Forever & Always

Chapter 2 - Asher

I woke up early. It was Thursday, meaning it was the day to go to the hospital. I got dressed and went downstairs. I grabbed my keys and walked out, thankfully not being disturbed by any of my siblings. On my way to the hospital, I stopped by the usual gas station to grab Twizzlers and white cheddar popcorn.

I drove the rest of the way to the hospital in complete silence. My brain was in overdrive thinking about my baby sister.

Clare was diagnosed with lung cancer on her birthday three weeks ago. She had just turned 15 and all of a sudden she had a sudden pain in her ribs. We had to rush her to the ER and she was diagnosed quickly. The doctor knew exactly what it was as soon as she explained her pain to him. They had to run a few scans and his beliefs were confirmed.

Clare wanted the facts. She had always been like that. She made the doctor tell her exactly how long he thought she would live and how far along the cancer was.

She didn't cry. Even after the doctor told her she would most likely only survive six more months, she stayed strong. I admired her for that. That night when Dad and I went home, Dad seemed as if he was sleepwalking. He didn't speak a word, just sat down in front of the TV, but his eyes were unwatching, his ears not hearing.

After the news got out, everyone acted differently, including myself. People at school acted cautious around me. They purposely avoided topics like cancer and death. I started shutting people out, I got angry easily, and I got into fights at school.

Though most people avoided the topic of cancer, one asshole and his friends didn't. Jackson fucking Taylor. Ever since he heard about Clare's cancer, Jackson made it his job to make fun of her.

Jackson hadn't liked Clare since she turned him down when he asked her for sex at a party. After that, he would terrorize her when he got the chance, especially at school. One day, she came home crying because he wouldn't stop being such a fucking jerk to her, so the next day at school, I pummeled him. He has a scar on the side of his cheek that he got from yours truly to prove it. I got kicked out of school for a week. My dad and the school called it suspension, but I called it vacation.

After the news about the cancer got around to Jackson, he would "casually" bring it up when I was around. One day I had enough, so I beat his ass again. Apparently he didn't get the memo the first time that I wasn't scared to beat the shit out of him. I got another vacation, and if I get in another fight with him, I will be expelled. I didn't really give two shits if I get kicked out, but my dad made me promise I wouldn't lay a finger on "that Taylor kid" as he called him.

-

When I got to the hospital, I headed straight to the floral shop. Every Monday and Thursday since Clare was diagnosed I've visited her at the hospital. Every Monday and Thursday I bring Twizzlers, white cheddar popcorn, and a single white rose to her.

I walked into the shop. Lexi, the girl at the front who works there, turned to me. "Hey Asher. White rose?" she asked.

"Yeah," I answered.

We exchanged the rose for five dollars. "Tell Clare I said hi," Lexi said.

"I will." I won't. I have said that to her every time I visit, but I never followed through. If she wanted Clare to know so badly that she says hi, she can visit Clare herself and say hi.

I walked to the elevator and rode it up to the fourth floor. There, I walked to room 5007 and lightly knocked on the door. "Come in."

I walked in and saw Clare sitting up. "It's seven o'clock, Clare," I said.

"Thanks, Captain Obvious," she replied sarcastically.

"Why are you up?" I asked.

"I wanted to be awake when you visited." She smiled. "Also, I had this made for you."