WhenI stepped outside, the world smelled like flowers. Brilliant ruby reds, bright golds, and fluorescent oranges danced across the trees, giving the illusion of flickering. It has been so long since I’ve smelled the fresh, clean air of autumn. A long time since I’ve smelled any fresh air, actually.
“Are you alright, Eliza?” Noah asked, putting an arm around my shoulders to comfort me. He had been there through it all. The falling, the diagnosis. I don’t know if I could have done it without him. If I didn’t have Noah, there would be nothing else to live for. About two years ago, I had been on a bike ride with Noah, when suddenly my head had begun to spin and I passed out while still on the bike. I had woken up a few days later in the hospital, scared out of my wits. Noah had been there, holding my hand when the doctor told me I had leukemia. And that I would most likely not survive. 14 was too young to die. Now I am 16, and I have an estimated two more days to live.
“As well as I can be,” I say, weakly, looking up at his dark blue eyes. I had met Noah when I was in elementary school, and we had been good friends ever since.
I look up at the seemingly infinite blue sky, wondering at how I’d never noticed just how beautiful it was before. I had never noticed how detailed each ridge and dip in the clouds were. I had never noticed how warm and bright the sun was. Oh, the things we take for granted.
Noah tightened his grip around my arm as he led me down the path. The hospital staff had decided it was okay for me to get outside in my last few days. My last. Few. Days. Those words. Four words can carry so much sorrow and fear. For me, for the hospital staff, for Noah. I can’t imagine life without him. And now he will have to live life without me. I want to comfort him, tell him I’m not afraid. But I’d be lying. To him, and myself.
“Here, let’s go over here,” Noah says, pulling me over to a rock so I can sit down and rest my tired, aching body. As I sit, I notice that my fingers and toe have begun to go numb. It must be the chilly autumn air. I look over and see that Noah is trying to hide the tears in his eyes.
Sorry its long, and cringy-
