Just Another Day

Chapter 25

Jenny's POV

I wake up the next day. I get out of bed and shower, get dressed, and everything. Lilac and Dad do the same. It's Thursday. Only one more day.

We get to the hospital.

"Hey, Mom, how ya doin'?" I ask as I walk in.

"Okay. I'm getting really weak though," she said.

"I love you, Suzanne," Dad says.

"I love you too," she says.

"I love you, Mom," Lilac and I burst out at the same time. Lilac goes on the opposite side of the bed from me and we give her a gentle hug. She kisses both of us on the forehead. Dad leans over and gives her a kiss.

"I love you all," she said."I think my time is coming."

"What? When?" I ask.

"Soon," she answered.

"How soon?"

"Seconds. I think I see the light," she says.

"I love you," I say.

"I love you," she says, giving my hand a squeeze. Then her grip softens. Her stare into my eyes is blank. The heart beeper stays at one, solid beep. I turn to Dad and hug him. I start crying. Lilac does the same.

We go back home.

"I can't take it anymore," Lilac says later that night.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I'm going home tomorrow. I need to get away," she says.

"Alright. But you have to take Lily. Tell Jerome that I'm staying another week or so to help out, plan for the funeral, and be at the funeral. Tell him I love him and miss him very much. And that I don't want him crying because I'm staying longer than planned."

"Okay," she said.

She starts packing up. We go to sleep.

I wake up the next day. I realize that I was clutching on to Lilac.

Lilac gets up, gets ready. I pack up Lily's stuff.

"Alright, bye, Jenny, I love you," she says as we hug. "Bye Dad, I love you." she hugs him too.

"Bye," I say.

"Bye, sweetie," Dad says.

She leaves.

"Dad, I'm gonna go get my hair cut," I say.

"Okay, I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah." I walk out and get my haircut.

I get back and dye my hair. I now look like a totally different person. My hair is silver-blonde with dark hair on the insides. It's now very short, to my ears. I walk downstairs.

"Jenny? Is that really you?" Dad asks.

"Yeah," I say."Do you think Jenna sounds better for my new look? It's still short for Jennifer, of course."

"Sure?" he says, really confused.

"Jenna Aceti...nice ring to it," I say.

"Alright, so do you want to make a speech for the funeral?"

"Sure."

I walk upstairs and sit at the computer desk. I get a call from Jerome. I work on my speech as I talk with him.

"Jenny? I-I-is th-th-that...you?" he says. He very confused.

"Yes. Do you think Jenna sounds better for my new look?"

"Um....um..."

"Jerome?"

"I don't....I don't know," he shrugs.

"Jenna Aceti..."

"I kinda like Jenny more. It's more like you. This new look isn't like you."

"But it is me. I just thought I would give myself a new look. Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I guess. Jenna?"

"Yes, Jenna. Or Jen? What about Jennifer?" I ask.

"What?"

"Which do you like better?"

"I don't know."

"How about Jenna?"

"Jenny, please don't go changing yourself completely. I like your name just the way it is. I love you."

"I love you too."

"But, if it makes you happy, I'll call you Jenna."

"No. Thanks to what you just said, Jenny is perfect."

"Did you check on our YouTube channel? The TeamCrafted one?"

"No, why?" I ask.

"Jason just worked on a song with Austin. It's awesome! You should check it out! It's called Why Don't You Love Me."

"Alright," I say.

"Bye, I love you," he says.

"I love you, too," I say. I end the call.