One-Shots

The Bucket List

My best friend Jayden put a piece of paper in front of me. I looked at it curiously and saw that it was a list.

"What exactly is this?" I asked confused.

In a monotone voice he said to me, "It's my bucket list."

I laughed and said, "You have plenty of time to make one, so why are you making one now?"

"Anna, I have cancer."

Those words made me freeze. Those weren't words I'd ever thought I'd hear my best friend say, especially not here, in an arcade full of screaming kids, because who would tell their best friend such horrible words at such a happy place?

Forcing a laugh I said, "Haha, that's hilarious Jayden, but really why?"

His expression was blank, and I felt my heart stop.

"No. No. Please, tell me you're joking! I won't even be mad, just please, let it be a joke!"

I was finding it hard to breathe. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest.

"I'm sorry." he said, still in the same monotone voice.

"Don't tell me you're sorry!" I snapped at him angrily, "Get angry, cry, scream! I don't care, just don't tell me you're sorry!"

"Well what do you want me to say?" He snapped, losing his patience, "That everything's ok? That we'll make it through this? Because I hate to break it to you, but nothing's ok! I'm going to die and there's nothing you can do to help me!"

Silence fell between us after his outburst. I hung my head low and tried not to cry. He sighed and said to me,

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that to you."

"What kind of cancer?" I asked softly, not really wanting to hear the answer, but knowing that not knowing would kill me.

"A brain tumor."

"When do you start?"

"Start what?"

I looked at him like he was crazy, "Your chemo. What else is there?"

He sighed and looked me in the eyes and said to me, " I don't."

"What? What do you-"

"Anna, its terminal."

I just looked at him in shock. The word terminal kept whizzing through my brain and though I knew what he was saying, I didn't want to believe it.

My best friend, who I grew up with, was dying? The guy who beat up the bullies that always made me cry, the guy who bandaged my knees after I fell off my bike when I was learning it, the guy who helped me get through the death of my goldfish, Mr.Sparkles, the one person in the entire world who I was afraid to live without, was going to leave me. He was everything to me!

"How long?" My voice came out as monotone as his had been.

"A month, maybe more maybe less."

"A month?" My voice came out choked, and he nodded silently.

I sat there in silence for a few minutes before a determination stronger than anything I had ever felt before gripped me. I stood up and grabbed his hand,

"Let's go" I said, throwing some bills on the table to pay for our drinks. I didn't waste anytime throwing Jayden into the car.

"Can you please tell me what you're doing?"

Looking him in the eyes I said determinedly I said to him, "I'm going to help you."

"Help me how? I don't understand!"

I stopped and turned to face him.

"Didn't you say you made a bucket list? Well I'm going to make damn sure that each and every one of those items are done."

"Anna that's impossible I only have a month left , we'll never be able to do anything."

"Oh yeah? Watch me prove you wrong!" I spat at him and continued my way to the car.

As the weeks passed more and more things were crossed off the list, but as time passed, Jayden got weaker and weaker.

I could see the pain he was in and it was killing me inside.

We were down to the last item on the list and it was by far a tricky one.

30. Kiss the girl I love and tell her not to miss me.

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. After a while of getting nowhere I turned to Jayden.

"Jayden? Who do you love?"

He choked on his water and said to me,

"Why are you asking? Especially now?"

"Its the last thing on your list. To kiss the girl you love and tell her not to miss you."

He turned a little red and said in a small voice,

"That's ok. We don't have to do that item."

"Are you crazy? No way! We're doing every last one!"

He sighed and said, "Fine then. Close your eyes and stand still."

I quickly oblidged. A few seconds later I felt his lips touch mine and he whispered in my ear,

"Try not to miss me too much, ok love?"

I nodded shakily and the rest of the evening was spent in silence.

That night Jayden died after collapsing. By the time I got to the hospital, he was already dead.

I spent the rest of my days emptily. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep and I barely left my room.

A month after Jayden's funeral his mother came to see me. She handed me a leather book and said to me, "He wanted you to have this."

I hesitantly opened the book and was greeted by Jayden's familiar handwriting.

I began to read the first page. There was a letter addressed to me.

"My dearest Anna, if you're reading this then I've probably passed. I know that right now you're thinking why and I doing this? The answer is that I don't want you to waste away in your room as you will undoubtably be doing. Listen to me Anna, I want you to move on. To live your life to the fullest. Remember me, but don't mourn me. I love you, until forever and a day.

Forever yours, Jayden"

Tears streamed downy face and I cried softly, finally releasing all of my emotions.

"I love you too Jayden, I love you too.

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I know it's sad but life's not always happy and these things happen. Please comment/vote

P.S sorry for any mistakes