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narrative.
Revving the engine, Jerry kicked the motorcycle to start, straightening his helmet and turning around to check on the girl clinging tightly to him.
“Lexis,” he laughed softly when she squeezed her eyes shut to anticipate the wind and terror that followed in any motorcycle ride. “You okay there?”
She scrunched her nose. “I have been better.”
Jerry chuckled at that and double-checked to make sure that Alexis’s hands were fastened securely around his mid-riff before riding down the driveway of the hospital.
Being on a motorcycle had never enticed Alexis in the slightest, but it was better with Jerry around. It least he was a safe driver.
With her chestnut locks whipping around wildly in the wind, she unconsciously tightened her hold on her best friend.
What am I going to do? She sighed inwardly. I can’t possibly tell Mum about it; she’d flip.
Feeling dread make its way throughout her entire body, she pictured her mother’s anguish and brokenness if she were to tell her about her condition.
It would break her.
But for now, she would not worry about that, and just try to pull through knowing that her memories were fading.
+
it hadn’t been as bad to tell mum about my disease than to tell you. that was the only thing that was running through my mind as i showed you my diagnosis, and the small slope of your frown that followed made me stare, ashamed, at my shoes.
how long have you known? you asked slowly, flitting your dark brown eyes to meet mine, an unknown emotion hiding behind them.
a week. i had muttered meekly. i just couldn’t bring myself to tell you.
you stiffened, a hand clenched into a fist. we stayed like that for a while, my heart hammering loudly against my chest, and your slow, hard breathing filling my senses.
i’m sorry. you finally said, letting your hand go limp by your side. i should have noticed sooner.
it isn’t your fault. i had reassured, unsure if i should hug you there and then, but decided against it — the tension filling the air was too choking. no-one would have seen it coming.
you offered me a pained smile and a side-hug. still, it sucks that jerry knew about it before i did.
what? i asked, confused, leaving your side.
hearing from you turned out to be much harder. you said casually, scratching your nape. jerry was right. don’t get mad at him, though. he just thought that i should know.
my smile returned, albeit a nervous one. it’s okay. and i’m sorry again.
you waved it off, flashing a handsome smirk my way. never you mind. at least i have more excuses to see you now.
and at that moment, i wished that i could remember the nerves, the special smell of lemongrass that trailed behind as you walked away, and the image of your lips carving deviously into my mind.
