Nora

Chapter 22: One Problem and Then Another

For the next month Nora and I were very, very happy. In fact I think it was the best four and half weeks of my life. Despite having to take things a little slower than desirable because of my health (no rock climbing or scuba diving for me) we had a blast. 

We were inseperable. We were like those annoying, gushy couples in predicatble teen movies. It was great. I've never been so happy to fit a stereo type or be cheesy.

We had dinner with my parents frequently. I went and saw my Australian doctor once a week. We went to three theme parks. We lay on the beach. We read books together. We play fought. We kissed. We went and saw Nora's favourite band, Paramore. I took my pills. We had lunch in a park and contemplated why and earth people are so infatuated with women with huge asses. It was perfect. We were an us. It was exactly how I wanted it to be. 

Of course we also did things away from each other. Nora has started branching out and opening up to people a little bit more. She made two new friends. Both girls, that she met at a writing class. I went to the zoo with my parents and played board games with them and we went out to lunch together. 

Nora got into University (Bachelor of Arts/ Journalism). We celebrated by, well actually I'll leave that bit out, you can make up your own mind about that.

I apologised to my ex girlfriend Lily for shutting her out and being frankly a bit of an asshole to her. I talked to some of my old friends who actually were pretty decent people even if I really only befriended them in the first place to survive high school. Lily told me to shove it and then rang me back a day later and apologised and told me she was just glad I was happy again and she couldn't wait to see me when I got back from Australia. I then told her I had a girlfriend and she told me she had a girlfriend too. Go figure.

But now it's late January and Nora and I have to face reality. Whilst it was great that Mom was able to extend our trip by an extra two weeks it still means we only have until the 11th of February. We wouldn't even get a Valentines Day. But worst of all I had to face an even harsher reality. Cancer was going to rob me of life very soon. As in by April soon. 

We only have two and a half weeks left together and I don't know how I'm supposed to handle that. I don't know how we're supposed to handle that. Nora tells me we'll speak everyday and skype and text and send photos. But it's not the same. Mom's offered to fly Nora over in late March to spend a week or two with us. But Nora starts university then so she's said she'll have to think about it. 

I'm trying to do the whole 'living in the now' thing but it's not easy. I'm not handeling it all too well actually.

Hence why I'm lying on the floor of the living room and feeling sorry for myself while Nora makes us sandwhiches. 

"Oi stud muffin do you want a drink with this?" Nora yells from the kitchen.

"No." I say glumly.

She comes into the living room a few minutes later with our lunch and sees me on the floor in a state of misery. 

"What an earth are you doing?" She says cocking her head to the side.

"How am I ever going to leave Australia?" I say not answering her question.

Nora rolls her eyes and sits down next to me. "Not this again Riely. You know there's nothing we can do about it. We just have to be happy we've had the last month and right now and the next couple weeks."

"But then what? Then I leave and I never get to see you again." I say.

"About that. I'm deferring from Uni until June." I sit up in shock. "That way I can come over in March and stay until, well until you know."