I wake up Tuesday morning, realizing that I slept right through the night, I check my phone and I have a text from Jason.
"Hey sis, thought I'd stop by during the midday visiting hours, so fix yourself and don't look like shit when I get there ;)"
I reply, "Me? Look like shit??? Never. But okay, I'll see you later, bring your girlfriend along, I need to talk her through how to do your make up, you know, for when I can't do it anymore :)" he doesn't actually wear make up, but he does make me do his eyebrows and he likes it when I brush his eyelashes.
It's 7 am, the nurse should be coming with breakfast any time now, I do need the bathroom, so I get out of bed and it feels like I haven't walked for weeks. I pull the drip along and make my way to the bathroom. I look in the mirror and wow, I really do look like shit. I take a shower which was a bit more complicated with the drip but I make it work, I fix my face in the bathroom, and change into normal clothes, purple sweatpants and a white crop top, and I leave my wet hair to dry.
When I come out the nurse is waiting for me, she has a container, with the days of the week and pills in each compartment. She tells me I don't need the drip until after my next treatment. Wow, couldn't she have told me this before I showered with this thing? She carefully removes the needle from my hand and puts a plaster over it, she explains how the pills work and then she leaves me alone with the breakfast, today it's scrambled eggs, bacon that tastes a bit weird and toast, with apple juice, not bad.
The midday visiting hours are from 11 am-1 pm, and it's only 7:45 am now so I decide to get started on the videos since I look decent. I decide to make a list for each person, writing down each of the milestones they will reach in life, I start with Jason because he is the first person who came to mind.
Jason:
-Intro: Watch this the day after my funeral.
-When you graduate from university
-When you get your first proper paying job.
-When you decide to cut all your hair off for some unknown reason.
-When you meet a girl you want to marry.
-For the girl whom my brother is marrying.
-Your wedding day.
-When you buy your first house.
-When there's a bun in the oven.
-When your child starts school.
-For your child when they reach high school.
-For your child when they turn 18 years old.
-If you have more than one child.
-When you hit rock bottom aka mid life crisis.
-When you're old and you become a grandpa.
I forced myself to hold back my tears because I put mascara on and I do not want to look like a raccoon by the time he gets here. I convince myself that this is a good thing and that it isn't something to be sad about because when they reach these points in their lives and they watch these videos they're going to be really happy.
I set my lap top up on a makeshift stand on the side table so that it is at the right angle, and I start recording Jason's videos one by one. I don't overthink it, every video takes one take because I'm simply speaking from the heart. I was interrupted by the nurse once, but I played it off pretty well. It took about an hour and a half to make all 14 videos, I create a Jason folder on my lap top, put all the videos in that folder, then I copy the folder and load it to both USBs, that's one person down, 4 more to go. But not today, one person a day is all I can handle.
I turn the TV in my room on and on one of the channels the movie Pretty Women is playing, I take out one of the chocolates I'm not supposed to be eating and watch one of the most iconic movies ever made. Julia Roberts is everything in this movie. Just before it ends Jason comes in,
"Hey Av-"
"Shhhhhhhh," I shush him because it's the best part, where he becomes her knight in shining armor and climbs to the top for her, even though he is afraid of heights, it's so disgustingly romantic. I make Jason sit quietly on the chair next to my bed and watch the ending with me.
"Finally," he exhales when the credits start rolling.
"Did I not tell you to bring your girlfriend???" yes I was joking in the text but I actually wanted to talk to her.
"We actually broke up."
"WHATTTTTTTTT? WHENNN?" I never really liked her but with the way he used to go on about her I thought they'd be together for a lil while longer. He seemed happy with her.
"Yeah, like 2 months ago."
"2 MONTHS AGO???? And you're only telling me now???" This actually hurts my feelings.
"Yeah, I didn't want to worry you anymore than I have to." This right here, is the reason why I don't tell people I have cancer, they treat you differently. It's annoying.
"Jason Adam Shaw, you listen up and you listen up carefully, telling me what is happening in your life is not a burden in any way, you are my brother, you can tell me anything." He just looks at me with an awkward smile plastered on his face. "So now tell me, why did you guys break up?" He looks at me like I'm not supposed to ask that question, clearly he forgot how nosey I am.
"Ummmm, she cheated on me."
"Aight, give me her address, mission 'whoop-that-hoes-ass' is a go," I say while sitting up and putting my shoes on, but he stops me.
"No Ave, it's not even worth it if I'm being honest, I 'loved' her because she loved me, I know now that's not how relationships work, you're both supposed to fall in love," he says looking down with a slight smile.
"Well if she loved you so much why would she cheat on you?"
"Ummmm, she said it was the alcohol."
"Bullshit," I say.
"Yeah well, it's over, I'm wayyy passed it."
"If you say so. How's university going?"
We talk and laugh for a good two hours, then the nurse comes in to say visiting hours are over.
"You should go now," I say standing up ready to hug him goodbye.
"Is it okay if I come visit you tomorrow again?"
"Two days in a row, well aren't I just the luckiest..." when he doesn't smile or reply back with sarcasm I start to get the sense that there's something on his mind.
"Is there anything else you want to talk about? If you'd like, you can even come visit later today."
"I'll let you know," he says and gives me a hug that is longer than our usual hugs. Something is definitely on his mind."Bye Ave."
"Bye Jason." He closes the door on his way out and I can't help but to wonder what that could be about, oh that reminds me...Maya, she still needs to tell me what she's hiding, I'm so curious about what it is she feels she can't tell me. I give her a call, and she doesn't answer, but then again she is still in school, I'll try again later.
In the meantime, I go downstairs to the lobby, hoping to run into Kai so I can bring up Fly or Fall, but he is no where in sight.
YOU ARE READING
Salient Secret
Teen FictionA teenage girl living in a world that wants her dead. She's not afraid to die but she's afraid to live. She gets stuck with a life she didn't ask for. Her new life comes with an epic love story, but will that be enough to save her from herself...
