~First update November 3d 2019~
For a long time I've been trapped inside hospitals and locked away from the world.
For a long time I've lived imprisoned by my own body and the cancerous cells inside it.
My time is coming to an end. I know it. It is...
After three days at home I finally mastered up the courage to text Harley. I have been putting it off trying to convince myself that I should stay away from him for his own sake and that I'm better off without him.
Clearly I'm not convincing anyone!
I have been staring at my phone screen for about thirty minutes now trying to figure out what to say. I'm not pretending to not care about him thinking I'm stupid for writing anything idiotic!
I settle for -Hey. Ophelia here, you know, the girl with cancer. Hopefully you haven't been giving your number out to girls with cancer and you can figure out who I am!
Needless to say the moment I press sent I regret it.
I mean...it is a pretty idiotic thing to write. Isn't it?
What if it's too sarcastic, what if he just doesn't text back?
What if...what if he really has been giving his number out to other girls with cancer too?
I throw my phone to the other side of the couch in the living room and lean my forehead on my hand with the biggest sight that makes my chest hurt.
''What happened bean''? I snap my head and look up at my brother who just came back from soccer practise as he picks my phone up ''Don't do that''! i say and try to reach him to take it from him but he takes a step back and I see his eyes move as he reads my text.
''Mom! Ophelia has a boyfriend''! he screams and I squeal covering my face with my hands as our mother enters the living room and looks at the text over Jullian's shoulder. ''Oh honey, that is not a good way to start a conversasion''. my mom says sadly and takes a seat on the couch next to me while Jullian laughs.
''Moooooom'' I say and she leans back. ''Tell me, who is it? Is it that hot guy that was visiting you in the hospital''?
Jullian laughs again and I throw him a pillow that hits his muscular shoulder. ''Moom ewww gross. You can't go around calling teenagers hot''! I complain and she smiles while shrugging. ''I know to appreciate a handsome young man. That's all''! the woman says and stands up again, ready to head out.
She is dressed in a very pretty dress and high heels that make her slim legs look longer.
Her dark hair is curled and she is wearing the earrings our father bought her last year on christmas.
''Mom you're looking good. Where are you going? Meeting with some handsome young man perhaps''? I ask mockingly as Jullian kisses her cheek.
Mom rolls her eyes and scrunches her nose a bit. ''Indeed a handsome man. You might know him. He happens to be your father! He is getting off work early today and he promised to take me to dinner. Behave yourselves and honey...'' she turns to me. ''No wild night activities that include beds for you while I'm away alright''? she winks and exits the door as I pretend to gag and Jullian laughs again.
As soon as the door closes my phone makes a small noise and Jullian grabs it. ''Ooh! He answered bean''!
I climb on the couch back and jump on his back. He holds my legs around his waist and I take the phone from him, watching over his shoulder. I press on the small speech bubble icon and read his answer with my heart beating fast as ever.
-Hey, Harley here ;) I promise I haven't been giving my number out to random girls. Would you like to hang out sometime?
I smile and fall back on the couch pillows relieved he didn't mock me on my lack of messaging skills. My brother kisses my forehead and heads upstairs to take a shower.
-Good to hear:). Sure. Sounds nice. When? I send and he answers about a couple of minutes.
-How about now? Are you free?
Now what am I supposed to say?
I start freaking out but then Jullian comes back with his hair dripping water on his clean tshirt.
"He asked me out" i blurt before I can stop.
"He is fast" is the only answer I get as my brother pours himself a bowl of cereal.
"Is that all? What am I supposed to say?. He asked me out now!"? I screech and melt in the pillows.
"Say yes. It's not that complicated" he says munching on some rice puffs.
"Just like that? Yes"? He nods as he sits next to me turning the TV on.
Right...I gulp and can hear my heart beating in my ears as I answer.
-There is a really nice ice cream place a few blocks away from the hospital. Wanna meet there in half an hour?
-Sure. See you in 30'. ;)
''I have a date in thirty minutes.'' I say and my brother turns to face me surprised. ''Like...today''? I nod and he smiles. ''Look at you getting dates like a champ''. i shove his arm and he kisses my cheek.
''Do you want me to drive you''? he asks and I nod. ''Are you going to get ready or something''? he asks and I shrug. ''We're going for icecream not for dinner, What do you want me to wear? A ball gown''? I ask and raise a brow.
''You can't go on your first date in your sweatpants''. he says and I try to protest. ''I've been on a date before''. He rolls his eyes. ''That was three years ago and the guy had no hopes. It wasn't a real date. Go put on some jeans at least'' my brother shoo's me from the couch.
After two coughing fits and a phone call full of excited squealing from Selena, I manage to exit my bedroom dressed in my favorite black jeans, a stripy long sleeve on top of which I have one of Jullian's band t-shirts as well as off course my super fashionable oxygen tank stroller as I call it. I refuse to do something special with my hair and my tube does enough for my face. I also brush my teeth and put on my face mask before leaving the house.
