outside. I tried to move to try to find shade or water, but I was stuck. I didn't know what was keeping back, but I just couldn't move. I tried, with all of my might, to just move my legs but I was too weak. It was getting even hotter now. The sun was beating onto me, leaving sweat behind.

I kept on trying to get up and leave but I just couldn't. I tried to move my arms, but they were as heavy as boulders, making them sink back to my side. I tried to turn my head, but it wouldn't turn an inch. If I didn't move now I think I will pass out. The heat is making me dizzy.

Everything I see is completely blurred.

I try to talk, to scream for help, but my mouth is glued shut. My eyes burn with tears. Not from myself, but from the heat burning straight into them.

Something amazing happened, though. When I open my eyes, I am closer to the water than before. If I can move just an inch or two I will be able to touch the water, to cool my whole body down. If I accomplish moving a tiny bit, I will be awarded with something I need most right now.

How will I be able to get to the water, if I cannot move?

Closing my eyes, I try to think of something, anything, that might be able to help me.

"Wake up." my mind tells me.

What. I am not sleeping. Or am I? It just seems so real. I can feel the heat pushing down on me. I can feel the rigid sand below me. The sounds of water erupt into my ears.

This cannot be a dream.

"Wake up."

No.

"Wake up!"

This isn't a dream. I can't wake up!

"Carter, love! Wake up!"

My eyes dart open and here of course I am. In my hospital room. Where I live.

My mothers voice startles me, "Honey, dear, are you alright? You started to scream, so I thought I should wake you up to see if your all right."

"Mom, I am fine. It was just a dre- nightmare." I reply cooly, fixing my mistake. Was it a nightmare? Or was it a dream?

Was I scared during it?

Well obviously. Who wouldn't be afraid when you cannot move, or talk, or even having trouble seeing.

Well it's obviously a nightmare.

"Ok, love. You're going to have to get up soon anyway. Today is Tuesday, dear." She replies worrisome.

Tuesday.

Is.

Today.

Lauren's funeral is at 11. 3 hours and she will be living underground with creatures of all sort. Her home will be in a coffin. Alone. Underground. Surrounded with dirt.

I do not want to attend this. Not because I don't like Lauren or anything, but because I am not ready to say goodbye to my best friend. With her gone, my life has turned absolutely upside down, and NOT in a good way.

2 hours and 50 minutes.

I put on the most dreadful clothes I own.

2 hours and 30 minutes.

I leave my face clear of makeup and other products for my face.

1 hour and 45 minutes.

My nurse slowly comes into my room to check my breathing machine. Well, it works good I guess because she checked it for exactly 49 seconds. Not like I am counting or anything.

1 hour.

I cannot do this.

15 minutes.

The church is filled with crying children, crying adults, and cancer patients like me, who are trying to not break down, and cause a scene of coughing so much we'd have to go back to the hospital.

10 minutes.

I don't care what people think. I start breaking down. Sobbing like a baby who had just hurt themselves. I don't think I can ever stop.

5 minutes.

Bralen, one of my closest friends, takes a seat next to me.

"Carter, love, Lauren was yours and my best friends. She would not like to see you like this. I believe she would like you to smile, to remember all of the great memories you have shared with her, to be happy that she lived as long as she had. So for her, and me, smile, laugh, and be happy that you had made it into her life."

Can I do that? Be happy that my best friend had died. Although, I know that Bralen was right, that Lauren wouldn't want me to be crying over her. I just can't help myself. She was my other half, and to think that she had died of the disease that lives inside of me, is terrible.

"Okay." I smile at Bralen. The smile was fake, but I don't think he can tell.

The church bells start to ring.