Beautiful Optimism (Camren)

Chapter 4

Camila's PoV.

My head spins and I struggle to climb the bus steps. I pay the driver and sit down at the back. Only twenty minutes and I'll be home I think as the bus pulls away from the curb.

The driver hits a bump and I groan and clutch my stomach. I grit my teeth and lean against the window.

"Miss are you alright?" a lady to my left asks. I put on my best smile and nod.

"Just a little car sick." I say doing my best to lie. Because I don't want this woman to know I have cancer. I'm sure it would freak her out and I'd rather have her not worry.

"You sure?" she asks, seeming unconvinced by my previous statement. Once again I nod and look out the window again.

I should have brought my stronger medication. Because at this point I'm about done with life. And yeah I know that's saying a lot but man I'm tired of this shit. Of course there are people who have it worse. Like not having a loving family and friends or an amazing girlfriend like Lauren. My situation could be much worse but still enough is enough.

Finally the bus stops about a block from my house. I hop out and run, because if I walk there's no telling how long I'll be. So I run until I'm heaving on the front steps.

"Mila!" I hear a small voice say after the front door opens. Sofi.

"Are you alright?" she asks her eyes wide with fear. I nod my head and stand up slowly. Sofi does her best to help me up but of course she's too small and I end up doing most the work myself. But I thank her anyways and walk inside.

"I'll get your medicine." Sofi says before darting out of the living room. I lay on the couch wheezing and coughing until Sofi comes back. In her hands she's holding two small yellow pills and a glass of water.

I accept them and Sofi watches as I down the glass of water.

Sofi's PoV.

I watch Mila swallow her pills and drink the water. I can hear my heart racing in my ears because I'm scared. I'm scared that my big sister will never get better. I'm scared she'll die and I'll never get to say goodbye. I love her. And never want her to leave me alone.

After her breathing comes back to normal, Camila pulls me into a tight hug. My arms are too short to reach all the way around her but I do the best I can.

She's pulls away after a minute and kisses my forehead. I sorta feel like crying because that was a close call.

"Where's Ma and Pa?" Camila asks standing up from her place on the couch.

"They left already," I reply, my voice quieter than I intended.

"They left you here? Alone?" my big sister asks shaking her head and going to the kitchen.

"Yes, they thought you would be here sooner." I say following her footsteps.

"I'm sorry I took so long," she says reaching down and brushing hair from my eyes.

I nod my head and smile pulling a sheet of paper from the counter. I pass it to Camila and she smiles.

"Did you draw this?" she asks not looking up once and all I do is smile.

"I love it Sofi," she says before kissing my cheek. It's a drawing I drew of me, Camila, and the other girls.

"I'm gonna make copies for the girls." she says before walking away.

She walks away slowly and almost in a painful manner. I miss the times when she wasn't sick and we could play together. But now she's always in a lot of pain and it makes me. I don't really understand much that's happening with my sister.

Camila comes back and I'm sitting on the kitchen floor coloring.

She plops down beside me and grabs a crayon. I stop for a minute and watch her carelessly draw.

"You hungry?" she asks after a minute and I nod.

Camila's PoV.

I haven't colored with Sofi in a long time. We really need some sister time.

I get up from the floor and walk to the fridge. Just about empty.

"Do you want a grilled cheese sandwich?"

"Mmmhmm," Sofi replies without looking up from her coloring. I smile and get started with the cooking.

Within five minutes I've finished cooking.

"It's ready," I say to Sofi.

"Can I eat on the floor?" she asks with puppy dog eyes.

I shake my head. "No come on, let's eat at the table." Sofi sticks out her bottom lip but stands up anyways.

"How about we go in the living room and watch Brave while we eat?" I ask Sofi bending down to her level. She nods her head excitedly. Sofi runs to the living room forgetting her plate in the process.

I shake my head and grab both plates and two drinks.

The rest of my day is filled with laughter and lots of cuddles with Sofi.

At around 10pm my parents finally come home. I'm upstairs and look over the balcony and see 3 figures standing in the dark. Two of them are my parents and someone else. A man.

I listen to them talk in hushed voices before creeping slowly down stairs. Then the floor creaks and gives my position away.

"Shit." I mutter under my breath and pray no one heard me.

"Camila? Is that you?" my mom asks and I stand up. I've been discovered might as well go down now.

"Sorry I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just heard you come in." I lie quickly and take a deep breath.

"It's alright mija." my dad says before kissing the top of my head.

"Oh, this is Sheriff Hernandez." he says gesturing towards the man still hidden in the shadows. Finally he steps out into the light flashes a smile and sticks out his hand.

I accept it causally and fake a smile. What's a police officer doing here so late? Whatever it is it's probably really important.

"I was just asking your parents if they knew anything about a recent murder here in town." Sheriff Hernandez says.

I feel my heart racing fast and my palms are sweaty. The only thing I can think of is Lauren.

"I haven't heard anything." I lie again. Why is it so easy to lie?

"Are you sure?" he asks raising his eyebrows. He stands up taller almost like he's trying to intimate me. If he is, well shit it's kind of working.

I nod my head. "Now excuse me, I must take my meds and head to bed." I say kissing my parents' cheeks before running to the kitchen. I can still hear them talking in low voices.

At this point I'm really sweaty and can't open the pill bottle. Finally I force it open and take two. I gulp down some water and sigh.

I pass by them on my way up the stairs.

"Have a good night, Camila." Sheriff Hernandez says smiling. I gulp and walk up the stairs without another word.

I lay in bed not being able to sleep a wink. I kept thinking about Lauren and what they would do to her if they ever found out.

What if I took the blame for all this? I'm sure they'd let me down easily because I'm sick. But they are mean people so probably not. I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if Lauren went to jail or something.

I feel several tears slip from my eyes and I wipe them away.

I can do this. For Lauren.