If it Means a Lot to You

Prologue

Michael sits next to her, their fingers intertwined. Her face lights up, and he smiles. She beat him again. She looks at him, her eyes bright.

"Ha! Beat you again!" she exclaims.

He laughs. She's good at this game. His good mood vanishes when she starts coughing. Her eyes squeeze shut and he can practically hear her chest rattle with the force of them. Her hand covers her mouth, but drops a moment later. She smiles a weak smile. 

"I'm alright, Mike. Don't look so serious." she says quietly, leaning back on her pillows. He smiles a small smile and he nods slightly. 

"I'll try, baby." he says, looking down at his wrist. The mark is still black and so is hers.

"I love you, baby, but I gotta go. I gotta shower and I have school tomorrow." he says, kissing her on the forehead. 

"Alright, baby. Have a good day at school and say hello to Luke for me." she replies weakly, coughing slightly. 

He nods, turning around, and his face immediately falls. He hates leaving her, especially when she looks so good. He hopes she can come home soon. That would make his life. He makes his way to his car slowly, dreading even leaving the parking lot. He can always come back after school. 

*******

Michael wakes the next morning, yawning. Ugh. School. He doesn't even want to get out of bed. He yawns and as he does, he catches a glimpse of the mark on his wrist. But it is no longer black. It has scarred. And Michael is screaming. 

His mother runs into the room, and he is still screaming, crying now as well. She runs to him, holding him, but he fights it. His mother sees his wrist and she looks at hers as well, the scar on her wrist, and she knows what has happened. And she wanted this to happen to anyone but Michael. Her precious baby.... Her heart aches for him. 

"Michael... Calm down, baby... It's alright. I promise. I promise... Shhhhh...." she tries to comfort him but it does the exact opposite. He cries harder and he finally turns into her shoulder, clutching her shirt. 

"I can't... I can't..." he tries to talk, but his voice fails him, and he breaks down into sobs in his mother's arms again. 

"I know, baby. I know how this feels." his mother says quietly, and his sobs quiet slightly.

"How did you get over it...?" he asks in a whisper, and her heart breaks for him. 

"It took a long time, but the pain just... it didn't go away... it just stopped being so sharp. And I hope that happens for you... I know how much you loved her... Still love her." 

His mother let him stay home that day. Her parents called that day, asking Micheal if he wanted to attend her funeral. He called them assholes for even thinking he wouldn't show up. They let it slide. They asked if he wanted to speak at her funeral. He called them assholes for asking. They let it slide. He declined. 

********

The day of her funeral was a rainy one. A lot of people from school were there. Luke Hemmings was there. And her favorite doctor, the one who did her chemotherapy, Dr. Hood, was there. Michael stood by him and the doctor put his arm around the teenager when he started to cry. Luke eventually came to stand by him, and without warning, Luke took his hand. Michael looked at his face, and upon seeing the tears rolling down his face, he squeezed his hand. Luke looked at him with his icy eyes and he squeezed back. This would be the last interaction between Michael and Luke for a long time. 

****** 

I really hope you guys enjoy Katie's story.