Until The Day I Die

Chapter 4

     Let's fast forward to middle school. Once Chloe and I started middle school, we decided we were going to date. I was never into dating especially since I'd never done it before. In middle school things were just slowly going downhill. Middle school were the worst years of my life. I basically went through the same crap I went through in Detroit, except this time it was all about Chloe. Everyone was making fun of her, saying that I can do better, or that she could do better. So many different things were said about both of us. In sixth and seventh grade, guys in the hallway and at lunch would say things behind my back, confront me about something I've never even heard of, and then fight me, and they always got away with it. I've gotten detention more than twenty times in sixth grade alone. The fights were always about her. It's interesting how people give a crap about her so suddenly...
     Eighth grade was by far the worst. It was the year when we found out...
     One day at school, Chloe never showed up. Chloe and I haven't missed school once since we met each other. Chloe missing one day of school didn't really make me feel worried. It was just one day, I thought. What could be wrong?
     After school, I had to walk home alone. People made fun of me for that, of course, but I just ignored it. I was on my way home, and I decided to call her, but she didn't answer. I called her a second time, but still no answer. I came to a conclusion that she was sleeping, so I stopped calling.
     When I got home, David asked me if I had a good day, you know, the same question everyday, but instead of answering, I asked if he could drive me to Chloe's house. I suddenly felt worried about her. I have spoken to her in this long, and it's only been one day.
     David asked, "Why? Was she not at school today?" I shook my head.
     "Well that's not normal. I'll give her parents a call, okay?" David seemed so calm but I was kind of the opposite.
     I went up to my room and planted my face in my very comfortable pillow. I decided to call her one last time, and the phone was ringing for what seemed like an eternity. I was about to give up, but she answered me!
     "Hello?" She sounded like she just woke up.
     "Chloe," I said relieved, "why weren't you at school today? Is everything okay?"
     "Oh, well, I haven't been feeling well lately, so momma let me stay home today and rest. Sorry for not saying anything. I meant to say something, but I guess I just forgot." She giggles a bit but started coughing. It didn't sound too good either. I asked again if everything was okay. She just said she had to go and hung up. It made me sad.
     I went on with my day as usual, but she never left my mind. During dinner time, my mom asked me how my day was at school. I told her that Chloe wasn't there, and when I called her she said she was sick. Mom gave her sympathy while we finished eating.
     After dinner, I went into my room to get ready for bed. I checked my phone and saw that I had three missed calls from Chloe's mom. I was about to call back, but as soon as the phone was starting to ring, David ran into my room telling me that we need to go to the hospital. I was confused.
     "Why? What's wrong?" I said.

     "Chloe's in the hospital..."

     We all rushed outside to the car and raced for the hospital. I was panting and on the verge of crying and screaming. I really hoped she was going to be okay. I started thinking about our conversation we had earlier. She said she was sick. Why didn't I come over to her house? Why didn't I listen to myself? She could die now. I was so scared.
     When we got to the hospital, I opened the door before the car even stopped, and I ran through the front entrance. Mom was yelling my name, but I ignored her. I ran through the front door and to the desk and asked the lady at the front desk where Chloe was. I was out of breath and I couldn't think straight. The lady told me to calm down and asked me where my parents were. At that moment, David ran inside to find me. When he saw me at the desk, he came to me, put his hands on my shoulders, and asked the lady the same question.
     "We're here to see Chloe Gray," He said.
     The nurse looked at the computer for a moment, and my stupid self thought she was ignoring us, until she said, "I'm afraid you'll have to wait in the waiting room with her parents for right now."
I started crying. I thought I was never going to see her again... I saw her parents and ran to them in tears. I just kept asking and begging them for Chloe to be okay. Her mom gave me a big hug and told me that everything was gonna be alright. We all sat down in a chair and waited.
     An hour went by... there's still no update on Chloe. I started falling asleep on Mom's shoulder. She kissed my head and held my hand as I dozed off.
     Suddenly I woke up. David woke me up.
     "Hey buddy, we can go see Chloe now, c'mon." I was so happy and excited. I jumped out of my chair and started running down the hallway, but that's when I realized I had no idea where I was going. I looked back and saw Mom and David just standing there looking at me.
     "You're going the wrong way, honey," Mom said. All three of us went on the elevator to the third floor. She was in room C-22. I tried to run off to look for that room, but David grabbed my arm.
     "You can't be running off so much. Let us show you where it's at." He puts his hand on my shoulder as we walk down the hallway. When I see the door, I couldn't help but run off to it. I stopped in front of it though. I was nervous to open it. I had never been through this situation before. I waited for my parents. I wanted them to open the door. David stood by me and asked if I was gonna open it. I told him I didn't know. He smiled at me while messing up my hair and opened the door letting me go in first. As I walked through the door, I got closer and saw Chloe's parents sitting on the small bench next to Chloe. When I saw Chloe, I completely lost everything that was going through my mind. It was like the room just went pitch black and all I could see was Chloe laying asleep in a hospital bed. She had tubes in her nose. I walked up to her and just held her hand.
     After a while, the nurse came into the room asking to speak with Chloe's parents. My parents and I stayed in the room. I sat down on the bench next to Chloe and never let go of her hand. Her hands were really hot. I guess it was because my hands were really cold. We arrived at the hospital about ten o'clock. It was around midnight by now, so it was a little chilly outside. When Chloe's parents came back in the room, there were tears running down both of their faces. I was worried. What did the nurse say to them?
     "What is it, Anna?" Mom asked.
     "Chloe... she..." She couldn't hold back her tears. It was really hard for her to speak. We gave her a second to calm down, so she could speak properly.
     "Chloe has leukemia," she took a deep breath, " stage three." I looked down as those words came out of her mouth. I then grabbed Chloe's hand with both of my hands. I shed another tear. I then remembered something. When I first started to get to know Chloe, she said she had leukemia when she was five. I guess it came back. Chloe fought it once, and I knew she was gonna be able to fight it again. As I was looking down, I felt the grip of my hands get tighter, but my hands weren't moving.
     "Brandon..." I looked up and saw those beautiful brown eyes, and that adorable smile.