Ten Days

Day 2

When I woke up I felt the warmth of my mother's hands on my face. She was crying; of course, I knew that she would never get over these ten days. Especially the last one. But, I guess that I just have to accept it. There is no cure, and when there isn't a cure for this kind of stuff, there isn't a solution either.

I suddenly remembered something, and I said, "Mom... it's school. Do you think that I should go?" This confused her, she was probably thinking why I'd want to go to school, so I said, "Jamie's there."

"Well, it's all right, but I just thought that we could spend time together. Are you sure, Halley? I mean, if that's what you want..." she sighed.

I changed my decision. "No, I'm skipping school." She smiled at that. Time with my mother was so much more worth than doing English, Math and the such, when I'm not even in the same classes as Jamie.

"All right," she said after a while. "Get dressed and they'll be a surprise." A surprise? Hmm...

"Okay." She left the room and I climbed out of bed. I dressed in black jeans and a pretty, white blouse and did the buttons up to the top. I put some caramel-colored slippers on and slowly opened the door. I stepped into the kitchen and witnessed the best surprise I'd ever had in my life, never mind what she was about to tell me.

In front of my own eyes, was an enormous three-story cake, frosted in a white icing and pale pink roses moulded on the edges. It looked like a wedding cake. A knife sat by it, and my mother told me to cut the cake. I plunged the knife into it, and it revealed a golden sponge held together by a thick layer of strawberry jam and a coat of cream.

I took a huge bite out of the slice of cake. Then I put it down, and jumped into the air, hurling myself into my mother's arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Mom, I love you so much!"

"Me too, honey, with all of my heart," she replied. Then she pulled away, beaming at me with excitement. "And guess what?"

"What?"

"We're going on a cruise!" I froze, my expression blank. My eyes widened and the tips of my lips tipped up until I couldn't stop smiling. I bent down and screamed. Then I started crying.

"I'm so happy..." I whispered, and threw myself into my mother's arms once again.

"I've already packed," she said as she pointed at the door where our suitcases were. "Let's go!"

"Wait, really?" I asked. "Now? Right now?"

"Yes, Halley!" she answered. I screamed again and ran out of the door with my suitcase locked in my hands. I chucked it in the back seat of my mother's silver car and got into the front seat.

I looked at the sun shining as my mother slowly made her way to the car, locking the door on the way and struggling with the weight of the suitcase. Today was a sunny day. The sky was cloudless and blue. The sun was bright and gleeful. The warmth of the sun on my skin at the cruise, I can't even imagine how nice it will feel.

Before I know it, my mother's suitcase has already been thrusted into the back seat of the car, and the car has started rumbling. We're already driving by now. I open the window and wave to my town as we leave it. "Bye, house! Bye, town!"

* * *

I could see the waves of the ocean, the sun sparkling on them. And then, the most magnificent thing came into view.

An immense, white ship so clean that it twinkled, was resting on the surface of the ocean by the wooden fences. I gasped at how glorious it looked. I wondered how much my mother had spent for this. I didn't ask. I'm going to die in eight days, that it doesn't even matter. Not to me, not to her.

"Come on! Let's go!" I yelled in a friendly way, and my mother laughed at how eager I am. She drove into the entrance of the ship, down and down until she reached the car park.

I hopped out of the car and gripped my suitcase tightly. We travel upwards, taking the elevator right to the top floor. My mother said that she'll check in for the both of us and take our suitcases up to our room.

"Halley, I'm going now," she said as she left the elevator with the suitcases. "Go up to the top floor, Halley, there's a surprise waiting for you up there!" And the doors closed.

I did as she said. I'm getting all sorts of surprises today! Of course, what else could there be to give? Isn't this enough?

And the doors revealed Jamie, standing there with his arms wide open. I thrusted myself into his arms, squeezing him.

Me and Jamie spend the whole day dancing to music, sipping cocktails, sometimes kissing, enjoying the view, relaxing on the benches, eating ice cream and watching the ship sail away. I watched the night cave in on us, and the stars dazzled alluringly. I gave Jamie a final kiss on the cheek and said goodnight, before going down the elevator to my room.

I put on my pyjamas and laid in bed. I plummeted into sleep, with only one thought... eight more days to go.