26. imagination

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"How about we throw her a big party?" suggested Jason as he sipped from his shake.

"No way! She just had her graduation party. We wanna do something more special." said Cam.

"Yeah. We want to do something she'll really like, before we leave for college. It has to be better than that." said Jo.

"Hmm, so we can't take her somewhere outside the hospital?" asked Jason.

"We don't wanna risk that," said Leo, "her heart is getting weaker by the minute."

Jo thought for a moment.

"So what is something great, memorable, and creative that we can do for Maddi that keeps her inside the hospital?"

Leo stopped to think.

"Well, how about something that has to do with what she loves?"

"Like what? You?" Jason said, which made him and the girls laugh.

Leo laughed a bit then responded, "That is true, but I wasn't referring to it in that way. She loves art, right? So let's buy a bunch of art materials, like paintbrushes, paint, canvases, water balloons, and bring them to the hospital. Not only will we be having a great time, making memories, but it will also let us keep the memories. The canvases and paper, we could frame them, hang them up anywhere to always remember Maddi."

They looked at each other, smiled, and agreed.

"That's an amazing idea, but I have to ask...what are the water balloons for?" asked Jo.

"You'll see." Leo said with a sneaky smile.

They bought a bunch of art materials, as according to Leo's plan. The next day, Leo showed up in Maddi's room.

"Good morning, Maddi!" he said smiling as he entered.

"Morning, Leo." she replied.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Honestly, not that great. The results from my tests yesterday came in, and they said my heart is getting worse. If a heart doesn't come in soon, then..."

She turned away with a sad face.

"Hey, don't worry about it," he said as he lifted her chin up. "I told you, I believe a heart will be provided for you. I know it."

She looked at him with a small smile.

"Thanks, Leo."

"Hey, I know how to cheer you up." Leo said excitedly.

"How?"

"Maddi, you're gonna have the best day today. We're gonna go on a journey."

"A journey?" Maddi laughed, "Leo, I can't even leave my hospital room."

"Not that kind of journey," Leo talked as if he was in front of an audience, "We are going on a journey...to imagination!"

Just as he said that, Jason, Cam, and Jo swiftly ran in with paintbrushes in one hand and a big bucket of art supplies in the other.

Maddi's face immediately lit up. Of course, she thought Leo was being so cheesy, but he knows how to make her day.

They got out everything and made the room look so messy. They covered the side where they were painting on with white cloth so that the paint wouldn't splash anywhere.

They got out a huge canvas and they all painted on it together. Then they got the water balloons and filled them with paint. They pinned them on the wall where a paper was and threw darts on them which made the paint splash and drip making a beautiful, colorful art piece.

After they were all done with their fun, they ended the day with some more serious, yet memorable painting.

They got more canvases and started painting away.

Maddi's painting was really beautiful. It described her life so well.

Jo, Cam, and Jason's paintings were great, too. Each of them were able to describe themselves well in their paintings.

Leo's was really different. Maddi didn't know he could paint, but he did pretty good for an amateur. It didn't really describe his life, but his love for Maddi.

Afterwards, they cleaned up everything and let Maddi keep the paintings.

When the nurses saw them, she hung them up all over Maddi's room. It made Maddi so happy.

She loved art so much, and now it was all over her room. She definitely had a better atmosphere, which made her look and think more positive.

She couldn't have thanked them enough for what they did for her. But she was really gonna miss Jason, Cam, and Jo. A few days later, they came to say goodbye.

It really was a day full of tears. She was really gonna miss them, and they were really gonna miss her. They hugged the tightest hugs and then they left. Maddi felt so sad. They were her closest friends that were always there for her. And they just hoped that Maddi would still be there when they came back.

They were so faithful, even when she was going through a bully phase in her life. Even when she was so mean to them and even though she was sick, they still stayed there for her.

They would be harsh on her sometimes, but that was for her own good. They always looked after her and took care of her. They were the best friends she could ever ask for. And now they were gone. To college. A place where Maddi will never be able to go to.

She dreamed of taking art classes and becoming an animator or illustrator or anywhere in that area. She loved art.

She even dreamed of being roommates with Cam and Jo. But that's never gonna happen.

But one thing that made her happy and content with where she is was that day when they brought all the art supplies into her hospital room and painted the day away. That was her "art class." That was her "college major." She imagined it all on that day. Pretending that that was when she became the artist she's been wanting to be. One short day of a college life.

"Hey, anything wrong?" asked Leo.

"No," she said with a smile, "Everything's perfect."

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