All About Timing

Chapter 21

I sit on the couch as Maricela comes in with a cup of water, she sets it down on the coffee table before sitting on the other couch that was right in front of me.

My nerves spike while we sit in silent for a while before she finally speaks up, "has Sadie told you anything about her?"

I think for second and I'm sure I know some of her family history, past, favorite colors and food, that's just about it though.

"Like about her health?"

I shake my head no, grabbing the water with shaky hands as I take a drink.

"Aryn," she starts off slowly, seeming hesitant, "when Sadie was born we never expected her to make it to her fifth birthday, let alone her tenth or fifteenth. Yet she made it all these years. Last year, turns out she has these small metastatic tumors all over her body and she just isn't doing well. This week has been a rough week for her and it's only going to get worse. The chemo isn't working for her anymore. Even though it's given her some time, it's just not working and-" Maricela trails off, her voice cracking towards the end.

"She's dying isn't she?" I question, unsure of what I was feeling.

"She is mija and I hate to even talk about it but it's something that we've had to accept. She's upstairs right now but she's been very tired this week. She had a bad night on Sunday and we had to take her to the hospital, she just got out yesterday," she explains to me.

"I- I don't even know what to say," I whisper.

She gives me sad smile as I stare at the cup of water, trying to process everything she just said.

"If you want, you can go ahead and go talk to her. Her room is upstairs on the right, I'll go talk to your mom," Maricela tells me. She squeezes my shoulder before walking away.

I sit there for a while before taking a deep breath, I head upstairs and pause in front of her door.

I knock lightly, opening the door.

"Mom I'm fine," Sadie mumbles with her back towards me.

I walk in and take a look around her room and everything screamed Aryn. I smiled as I looked around, taking note of a picture she had printed of her and I. I sit on her bed, rubbing her back until she notices me.

"Ryn?"

"Hi Peanut," I tell her softly. She sits up from her bed and that's when I notice the bags under her eyes. She looked so tired.

"What are you doing here?" she questions confused, I give her a soft smile and lean in kissing her cheek.

"I was worried about you, I didn't have my sidekick beside me for a whole week and I needed to see if you were okay."

Her lip begins to quiver and I was unsure on what to do so I kissed her. She puts her hands on my chest, one sliding behind my neck as she kisses me back.

That's when I feel a tear fall onto my face so I hold her close, not wanting to let her go. Not in this moment.

I pour out my emotions into the kiss, unsure of what the future holds but sure enough that I was going to stick around as long as she would have me.

"You're crying," Sadie whispers and that's when I open my eyes, a few more tears falling out.

I let out a small laugh, wiping my face before I wipe hers, "I guess I am."

"Did my mom tell you?" she questions with worry written on her face.

"Yes she did Peanut."