Sickness And In Love

Daily Life

JUGHEAD POV

I woke up that Saturday morning on a warm September day. I took off my heavy oxygen mask and sat up. I grabbed a tissue and coughed into it with all the mucus that came out and threw it away. Let me begin, my name is Jughead Jones. I was born with a condition called, Emphysema. It basically means my "air sacs" in my lungs are badly damaged and some weird crap happens to my lungs. The life expectancy isn't long but I'm 18-years old and I'm looking fantastic. From the time I could remember, it was medications and treatments at least every hour. My life didn't totally suck though. I found a passion in writing and wrote a lot of short stories. My best friend, Archie Andrews, has been by my side since the day we met.

I got up and took my inhaler and focused on that for a couple minutes and then took my pills. I got dressed and put on my small oxygen tube and walked out of my room. My nurse, Jolene, ran up to me.

"Jughead, did you take your medication and focus on your inhaler like you do everyday at 9:00AM." Jolene asked. I nodded and she smiled.

"You're friend, Archie Andrews is here and demands you have breakfast with him." Jolene smiled. I gave her a thumbs up and she walked away. I started making my way to the cafeteria. Let me tell you how Archie and I became friends.

Archie had leukemia when he was younger. He was taken to this hospital when he was 7-years old and we met when we accidentally bumped into each other. We were the best of friends. However, when we were 11-years old, he ran to my room with joy telling me, he was cured and free to leave the hospital. It got a little lonely now because, Archie and I couldn't spend time together anymore. He still visited as often as he could though. As for me and a cure? No way. Emphysema has no cure. The only cure is a lung transplant and I've been on the list since I was 13-years old.

When I was born, the doctors realized there was something wrong with me and rushed me to the ER. They found out about my condition and I couldn't stay in Riverdale General Hospital. I was taken to one called Riverdale Life General Hospital. It's much nicer and more experienced doctors. I've hardly ever left the hospital. Believe it or not, there was a time when the doctors thought I had Cystic Fibrosis because I wasn't getting any better...turns out I didn't have CF and I just needed much stronger meds. I've been stable since. I couldn't come close to people with CF, COPD, or pneumonia because I could make there conditions A LOT worse. I never dreamed about much. I didn't really want to travel and never really thought I would fall in love. Eventually my lungs will give out and that will be the end of it.

I saw Archie sitting at a table and we hugged and then sat down. He got us pancakes, bacon, and orange juice to drink.

"Archie, you're 2 weeks into the school year and already skipping to spend time with me?" I chuckled.

"I told my principal and he said that it was ok and wouldn't count. School is getting a lot harder these days."

"Got a girlfriend?"

"Yep! Her name is Veronica Lodge and she's very kind. I like her a lot. I'm also the Quarterback of the Football team."

"Good for you, man! Does she know you had leukemia at a time?"

"I didn't tell her but I will soon...what about you, Jug? Meet any hot Hospital chicks yet?" Archie smiled. I snickered and shook my head. The pains in my chest were there again. They hurt when I used my lungs too ferociously. I grabbed my napkin and coughed into it. I threw it away and took out my inhaler again. I took a few deep breaths on it and then put it away.

"Jug, you ok?"

"Yup! Nothing that hasn't happened to me before."

"I heard you're getting paired up with a caretaker tomorrow. I wonder who your's gonna be?"

"Probably some annoying person up my butt all the time." I rolled my eyes. Archie and I fist-bumped and continued talking. Archie Andrews was truly a good friend.
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