Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 77 - Christmas

***** Cooper's Point of View *****

The arrival of Christmas on the horizon was bittersweet. That was the only way to put it.

I'd always loved Christmas time. Even though my family wasn't necessarily rich, we always put in a huge effort to make Christmas as special as possible for everyone. And I still tried to make this Christmas nice too, but it was hard when the day I was trying to make special was my expiration date.

The decorations in my room were beautiful, and the lights just made me so happy. Rhett and Link had really outdone themselves.

It was just hard to focus on the memories and feeling I loved of Christmas, and not on the countdown to my death. I did a better job of hiding it when others were around, but it was always on my back.

Shepherd would come in and excitedly yell '20 days till Christmas!' and all I would hear was 20 days until I'm dead. Maybe sooner.

That didn't mean I'd given up though, I was still making a huge effort (when I was well enough) to get gifts and make it meaningful. I'd order stuff on my iPad and get it delievered to Uncle Randy's house, and he'd wrap them for me and bring them in.

I'd decided to give them to Rhett and Link on Christmas Eve. I didn't want them here on Christmas Day. Obviously I wanted to see them on Christmas, but I didn't want them to spend their time here when they didn't have to. The hospital wasn't a good place to have a Christmas. I'd probably be sick and/or sleeping the whole time, so it wasn't fair that they were here.

They both freaked out when I told them.

"Cooper, of course we're going to come and see you on Christmas!"

I sighed softly and shook my head.

"It's Christmas. You shouldn't be alone Coop. We wanna spend the day with you."

"I d-don't want you to be here. You s-should be with your family."

"You are our family!"

I just started crying.

Rhett frowned, and gently hugged me. "Super-Cooper, you're our family. We're gonna come and see you, okay?"

I shook my head. "I-I'm just some random k-kid, and y-you should spend Christmas with your r-real family. I'm n-not important."

"Yes, you are."

"I-I'm not! I j-just need you to s-stay away so y-you don't get sad when I-I'm gone!"

Silence fell over the room.

"Is that really what this is about?"

I sniffled, but didn't say anything.

"Cooper, we love you. Of course we're gonna miss you. That's what family does. Distancing yourself right now is only gonna hurt all of us. We're coming to see you on Christmas."

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Somehow, I made it to Christmas. Everyone came. Uncle Randy's family, Rhett's family, Link's family. They were all so amazed at the gifts I brought them and the effort I went to.

It was nice to see some smiles.

I didn't get much, but I didn't want anything. There was no point in accepting material gifts at this point. I wouldn't have them for long anyway.

But I did get the one thing I really wanted more than anything. A day where the pain wasn't so bad so I could smile and laugh with those I loved.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Love y'all. <3