"Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I'll miss you until we meet again"
Someone shaking my shoulder pulling me out of my much need sleep. "Go away" I groaned smacking whoever hand it was away from me. The sound of my older sister's laugher made my green eyes pop open. No, that can't be right. I shifted my eyes meeting her warm brown eyes.
"come on Dan get up" Lauren rolled her eyes shaking my shoulder again. I quickly pushed myself up throwing myself into her arms. "did you miss me?" she giggled in my ear hugging me tightly. I pulled back slowly locking my eyes on hers. It has been so long since I have seen her.
"yes" I pulled her back into another hug. "what are you doing here?" I whispered in her ear afraid if I let her go, she would leave again.
"what I can't come visit my favorite Rat?" she laughed squeezing me before pulling back slowly. "Dan don't cry" she placed her hand on my cheek her. Her thumb gently brushing away my tears.
"I just missed you" I pouted.
"I missed you too" she brushed my hair out my face now go brush your teeth your breath stinks" she scrunched up her face making me laugh.
"Thanks" I rolled my eyes getting out of bed. "because I am sure your breath smells so lovely when you first wake up" I said over my shoulder walking into the bathroom. I got ready for the day before walking back into my bedroom. Lauren was laying on my bed staring up at the ceiling.
I laid next to her pressing our arms together. "why did you leave?" I asked turning to face her. why did she leave us? Why did she leave me?
"I didn't want to" she sighed keeping her stare fixed above us. "let's not talk about that, I didn't come here to talk about that" she turned facing me.
"okay do you want to go out and do something?" she shook her head. "do you want me to order breakfast I don't really have anything to make?"
"sure" she nodded getting out of bed.
"how did you get in anyway?" I asked following her down the hall to the living room.
"I have my ways" she turned flashing me smile. Her brown eyes wandered around the room at the pictures. "you really made a beautiful bride" she picked up the picture from my wedding.
"thanks, Lo" I smiled walking over to her. "what do you want to eat?" I asked moving over to the couch falling back onto it.
"doesn't matter" she shrugged her shoulder joining me on the couch. I grabbed my phone to order us breakfast. "we should watch some old videos" she pointed to the remoted. I nodded grabbing it to put on the YouTube app on the TV. We watched every video we ever made cracking up at our Rise video. "what were we thinking" she shook her head.
"I don't think we were" I laid down with my head in her lap.
"that is true" she ran her fingers through my hair. I didn't want to move but I had to when there was a knock on the door. I must have stood up to fast because the room started spinning. "you okay?" Lauren jumped up.
"yeah I just stood up to fast" I nodded gaining my balance back. I made my way to the door getting the food. I couldn't help but how she didn't touch her food. "you're not eating?" I raised my brow looking at her.
"no, I am not hungry right now" she shook her head leaning closer to me. She rested her head on my shoulder as I ate. Once I was done eating, I put on some music so we could dance around the room like fools. A few songs later I had to sit down because the room started spinning again. "are you okay?" she sat down next to me putting her hand on my back. "has this been happening a lot?"
"I'm fine" I took a deep breath. I didn't want to ruin the great day we were having. "I guess I can't party like I used to" I forced out a laugh.
"that's because you are an old lady now" she bumped my shoulder with hers.
"you are older than me remember" I reminded her. She opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it. Her smile turned into a frown. "Netflix?" I nodded putting it on. She let me pick what we watched with was odd for her.
It was close to noon when my head started pounding. It wasn't like a normal headache it was one that stops you from doing everything. I was curled up on the couch with my head on Lauren lap wishing this pain away. The medicine wasn't working and all I could do was cry. I have been having these headaches from a while, but none have been this bad.
"Dani you should go to the hospital" Lauren whispered rubbing my temples.
"its just a headache" I said through my teeth.
"what if its something more. What if it's a brain tumor?" I could hear the panic in her voice. "you should go to the doctor and get a cheek up at least" I shook my head its not a tumor its just a headache. It will go away.
The pain started to subside, but it was replaced with a weird feeling. I sat up looking around. "Dan Listen to me?" she cupped my cheeks making me look at her. "something is wrong" there were tears in her eyes. "and you need to go to the doctors"
"I am fine" I sighed not wanting to believe that something could be wrong with me. "I am okay Laur" I closed my eyes.
"you're not okay" she snapped. "and if you don't get help you are going to die" she pulled away from me. Hearing this made my eyes pop opened. "our family wouldn't be able to handle losing another person"
"okay" I breathed out before everything started to blur. I could faintly hear someone call my name as everything fade to black.
I woke up to bright lights above me in a hospital bed. "Dani thank god you are awake" Emmyn he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"what happened?" I asked confused seeing just a few seconds ago I was with Lauren.
"you had a seizure" he took my hand as the doctor came in. He explained what had happened and the test they had ran while I was out of it. It was a tumor, a tumor that they have to remove.
"Lauren was right" I muttered under my breath.
"what?" Emmyn asked. "neverminded, your family is out in the waiting room they really want to see you. Are you up for that?" I nodded my head still trying to wrap my mind around what the doctor told me. He left the room to get my room. They only allowed four at a time so first it was my parents and two of my younger brothers. When it was time for my sisters to come in. I sat up straighter acting as if nothing was wrong with me.
"Dan Dan" Lisa practically threw herself on top of me.
"I am okay Lise" I patted her back.
"you must have been so scared since you were alone" Kath said pulling up a chair next to my bed.
"I wasn't alone" I shook my head. "Lauren was with me" I met Christina's stare. Amy opened her mouth only for a sob to come out. "Where is she?"
"Dan" Christina walked over to me placing her hand on my shoulder. "Lauren is gone remember?" her voice was shaky. "remember she passed away three years ago?"
"no she was with me" I shook my head again. "she was with me" I repeated as Lisa hugged me tightly. "she came to see me today" tears slipped down my cheeks as memories of the night she died came flooding back. did she come back to warn me about this? "it felt so real"
"I am sure it did Dan" Lisa whispered. "maybe she didn't want you to be along when it happened?"
Two days later when I was wheel back to the operating room, she was there walking with me. I tried to stay calm as they prepped me for a surgery I was going to be away for. "its okay" Lauren stood in front of me. "you are going to be okay" she placed her hand on mine. I wanted to believe her trying not to freak out as they numbed me.
"I love you Lo" I said through tears as she walked away as they removed the tumor.
"Love you too Dan" she smiled brightly stopping for a moment before disappearing.
