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i unlocked my front door and opened it to hear the heated discussion between my mom and father. ever since they've been talking about this divorce they've both been so unkind to each other. i walked up the steps and listened to their conversation as i put my ear up to my father's bedroom door. "you're no man of god theo. you don't deserve the title you have." i bit the inside of my cheek and felt it bleed. calling him by his first name was incredibly disrespectful. not even i would do something so vile to my father.
"you may not talk to me like that, mrs. valkit." even when my mom spoke so rudely, my father still addressed her formally. "this will be done whether you like it or not." i stepped away from the door and sighed deeply. "and when this is over we will still act kindly to each other. our daughter is dying and she needn't see the darkest side of us before she passes." i made it to my room and softly closed my door in hopes they wouldn't hear that i was home.
a month passed since homecoming. halloween didn't really go as planned since my father refused to let me celebrate an evil holiday. he made me stay home but i called tate on the home phone and we talked for a few hours. the current date was december 20, 1993 and soon to be 1994.
it was currently winter break and i was baking brownies in the kitchen. it was highly dangerous for me to be doing so with a tank of oxygen attached to my hip so i had to have my dad help me a few times. when they were done i sat at the table and just stared at them. "maybe tate wants some," my father smiled as he stole one from the plate they sat on. "you should go over there."
"do you want to keep some for yourself?" he shook his head but took another off the plate. "okay. i guess i'll go over there." i slipped on my white shoes and grabbed the plate before making my way over to his house. i knocked a couple times and addy opened the door with a smile on her face. "hey addy. i brought us some brownies to share." she took the plate from my hands and invited me in. we went to the kitchen and at sat at the island in the kitchen.
"tate really likes you," she beamed and took one of the brownies off of the plate. "he's always talking about you to me." i laughed and shook my head.
"well i like him a lot too. i'm always thinking about him." i stared at the dessert but i still didn't take one. it wasn't because there was something wrong with them i just didn't feel like eating one. "he's a good person..."
"you're a pretty girl," she smiled. "i wish i was a pretty girl too." i rolled my eyes and finally reached for a brownie.
"oh addy, you're far more beautiful than i am, girl. don't doubt yourself." i scrunched my nose and tried to hide my admiration when i saw her toothy smile. "what did you dress up as for halloween?" she shrugged and leaned over the counter.
"snoopy."
"i like snoopy. he's cute. how about tate, what was he?" she thought for a moment and looked over to the hallway behind me.
"he was sad because you couldn't be with him. he didn't go out with us or dress up." a hand placed on my shoulder as tate came up behind me. he wrapped his arms around my shoulders until they met in the front.
"i was very sad." i turned slightly and kissed his cheek. "ooo, brownies!" he reached over me and took a brownie. "you make these?" he asked as his mouth was full of food.
"yeah," i laughed. "can we have a sleepover?" tate nodded and swallowed the rest of his brownie. "i've missed you." i haven't seen him this whole break, and even though we weren't dating i still wanted to be with him all the time. he intertwined our fingers and gazed into my brown eyes.
"you two should just date already," addy says and left the kitchen.
"let's go upstairs." tate's face went straight when his mother walked into the kitchen with her night gown on and a cigarette lit. "come on." we walked up the stairs and into his bedroom.
"i wanted to spend halloween with you but i couldn't. my dad.." he pulled me on his bed and shrugged his shoulders.
"it's alright. we're together now." he kissed my cheek and looked between my eyes and my lips. "you're such a boy," i say and lean in to connect our lips. every time we kissed everything around me just felt so surreal. his hand placed itself on the side of my face as he deepened the kiss. however i pulled away from him with a heart full of love. "i need to tell you something..." my eyes casted down to the space between us as my mind began to be clogged with anxiety.
"tell me, i'm here." he takes my hand into his like he always does when he knows i'm worried or upset. "take your time, adele."
"i went to the doctors last month because of my condition..." he nodded to show he was listening but i could already tell he knew what i was hinting at. "they told me at best that i have 3-5 months left. now would mean 2 at very best." his hand went limp and it fell into his lap. "i'm sorry i didn't tell you sooner. i wanted to but-"
"there's got to be some place better... somewhere." his voice was hoarse and i could tell he was holding back tears. "i love you adeline."
