THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD

''NEW/LAST'' YEAR

ANI'S POV It was already a new year but it felt worse than every other that I had experienced. I listened as the droplets of chemicals made their way to my body as I watched Mike and Grace sleep on the floor beside me. They have refused to go sleep in their rooms since after Christmas. They look really cute laying there together and that sent butterflies to my chest, the first time I got cancer Mike was all over the place that he couldn't even put his own life together. The girl he loved at that time went through so much that it never worked but right now he seemed better.Everyday I wake up, it feels like the same day over and over again. Cancer survivors often have stories to tell and I'm thankful that I at least had the chance to tell my story once. I placed the letters I had written for Mike and Grace by my bedside drawer when my eyes began to feel heavy because I realized that this was a different type of heavy and I think I am ready.

MIKE'S POV Right now everything in the world seemed out of place and in this moment the cousin who I took as a sister had just passed away. I was there in the same room with her but I didn't realize when she decided to leave. My feet were cold, my head was heavy and I didn't feel like myself. All these months I knew she was about to die I tried to make my peace with it because I knew that wherever she'd go next she wouldn't have to face cancer again. I watched as Grace tried to open her letter from Ani for the hundred time now but I wanted her to take in everything one at a time. Few weeks ago when she told me everything about her family, I didn't see her as one to be strong for anymore, she was everything I ever wanted. The way she fought through pain everyday and was still able to smile and laugh at our childish jokes just made me see so much potential.

GRACE'S POVA friend of mine once wrote '' death is inevitable what matters is the journey, the experiences, the memories, the body may fill up,may fail but the mind is self infinite and self repairing. The earth the host, human the cancer, animals the innocent cells but this is a fight that unfortunately the cancer has won'' all the words in this writing moved me but I never thought I would have to relate. Yes, she was gone and I was told to speak at her funeral as that was part of her last wishes. I thought for hours what to say but the answer is for sure in what she wrote me. Building up the courage to read her last words to me is something i haven't been able to do. I sat by my dresser, but it all felt new to me, my room felt like a strangers home. I slowly got the courage to read it ''Grace, hey I really don't know how to start this letter so I'm gonna try and read that cheesy book you told me about ''The fault in our stars'' fun fact I did read it and I loved it, I now understand your obsession'' For a minute I felt free and a little but of joy flowed through my bloodstream. ''I'm not good with words but I know that I wasn't meant to leave this world before meeting you. You complete me, you're the friend I've been praying for and even though you came towards the end, I know that it was for a reason. You changed me for the better and made me feel like a bigger piece of shit which I really appreciate. Behind all those smiles Mike and I showed you we buried some scars. I am not the only one you know who that has beat cancer''.My heart stopped, the adrenaline was rushed through me and I didn't know where all this was going. So I continued reading"Micheal also beat cancer when he was seven, times were really hard for us back then but I guess he's lucky and didn't have to face round to and I pray he never has to. Don not get mad at him for not telling you because it was hard for him and I know you understand that. You once told me that you choose me as your family and I never had a sister until you came so I want to you to speak at my funeral. I know it's so much pressure on you but I know you'll know what to say. Be strong for me, you're really good at that and please keep Mike close he's my everything. Love Annika( your secret admirer with a smiley emoji)The emotions were mixed and at that time I didn't know how to feel. All this has just opened me up to what every family goes through. There it was, what to say was finally no problem. I already miss her badly but I was going to be strong for her. The funeral came I didn't have anything written so I decided to speak from the heart.''Sometimes, good things happen to bad people and I guess that's fine but when it happens the other way it confuses the shit out of me. Family as some may believe are people related by blood or some other way but what I believe is that family are the friends we choose and in all my years of knowing this I know I had the best family anyone could ever ask for. The time I spent with Ani was not much but I know that the experiences and memories she gave me is more than I can ever ask for. When she died I thought for so long why God will let such a good soul leave this world without achieving much but then that's a lie, each and everyone of us seated here were influenced by Annika in some way and our comfort should be that the person we love is finally resting, no more needles,no more chemo, no more heartache and I believe knowing all this has helped me pass the stage of grief. Ani if you can hear me I miss you deeply but I know you're in a better place and I hope to see you again. I love you so freaking much.''