Normal (Book One)

Fifteen

Each day it got worse. They all tried to make me feel comfortable, but it simply was not working. I felt horrible and I didn't want anyone to even be near me. I felt that if I pushed them all away it would hurt less. I was a fool, because no matter what, it was going to hurt. Mrs John offered to help with normal remedies that normal people tried, but I refused them. There was no point. My mother tried to insist on helping me eat, but I started to reject that as well. Nothing was going to help, nothing was going to change anything, and so I did not want to even bother.

"Racheal?" Gabe's voice spoke to me softly. I opened my eyes and saw him leaning over me. If anything, I had tried to push him away the most. I could not hurt him and yet I knew this would be breaking his heart. I saw how things affected them, and I did not want to do that to him. Most times when he came into the room to talk and I did not answer, he would walk out again. Not this time, not even when I realised it was him in the room and turned my head away, not wanting to look at him. It was too painful. "I know you are trying to make it easier for me. But it is not." Gabe said. "Racheal, I want to take you somewhere." he told me. I did not answer him, knowing this was a stupid suggestion, I could hardly even move in this bed, like I could go anywhere.

Gabe had other ideas however. I shot my head around when I realised he had pulled the blankets back and was picking me up from the bed. "Please, put me down." I asked, almost begged in a weak voice, falling into a coughing fit instantly. Gabe ignored any request from me and walked out of the room, down the hall, through the lounge room and out the front door. I closed my eyes and turned my head away. The sun, it was so bright! Gabe stopped walking and I felt him lower me. I opened my eyes and blinked a couple of times, to try and get them used to the bright light of the sun.

I had not been able to touch or see sunlight for such a long time. I was sure it was pretty much summer now, but I had stopped counting the days and the weeks. There was no point to it. It was warm however, and the fresh air that hit my skin was welcoming. I finally got myself adjusted to the sun and saw where Gabe had taken me.

We were out in the front garden, there was a outdoor rug laid on the grass and Gabe was sitting down on this, holding me in his arms as my body leaned back into his. I felt helpless, like I couldn't do anything. I had been so drawn in on what was happening to me, that I forgot what was happening to others and what was happening out there around us. I had stopped asking where things were at with Kyle and the demons. I did not even ask for any updates on how they have been helping people. I could not find the energy in it. Gabe let out a sigh and rested his chin on the top of my head. "I wanted you to get a chance to see the sun. I am sick and tired of them keeping you inside." He told me. I didn't say too much, just listened to the sound of his voice, the way his heart beated in his chest against my ear.

My chest was aching and I felt like I had a massive lump in my throat. I could feel I was about to break, but I was trying to hard to hold it together. I didn't want this, I couldn't handle it. After everything, I felt like I was being cheated. "I am sorry." I tried to say weakly. Gabe hussed me, knowing everything was hard to even do now, I struggled to breath as it was, he obviously did not want me to be talking and waste any more breath. "Racheal. I want to see thousands of suns with you, I want to walk along the beach with you every night and count the stars. I want to spend many many years with you. This is the only thing I could do, without making it too hard on you, or revealing you to Kyle. A simple afternoon in the sun. To share with you the summer. To tell you everything I had been dreaming of for you." He told me, tears spilling out of my eyes at his words. I just wanted to turn around and share another kiss with him.

I tried hard, to slowly turn my body, without using all of my energy. Gabe did not move, giving me the chance to get in a comfortable position. I could only just look up at his face, and I could see there his own tears, his own pain. "Racheal. I have so much to say to you." Gabe tried to say, I slowly reached a hand up and rested it against his face. I know this position was not any good for either of us, but I wanted to let him know I wished I could say the same things back, but I could not.

"Gabe... I want... I ...." I tried to say but I was struggling. Gabe shifted an arm, to better hold me closer to him. He leant his head down, brushing his lips gently across mind. "Racheal." he breathed, barely pulling away. "Happy Birthday." he told me, returning his lips to my mouth.

I closed my eyes, taking in his touch. I could not speak it out loud, but I wanted him to know. I love you. I told him through communication, knowing it was the last option I had to tell him. I love you too. He returned.

That was the last thing I heard. The last thing that ever happened for me. Sitting in the sun, with the person I loved, on my eighteenth birthday.

Then I died.

Just like that..

The air left my lungs and never returned.

Cancer.

An illness not even Angels can stop from happening. Something that hit hard and fast and took everything of me away from those I loved...