365

I

No
No
My mind buzzed, this couldn't be happening.
"Noah?"
My mind was fuzzy, I couldn't focus, I was nauseated.
"Noah, honey please," I heard a woman's voice speaking, it was my mother's. I snapped my eye's up to meet my mom's, she was crying, it couldn't be true, they'd been wrong before, why couldn't they be this time? Why did it suddenly feel so real? I had known this was coming, why did it hurt so much?
"I'm sorry Noah," said my doctor, Mandy. The atmosphere seemed to weigh down on me, I shakily stood up. I can't breathe I thought to myself. I had to get out of that room. I  mumbled an, "Excuse me," and left the room. I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket and quickly dialed a number.
"Hey, what's up?" I heard my best friend's voice say.
"Please come get me," I blurted out.
"What happened?"
I walked out the hospital's glass doors, I heard a nurse call my name.
"Are you okay?" he asked, "Noah, what's going on?"
"Just please Daniel.... come get me, I'll be at the cafe on thirty-eight."
I heard Daniel sigh, "I'll be there." And I bolted.
I had walked through this part of town so many times I had it memorized. I looked at all the people walking around me, oblivious to my problems. The sun beat down, it was a beautiful day. Seeing the doors of the coffee shop I slowed down, I coughed heavily into my hand. I could feel the thick liquid in my lungs and winced. When I was eight I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and I guess that's when I gave up. I had had so many dreams for the future, I was going to get married, get a job, have kids. When I was told I was going to die early all my dreams came crashing down. I decided I'd rather not do anything than leave the world with my mission only halfway done.
"Cystic fibrosis is a disorder that affects the lungs, causing the production of thicker mucus which causes blockages and infections," my doctor had repeated again, that morning when she'd called us in, and ever since that day I repeated it like a mantra to everyone who asked me, "What's wrong with you?"
I heard a vehicle pull up and looked up from the bench where I'd sat down. I saw Daniel climb out of the driver's seat of his old beaten truck. He loved that thing, it was rusted, old and was pretty much falling apart. He called it his "Beauty" like it was some sort of forbidden romance, which it kind of was considering his parents's everlasting hatred for the vehicle. I had met Daniel at a support group when I was thirteen, my parents had forced me to go telling me that, I had to at least try it out, and that, I could make some friend that shared common issues. They were right about one thing, I did make a friend. Daniels mom is the support group's leader, it was on the same day that I was forced to go that his mom dragged him along. We bonded over sarcasm and our common love of badly written movies, and he was my first and only friend after having been diagnosed. Daniel himself is perfectly healthy, me and him both pledged never to return to that support group.
He came and stood next to me leaning against the window of the cafe. "Hey," he said giving a small smile. "Hey, let's get going," I stated walking towards the passenger door of the decaying truck. Climbing into the fabric chair, I could almost pretend that that morning had never happened, but it still lingered in the back of my head. "What happened," Daniel asked suddenly, "please tell me, you keep avoiding it." I closed my eyes and took a deep shuddering breath, it hurt. "I'm going to die," I stated staring at the roof, I could feel tears in the corners of my eyes. "What?" Daniel let out a breathy laugh, "are-are you joking cause this isn't funny!" his voice cracked. I laughed and shook my head trying not to let any tears fall. I knew it was coming, I had been so shocked before that I hadn't cried. "How long?" He asked I could hear the strain in his voice. "One year," I heard the sob before I felt it. I cupped my face in my hands and let it out. I didn't want to die, I broke into a coughing fit, gasping, I tried to catch my breath. Daniel let go and started the truck, I looked at him, there were tears running down his face. We drove in silence for a couple minutes before he spoke again, "Are you guys going to try to cure it or..." his voice was quiet. I responded, "Mandy said my only option is a transplant if we can find a donor, but even then it might not work." "Oh...." he was looking at the road but I could tell his mind was racing. "  Then I guess we'll have to make this the most memorable year possible, right?" he asked forcing a smile.l
"Yeah," I said, "yeah we will."

******

We pulled into the driveway in front of my house, Daniel shut off the truck and we sat quietly. "Are you ready?" he said, he looked down staring at the wheel. "I guess," I opened the door and climbed out. As I reached the door I turned and waved giving a small smile. He pulled out and left, leaving me to face my family.
I knocked on the door and my mom opened it, seeing me she wrapped her arms around me neck and hugged me. She let go and walked into the kitchen I followed seeing my dad on the phone, he quickly said goodbye and hung up assuring whoever was on the line that everything was okay. That's when he sprung, "Where were you!?" he asked angrily, "we were worried sick! You can't just run out like that." "I got a ride home with Daniel," I answered, "I just couldn't stand being in that place anymore." He looked at me and gave me a hug. "How're you feeling?" "Physically, okay I guess," I shrugged "mentally, not so much," I smiled at him. "C'mon, let's have supper," he said with a small smile. During dinner my mom spoke up, "Mandy put you on the waiting list," she was talking about the transplant list. "Oh," I said, picking at my food, I knew how long it could take for a donor to be found. I didn't feel like eating but I forced down a few bites for my parents and then excused myself, escaping to my room. Once in there I fell hard onto my bed, I coughed heavily into my hand and picked up my pills, and the water bottle off the nightstand. After swallowing seven types of pills, I felt myself drifting off.

Hey!
This is a story I've been thinking of writing for a couple years now, and I've finally figured out enough to start. It's going to get happier, I promise! Tell me what you think, constructive criticism is appreciated, abuse is not!
Till next time,
Bye 😃