Sickness And In Love

Walk Away

BETTY POV

I had on my oxygen tube and I read my book. Jughead was currently in surgery. It's been 2-hours since they first started and they said that they needed approximately another 3-hours until they are finished. The Jones family was in his hospital room and my family was in my room.

"So Aunt Betty...you and this guy...sleep together?" Chic's son, Jeremy asked. Everyone gasped and his him. Chic is 30-years old and is married and has 2 sons. Jeremy who is 12-years old and Will who is 7-years old. Polly is 25-years old and is engaged and has a son and daughter. 2-year old, Juniper and Dagwood.

"No, we don't..." I said.

"What even is the deal with you and this guy, Betty? Do you see you two having a happy life together?" Dad asked.

"Yes, I do."

"There's a chance that the lung transplant may not work." Mom sighed.

"I know...if it doesn't work, then that's it. I'll be with for the time that he has. I'm not leaving Jughead, ever." I raised my voice. I calmed down and decided to go to sleep.

When I woke up, most people were gone. Polly and Chic and their families were all gone. But Mom and Dad were still here, just asleep. I saw Jellybean come into my room and she smiled.

"Betty?"

"Hi Jellybean."

"The surgery is over...and it was successful. Your boyfriend and my brother has perfect lungs now." Jellybean smiled. I giggled and she left the room. I took off my oxygen tube and everything and put on my damp clothes that smelt like the lake. I woke up my parents and we went into Jughead's room. My parents went to check me out. Jughead was on life support and still asleep. I sat next to him and rubbed his head. I have no clue how long it was, but I stayed with him until he woke up. His eyes fluttered open and she looked at me. I smiled and he took off the mask to his life support. He gasped for air and chuckled at the fact he was breathing without a tube.

"You did it. You survived for 18-years and now have yourself good lungs." I said. FP and Gladys came up to Jughead and Jellybean followed.

"Are you happy, Jughead? The doctors say you can leave in about 3-days. We think you should relax for about a week after that and then we can help you find a job?"

"Now that I'm a normal person, I have a lot of catching up to do. Betty, is going to Yale. She's gonna be a doctor."

"Really?"  FP said surprised and I nodded.

"Maybe you'll help people just like my boy." Gladys smirked.

"Hey Mom, Dad, and Jelly...could you guys leave the room. I need to talk to Betty alone."  Jughead sighed. They exchanged looks and then left the room. I was nervous at what he had to say.

"Jughead, is everything ok?"

"You're so amazing. I always thought about what I wanted to do if I ever got a lung transplant....move to Seattle, and become a journalist. You're going to Yale, and you're gonna be an incredible doctor and help people like me. But Betty, I'm not good for you."

"Yeah, you are."

"No, I'm not. It hurts me to know, that when you'd be with me and your friends...you guys would be talking about school experiences. I would say that my school experiences would be online in a hospital room and I got a GED when I was 15-years old. I'm not like you, and I need you to leave me."

"What?" I said and began to cry.

"I need you to go to Yale, and meet another guy who loves you the way I do. I need you to marry him and live in a nice home. I need you to have kids and live the Happiest Life with him."

"I want my life with you!"

"But that isn't gonna last. I'm gonna need to make up for those lost years. We will be going down two completely different roads. Leave me, forget about me, and love someone new."

"No-"

"I love you so freaking much...but I'm setting you free." Jughead nodded. I sobbed and shook my head.

"Please...leave, forget, and love someone new. But I'll always be in love with you."

"If you really loved, you'd want me to stay!" I sobbed and it felt like I couldn't breathe. The pain in my heart and every where my body was the worst pain that I have felt in all of my life.

I tried to calm my sobs down and I stood up and began to walk to the door. I looked behind me and looked at him one last time, before walking out the door. My parents had my suitcase and we walked to the car. I didn't speak the entire car ride and I tried to hold back my sobs.

We arrived home and I went upstairs to my room and shut the door. I got on my pajamas and crawled into bed. I hugged my pillow and thought about Jughead once more. I began to sob and I couldn't help but sob loudly. I cried so hard and loudly for hours, until Polly came into my room.

"Betty, what's wrong?" Polly asked. I sat up and looked at her with my big, red, and puffy eyes. I throat hurt from the crying.

"H-he broke up with me...he basically told me that we weren't meant to be together! He told me to move on and forget about him!" I said bursting into tears. Polly held me and I cried more. I fell asleep on Polly and she let me onto my bed gently and she left. I cried myself to sleep for months after that...and didn't see Jughead since.