The Art of Death

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Song: Stone by Jaymes Young

Everlee is 22 the next time Death visits her. She's back in her childhood room. The one covered in books, a distant reminder of all the lives she lived in her short time on Earth.

Everlee's unhappiness has nothing to do with her dying. It has everything to do with the war raging through her mind. She thought she had quieted those deep and dark thoughts long ago but they continue to resurface at her weakest points. This is one of those times. She stares at her pale, almost lifeless hands feeling no connection to them. No connection to her family or her dear friend Nomi whose olive hands rest gently in her lap. Her long and delicate fingers, the paint chipping off of them as she absently rubs her thumb against her other hand.

Everlee's sage eyes flicker to meet Nomi's grey eyes. Nomi is stunning. Absolutely beautiful. It stops Everlee's heart every time she meets them knowing the pain that flickers in those eyes are because of her. Even in life, Everlee haunts Nomi.

Nomi gently smiles at her as if reading her mind. She rests her hands on Everlee's pale skin, her skin a dark contrast to Everlee's almost lifeless hue.

Everlee's parents sit on the end of Everlee's bed, looking at their daughter. How fragile she is. At the tubes sticking out of her allowing her to breath. Allowing her to walk this Earth just a bit longer.

When Everlee was first diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, she laughed. Actually giggled. The doctor was horrified as were her parents. But Everlee continued to laugh. She had survived Death twice. She's sure she could survive it again. So they began chemotherapy. Then radiation. Then the cancer spread to her lungs, her lymph nodes, and even worse, her kidneys. Stage 3 Osteosarcoma was no joke. Everlee was no longer laughing. She stopped laughing when her beautiful fiery red hair fell out. When her already ivory skin turned translucent. When she could barely walk to the bathroom without gasping for air.

Nomi was enraged when Everlee finally found the courage to tell her best friend. Nomi had saved her from her darkness. Had been the light through her recovery, always offering her warmth and no judgement to the battles that Everlee faced in her mind. She could not save Everlee from this. Other than books, Nomi was the only thing in this universe that calmed Everlee's raging mind. Not even her parents could silent her shadows. Though they tried gallantly. They tried so hard but sometimes, a person is beyond repairing. Especially when that person can only focus on their brokenness rather than their healing.

But Everlee fought this cancer like hell. Not for herself but for Nomi. Her gentle friend who has stood by her through everything. Her friend who hindered any thoughts of her own darkness to help Everlee. Everlee owed to her to be strong. To fight to live. To not only fight but to want to live. To need to live.

Living was always a second thought to Everlee. The actual movements of life meant nothing. They were not like air or water or even food. Not a necessity. So Everlee turned to her books to fill the gaps life leaves. She tucked herself into stories like they were the only air she needed to breathe. The only desire worth staying on this pitiful Earth. But when the treatments made her eyes heavy and her soul even heavier, her books could not be the comfort she always relied on. Everlee had to face life without them. She wasn't sure this life was worth living. But for Nomi, she would try.

Nomi understood her love for books. Although an avid reader herself, Nomi's love for books couldn't even compare to how Everlee felt about books. But she tried. She read to Everlee through treatment, her voice a soothing lullaby allowing Everlee some sort of peace. It wasn't the same but it was enough.