As The Wind Goes By

Chapter 4: Love can hurt

Preston would come back home everyday , after his hours were completed at the hospital, happier than how he was in the morning. For about a week I begged him to tell me what was going on But he never said a word about it. Then one day he says "Macey, I need to tell you something."

There it was. Brightness in his eyes. Something I didn't have anymore. I knew it was important so I told him to meet me at our secret hideout (which was inside the house but it was the special place where we would hang out to talk).

Once there he started telling me the reasons to his happiness.

"Okay" you know how I'm at the hospital five hours everyday?"

"Yes."

"Okay. OMG. This is so hard. Okay. I met this girl. Her name is Jessica Thomas. And she's the love of my life."

"Whoa Preston" I said laughing at him "you're kidding right?"

"Does it look like I'm kidding?" he said with the most serious face in the world.

"Uh-oh......PRESTON'S IN LOVE! Omg how? Why?" I asked anxious to know.

"She's a patient at the hospital. She has cancer," his voice started cracking up by this point," I met her cause I was teaching patients to play the keyboard and well she is one of them. It was like love at first sight. You should've been there Macey."

"Preston, I'm 13. I can't volunteer or even interact with patients."

"I know I know but it's cause. I don't know. We started talking and talking to what it felt like forever. She is so sweet, funny, pretty(she doesn't think so but she is) and she's full of life. Ironic huh? Full of life and yet Her life is fading out."

I knew this is the part where I have to change topics so I just asked whatever

"How old is she?"

"Fifteen Just like me!"

I hadn't met Jessica yet but I knew Preston and if he says she's all that it's because she is.

Weeks went by and one day my brother told me it was okay for me to go to the hospital and meet her. I was so happy to finally meet her. My brother was right. And seeing the two of them together brought me so much joy I hadn't felt in a long time. Everything was going so great for him. But everything good has an end.

Sadly, Jessica's cancer wasn't cooperating and 8 months later she passed away. December 12, 2016. He couldn't stand the idea if living a life with her. The next day my mom and I went to the park. We asked Preston if he wanted to come with us but he was too sad to even bother answering. A few hours later we came back. I went to the restroom to wash my hands but there on the bathtub laid my brother. My dead brother. December 13, 2016. Blood. The bathtub was full of blood. He sled his wrists with a knife. I screamed for help. My mom came and just like me she couldn't believe what was going on. She called 911 but it was too late. Late. I was late again. I was late for my two siblings.