73 Memories

The Seventieth Memory

When we picked Laura up from school and sat down with her on the couch, I had to hold myself together, even though it was hurting me so much to keep the tears in. But I did. I had to be strong from my little girl.

"Do you remember the day you went home with Olivia and her mom, Jacie?" Laura nodded her head and I went on. "Well, you had to go with her because I had to go to the hospital."

"Are you okay?"

I looked at her, and instead of lying to make her feel better, I shook my head. "No, I'm not okay. Do you know what a brain tumor is? Have they taught you anything about them yet?" She nodded. "Well, I have one. A really big one, and it's so big and attached to me they can't get it out. So I won't be around very much longer. But I'll still be able to see you, I promise. I'll look out for you and make sure Dad isn't too hard on you about boys. I'm just going to be doing it somewhere else."

Tears were streaming down Laura's face so fast, her sobs loud.

"I'm sorry, honey. I love you so, so much."

She nodded, and I knew that was as much as I could get from her for now. "We can eat ice cream later, okay?" She nodded again. "Do you want to be alone right now?" Again, she nodded.

We got up and headed to our room. "I don't know how you did that," you whispered.

"I don't know how, either." We were silent for a little. "Hey," I said after a few minutes.

"What?"

"Promise me you won't do what my dad did to me."

"What?"

"Promise you won't treat Laura like she's not there. Promise you'll still take care of her, and love her."

A few tears ran down your cheeks and I was quick to wipe them away. "Of course I'll love her."

"Promise me."

I watched as you reached out for me, and I leaned into your arms. I knew I still had a month at the least, but I was going to treat every moment like it was the last. "I promise. I love you."

"I love you, too.

Later that night, after Laura had stopped crying and we'd eaten supper and I told Emlyn everything over the phone, we all sat down in front of High School Musical and taught Laura what made it the best movie series, even though they were from when we were kids. We each had our own ice cream pint. Laura was snuggled between us, her head resting on my shoulder. Emlyn was on my other side, head on my other shoulder.

And as horrible as that day was, it was also the last good one.