✓ Forget Me Not (Short Story)

Chapter Eight

"Hey," I say softly, sitting down beside her hospital bed.

"Hey, Caleb," she whispers out. I give her a strained smile.

She notices the book tucked under my arm. "So you read it?"

I nod.

"It's a good book, isn't it?"

I squeeze my eyes shut, taking a deep breath. I can't do this. "It's fucking depressing, that's what it is."

She smiles at me, not at all bothered by my tone. "I know it is. Complete bummer that our friendship is like Leslie and Jesse's."

"What do you mean?" I ask, though I was starting to see the answer.

"I'm going to die, Caleb."

A loud, sharp intake of breath is the only sound in the room, other than her heart monitor. "You don't know that."

She chuckles humorlessly. "I've known for over a year, when treatment started to fail. Actually, I've really outlived myself by a few months. I started feeling better, and that's when I decided to take an apprentice." She pauses.

"But really..."

I

just

needed

a

friend.

"That's pretty selfish."

She sits up, looking at me in surprise. "How?"

I throw her book onto her lap. "Leslie didn't know that she was going to die. She didn't become friends with Jesse because she knew she was going to die. You know who you are? Kaori from Your Lie in April!"

"Wait-"

"No, you wait," I snap. "You decided to become friends with me only to just leave me. And you know what? I fell in love with you in such a short amount of time. But you'll pull a selfish thing and only tell me in a note after you're dead. So what? You can be remembered more?"

Her shoulders start to shake, and at first, I think she's sobbing. That is, until laughter begins filling the room. "I've seen that anime, Caleb. I'm not going to do that, you idiot. And yes, I love you too."

Then I hear 'moron' whispered under her breath.

"Wait-"

"No you wait," she mocks me. "I didn't mean to become your friend or fall in love with you. I just needed help on my final project, in New York. There's a gallery that I'll probably not be alive for. I needed someone with an artistic view of the world to set it up, after I'm gone. I'm sorry I screwed up your life so bad but I'm not going to apologize."

"Why not?"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?"

I

am

dying.

·

The argument was over after that. Really, how can you argue with a dying person?

I watched television with her for a few hours until she fell asleep. I pick up Bridge to Terabithia and take it with me out to the car. Sighing deeply, I pull out my phone and text Felicity.

Caleb: I'm driving your car home.

With that, I make the 15 hour drive home.

·

My mom takes one look at me before pulling me into her embrace.

My body breaks down against her, my legs giving out. Her arms continue to hold me up, her mouth making attempts to soothe me. It's no use; I can not move on from this.

Eventually, she pulls away, grabbing me by the shoulders. "Caleb, this is not the end, and you know it."

"I know and that's what I hate."

"Why?" she asks quizzically.

"My life will go on without her."

My pulls me into another hug, placing a kiss to my forehead before stepping away.

My phone dings then, signaling a text message.

Felicity: The summer isn't over yet. Here's my address. Be there tomorrow at noon.

I smile to myself.