Hey, Princess (Louis Tomlinson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 6

"Tanner, can I talk to my daughter alone, please?" Mom looks at Tanner, who is sitting in the chair next me.

"Of course. I'll be waiting outside. It's good to see you again, Mrs. Grace." Tanner hugs my mom before stepping out of her room.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask mom.

Mom reaches my hand and places it in both of hers. "I need you to promise a few things for me."

"Promise what?" I slide my chair closer to her bed.

"No more surgeries." Mom whispers to me.

My eyes widen. "What? No! I can't do that! This cancer isn't just going to go away over night. We have to fight against it." I shake my head, vigorously.

"Please? I'm so tired of all of these surgeries. I know about my cancer. People are expected to live for three to six months. I've lived for a year. My time is going to come one day." Mom squeezes my hand, gently.

"You can't leave me." I start to cry. "You're my mom. I need you."

Mom picks up my hand and places it over my heart with hers. "I'll always be with you in your heart."

"No." I shake my head as tears flow down my face and splatter on my jeans. "I can't let you leave me."

"You have to, sweetheart. I wish I could live to see you get married and my beautiful grandchildren, but I understand that I won't. Which brings me to my next thing I want you to promise me." Mom pulls our hands back in her lap. "I want you to promise that you will fall in love. I know you are scared, but there is a boy out there waiting for you and he will treat you like a princess."

"He'll eventually leave me one day." I wipe away my tears only to have new ones replace them.

Mom smiles, weakly at me. "Not your one true love. You will have to meet a few frogs first, but I promise you there is a guy out there for you. Look at your father, he has been there for everything I've been through. He never left my side."

I squeeze my eyes shut. "What's your next wish?"

"When I pass away, I don't want you to be sad forever. You have to go out there and live your life. Follow your dream to travel the world. I know you have always wanted to do that. Don't let anything get in your way." Mom rubs her thumb on the back of my hand.

"What about dad?" I open my tear filled eyes.

"I've already talked to him about it. He agrees with me." Mom grins at me. "You can't let me stand in the way of living your life. Now, promise me."

"I can't do that." I shake my head.

"Sweetheart, please. Promise me."

I take a deep breath to try to control my tears. "I-I p-p-promise." I choke the two little words out.

"You promise to what?" Mom urges me on.

I bite my lip, unable to say anything else. Why is she making me do this? It feels like I'm helping her write her will. I truly don't want to make these promises because that means I have to do them. I'm not sure I can do that. I've never broken a promise to my mom before and I never want to. Mom hates when people promise her something and then never do it.

"I promise that you won't have to do anymore surgeries, I'll try to fall in love, and I won't be sad forever." I manage to say through my tears.

Mom smiles a real smile for the first time in a long time. "Thank you. You should probably head to work now. It's already nine."