An Ode to a Friend

Chapter -10

That day I found her hurriedly wiping her tears as I opened the door. She smiled as she saw me wheel in but that smile was so forced that a blind man would be able to see the difference.

"What's up?" I asked and she hungrily searched my face for any signs that would tell her I could be trusted. I know the look well enough as I have done same on countless occasions and have failed every time in that quest. I must have passed the test because she took a deep breath and said in a low voice "My parents came to see me"

"Parents?" I asked and the voice in my head promptly said "Well what did you expect? That she didn't have any?"

"Parents" she sighed and remained quiet.

I prompted "And....."

"And they believe I am not even trying to fight this anymore"

"But why would they think that?"

"Probably because I am not going to chemo or taking my meds" she said fiddling with the buttons on her shirt.

"What!"

"I can't do this anymore Dawn. I don't want to. It's.... it's just too hard" and she broke down crying. She clung to me and cried and kept on crying. I stroked her flaming red hair gently as she cried. After a while she looks up at me with her tear strained face and says "I can't do this anymore Dawn. I am too exhausted. It's just too hard all on my own."

"Who said you have to do this alone?" she looked at me, her eyes still filled with tears, a question burning in them.

"I am here Sara and I always will be. You're not alone. Sara I have lost so many people and I am not willing to lose you too. Please don't leave me, fight this stupid cancer. You are my first and only true friend please don't make me lose you. I am with you Sara. We have so much to do before dying. What about that guy you like, don't you want a life with him. Don't want to read the next book in the series. Don't you want to spend the rest of your live doing everything you have dreamed of? Sara, darling angel, I know it's tough, perhaps I don't understand how tough but I know it's tough and I will stand by when you need me and even when you don't. I will always be here. So won't you kick cancer's butt for me. Please, pretty please." and I see her smile through the tears.

"Alright" She said sniffling loudly "But just because you said pretty please." She laughed through her tears.

"Promise?"

"Promise" she said smiling and nodding her head.

She hugged me tightly and in that moment I knew that she had never let herself be that vulnerable before.

She had always been strong for her parents and had held fast against death from an early age and after a while she got exhausted with trying to pretend that she was not scared, that she was okay. That hug told me that she felt safe and felt that her secret was safe with me, the secret that she was not okay, that she was scared and was not as strong as she pretended. She hugged me and I knew that if I were to entrust her with my secrets she would do the same for me.

She is braver of the pair of us. She had taken the first step and let me in, she took down the walls, and leaned on my shoulder to cry her heart out. And for once I felt I was needed, for once I believed that someone would care if I was gone.

Thatday she taught me how to be strong for someone other than one's self, she mademe realise that I didn't need to be strong all the time that I could be weakbecause she too was willing to be strong for the both of us. The moment she letme in I swore that come hell or high water I will never leave her. And I knewshe will do the same for me.