Last Request

01

Anastasia

"The doctors say I don't have much time." My best friend, Arielle, told me. She has been battling cancer for five years now and instead of getting better, it has only gotten worse.

"How do they know, huh, no one ever knows for sure." I respond, I don't want to lose her. She has been by my side for 14 years and I can't even imagine not having her around. We are nearing the end of our senior year and Ari wanted to spent the months of summer doing the most exhilarating activities such as rock climbing and hang gliding.

"I have been feeling a lot of pain and fatigue, they said those are signs that one is nearing their time of death." Tears well up in my eyes, a life without Ari is a life that I wouldn't want to live. "Don't cry, just know I tried my hardest."

"I want you to promise me something. Go out this summer, meet new people and try new things. You know how bad I wanted to do all sorts of fun things this summer but of course in the state that I am currently in, I'm unable to do these. As Eleanor Roosevelt said 'Do one thing that scares you everyday'." She made her final request to me and I sure as hell was going to do it. Im going to do it for her.

-

"Hey mom." I greet my mother who is currently in the kitchen baking something. "What are you making?"

"Oh, just some cookies. I heard the news." She said with a sympathetic look on her tired face. "I thought maybe it would cheer up the Hollands."

"I could bring it to them, if you want."

"Sure can you take Kenzie with you please?" She said referring to my little sister. I agreed and called her down. I helped her with putting on her shoes as she is only 4 yours old.

She grabbed my hand, which is something that she does with everyone, but I don't mind, it reassures me that she is here and not running off somewhere where she can get hurt. It was nice and sunny so instead of taking the car, we took a walk to their house. They lived fairly close, only a couple blocks from our house.

I begin to think about this whole situation. It's such a devastating thought that it brought tears to my eyes.

"Stassie, why are you crying?" Kenzie stops in her tracks making me stop too. "Are you sad?"

I sigh.

"Listen Kenz, you know who Arielle is right?" She nods. "And you know how she is sick right? Well the doctors have been trying to make her better but they can't. Do you know what happens when someone can't get better?" She shakes her head 'no'. "They can no longer be with us anymore. Arielle has passed away this morning."

I see tears brimming her eyes and she looks really sad, going in to hug me.

"Its ok Stassie, everything is going to be ok." She tries to comfort me, patting my back while hugging me. This feeling of sorrow twisting in the pit of my stomach is overpowering my will of staying strong in front of Kenzie. I bawl my eyes out not caring about the other people strolling down the sidewalk staring at me.

I recollect myself and give Kenzie a sad smile, reassuring her that I will be fine. We continue walking in a comfortable silence for another 5 minutes before reaching Arielle's house. Kenzie goes in to ring the doorbell and after a couple seconds, her mom opens the door.

She doesn't even say anything, she just hugs me. And I hug her back. We both have gone through such a tragic loss. We were both so close to her in similar ways. Ari was like a sister to me.

"Come in." She finally said after releasing me from a heartfelt hug. I step inside her home and I feel the water works coming again. I know I seem like a crybaby but I can't help it.

Jenna (Ari's mom) leads me and Kenzie to the kitchen where there was a woman already seated at the Dining table.

"Anastasia, this is Amy Pierce." She introduces me to this women and I can't help but notice the piercing blue eyes which match her last name perfectly. "She has a son your age and he was quite close to Ari himself."

We talk about Arielle and how strong she was but our talk was cut short when my mom called me telling me to come home. And by the looks of it Kenzie didn't want to be here anymore because there is only so much a 4 year old can do to keep herself entertained without her toys.

"I have to go now, my mother wants me home. It was nice meeting you Amy. I hope we can talk again soon and thank you Jenna for the tea." I say my farewell.

"Thank you Anastasia for the cookies, they were delicious." Jenna says and Amy agrees. I walk out with Kenzie by my side and wave to the women before Jenna closes the door.

-

"So did they like the cookies?" My mother asks. I simply nod. She holds out her arms, "Come here."

I drag my feet towards her and I hug her. I had no tears left to cry and all this sulking has left me tired.

"Go take a shower and rest. You have school tomorrow but I'll allow you to stay home." She smiled a sad, sympathetic smile and I made my way to my bathroom.

I strip out of my clothing and step in the shower, my head roaming with thoughts about this summer.

I don't want to do these extreme tasks alone. Amy has a son and didn't she say Him and Ari were close? I'll have to call Jenna and ask her for Amy's number.

I didn't bother washing my hair seeing that I won't be going to school tomorrow, most likely sulking in my bed while watching Aria favorite show and eating her favorite ice cream.

It hasn't even been a day but knowing that I won't ever be able to see or talk to or hear Ari's voice ever again is depressing.

—

Chapter one
This is really short but I just wanted to start this. Nothing really ever goes on in the first chapter. I promise the chapters will be longer as the story progresses.

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*NOT PROOF READ*