Don't go

Chapter 8

Ashley's POV

These past days, I've been looking out for her all the time. Whenever my friends would tell me to join them after school, I would deny. Everything, denied

I also maneged not be too worried around her, so that she doesn't get suspicious about me. I think Alex is doing a good job also for keeping it secretive.

At first, Alex denied kepping her near death a secret.

******

Flashback

I heard a knock on my door, it was probably Leslie. "Come in, Leslie. It's unlocked"

The door slowly opened, and a head popped out. Alex.

"Sorry, I'm not Leslie. She's downstairs waiting for me. I just came saying were heading towards the park" he says waving bye, leaving. I took this as my opportunity.

"Alex wait a second" I halted him

"Yeah?" he asked stepping in the room again

"I need to talk to you... about Leslie"

This is where I get his full attention.

"What about her?" he asked trying to keep his voice calm. Obviously he isn't.

I sighed deeply looking down facing my homework on my lap "Me and mom..." I begin saying

"Yeah...?"

"We-um- we figured out something horrible about Leslie..."

"What about?" he asked quickly

"She-" i continue knowing my voice is craked "she's gonna-" i felt tears forming in my eyes. I blinked rapidly refusing not to let them show. Eventually, a tear landed on my paper so i gave up. "oh god, she has a few days to live" I blurted out

There were a few seconds of silence surrounding the bedroom. The only noise I could hear was Sponge Bob's voice in the living room and my constant sniffing from crying.

"Are you serious?!?" he yelled at me "Gosh! just when she was forgetting about her illness, I hear news that she has a few days left!"

Alex paced quickly around the room angrily. He finally stopped in front of my bed and took deep breaths to calm down.

"So what? You want me to tell her all of this, or you..., your mom?" he asks

I cleared my throat and looked up at his face "Actually, were planning on never telling her..." i say silently

"What!?!" he yelled "Why! Ashley, im not trying to be mean but, why in the world would you not tell her about this! This is obviously serious!"

"because she'll be crushed to hear about it!" I yelled back at him

"But she has the right to know about this!" he yelled back

"We won't tell her and that's final! I was just letting you know Alex..."

"Then what about her. Why doesnt anyone let her know" he muttered crossing his arms facing my down at my carpet

"Alex. Please, just try to understand why we made this decision" I say softly

"I'm listing..." he says facing up at me

"You see," i begin "you know how Leslie is thinking about her death. We even heard her say 'Don't worry. Im not gonna die yet' a few days ago, right? Well, if we decide to tell her, then she is going to be very depressed and stuff... you know..."

I waited for his response. He wasn't looking at me, rather, he was looking at a picture of a 7 year old Leslie on my bed lamp. Her brown pigtails, her bright smile with a front tooth missing, and her sitting on the swings. "Think about her, Alex..." i whisper quietly "think about Leslie..."

He looked away from the picture and instead looked at the window. The room immediately fell into a comfortable silence. He took several deep breaths before facing me.

"Look, Ashley, Its really sweet what your doing. All im saying is that it's her life. We can't choose for her, she has the right to know." he says slowly "but at the same time, I kinda agree with you..." a small smile crept up my face

"But, also, she's going to figure out her time is cutting short herself along the way" he says looking serious "you know, she's going to feel weak, and..."

"I haven't thought of that" I blurted out

"Thats my point. You haven't thought about everything. I mean, what if she's too weak to get out of bed in the morning? What am I going to tell her? Heck, what are you going to tell her, I'm refusing to tell her the truth at that point"

"Look" I said angrily "I was thinking that we should tell her also. But- god! now you made things more complicated than i thought"

"Im sorry Ashley" he said quietly feeling guilty "Really. I was just stating the facts. And I agree to keep it a secret..." We feel in an uncomfortable silence "You know what, I should go now. See you later" he quickly walked out and slowly closed the door.

I threw my homework on the floor in anger and got out of my bed. All of these tears flowing out my eyes were tears of anger, frustration, realization on what is going to happen in a few days from now. But mostly, its tears of saddness for her. I ran to my bathroom and looked at myself in the small rectangled mirror above my bathroom sink.

My dark brown hair and eyes, my eyes all red and puffy. I quickly wipped my tears away to clear my vision. I looked back at my room. The first thing I saw was the picture. I ran towards it and grabbed the frame, hugging it tightly in my arms

"All of this is for you Leslie. I'm sorry you have to live your life like this"