Jason pov-
It took me 15 minutes to finally finish drawing Alex's picture the elderly bear helped me shade it. I smiled when the picture was finished. I hope Alex will like it once I get in my truck I'm going tape Alex other sketches in this sketchbook, I close the sketchbook a small frown appear on my lips this will be Alex only gift and then I have to go home to pack. I was going to miss my house and the good memories that my parents and I made in that house.
" Thank you," I said as I stood up from his chair the elderly bear smiled "your welcome and I hope the person you drew that for will love it," he said I nod and clutch the sketchbook. Yeah, this will be my farewell gift for Alex before I leave I was really going to miss him. I give the bear another smile and said goodbye then I left the store I unlock my truck and went inside, I sat in my truck for a bit I reach over my glove department and took out Alex's sketches and a tape dispenser. then I place Alex new sketchbook on my lap and open it I grabbed each of Alex sketches and begin to tape them on different pages.
Alex pov-
I felt someone shake my shoulder I yawned and opened my eyes Samatha was the one that woke me up. "Sorry for waking you again sweetie but I need to change your bandages," she said I wanted to tell her to leave me alone but I didn't, I force myself to sit up Samatha moves the blanket off me. "Alright dear let's get started," she said she as took my hospital gown off and unwrapped the gauze that was on my chest. I could see that she was reading the words on my chest she mumbled something and begin to check on the stitches to see if I was bleeding, once she was done she grabbed a new set of gauze that on my table and begin to wrap my chest up again.
I winced " I'm sorry," she said but I told I was okay "the doctor did well stitching up your chest" she commented as she finished wrapping my chest.
Samatha threw away the used bandages in a trash can, she then reaches for my right arm I stared at my arm as she begins to unwrap the bandage. I felt my heart cracked when I saw that they stitched up Luna's name... It looked ugly now, my cuts were also stitched it started to irritate me they had no right to stitch those up the cuts on my arms were a part of me.
I move my finger to one of the thread I wanted to tear it out my skin and watch the blood spill out. But Samantha stops me by grabbing my wrist " no Alex leave them alone your cuts need to heal" she said sternly I looked in her eyes they were mixed with concerned and sadness, why does this women care about so much I'm not her son..... This is my body and I can inflict pain on myself if I want it to it made me feel alive. I pull my hand away from her and stayed quiet she sighs and begin to check the stitches and apply new bandages.
She threw gauze in the trash and started on my left arm we stayed quiet not a saying word to each other. As she worked on my left Samatha finishes quicker, she throws the gauze in the trash and ties the trash bag up. she gives me a sad smile and writes something on her clipboard..... I had a feeling she wrote something about me she hands me a cup of water and two ibuprofen "just in case your body starts to hurt" she explained kindly. Samatha then leaves my room with the trash bag and clipboard I slammed the back of my head against my pillow and sighed sadly" more things to anger my dad" I mumbled I bet this suicide watch his going to make for me is going to be worse than the ones he had done.
I then remember when Jason gave me the letter that was from my mom I glanced at it the letter sat on the table that was beside me. I haven't touch it since Jason left... Maybe I should read it now I reach for it I took the letter off the table, my fingers trembled when I begin to open it and see my mother handwriting.
Dear, 2/11/13
My wonderful Alexander I know that you have been worried about me since the day I was diagnosed with cancer. I notice that you stop eating to take care of me but I don't want you to starve yourself, because I'm ill and I also don't want you to worry either. To much worrying can make you stress son so don't worry about me because you and your father have been so patient and kind, of taking care of me that it feels me with confidence that I will beat this cancer and be with you and your father, Until I see you grow up to be a talented young man.
Every day I have started to lose patches of my hair and I would feel terrible when I would see it in the shower when I would wash my hair. I thought if your father sees this way he would leave me because I will no longer have that silk black hair he loved and he'll think that I'm ugly without my hair, but he never left me your father complimented me every morning that I was beautiful it always made me cry in his arms. Your father stuck with me day and night to take care of me, he even stayed home from work one day when I had to be taken in for radiation he kept me company during the treatment when you were at school.
Your father was always a thoughtful and hardworking man and I wouldn't change anything about him. I'm glad I was the one he choose to marry, he made the family laugh with his goofy sense of humor and charm and you Alex I'm so happy that you're my son. Whenever you came home from school, you would always somehow notice when I was down and you would sit in my bed with me and teach me the basics of drawing. It always made us laugh. when I would show you my attempt of drawing a terrible circle or an animal.
But you would always give me positive feedback when we drew together or when I would watch you draw. You made those negative thoughts that kept me down to vanish, even when I had to stay in the hospital you made my heart swell with joy. When I saw you come with your dad to visit me and talk about your day or how you had a new of a sketch. I loved to listen to your voice it made me relax before I had to go to my next treatment.
Now, Alexander, I know that you're upset because you overheard one of the doctors that talked you dad about me. On how I had two months to live, but I don't want you to be upset about how long I have to live I want you to act like yourself smiling and being happy with no sense of worry about me. I'm not gone yet sweetie and I promise that I'll spend every day with your father and you and make our time that we have wonderful and rememberable, until the day I have to shut my eyes and no longer be with you'll.
But I want you to do me a favor Alex when I pass away I want you and your father to stay you'll lovable selves. I don't want you'll to be affected by my death, can do that for me Alex? I need you and your father to stay strong and be with each other for the support so you'll get through the tough times. when I'm gone but until that day comes I'll be waiting for our next drawing lesson and tell your father I miss his jokes I wouldn't mind hearing some right now, its bit boring in this hospital.
I love you Alex and tell your father I love him too and don't worry anymore dear I'll be home soon.
Sincerely,
Your mother
-Grace Anne Williams-
