Everything changed that day. I’d say it was the start of both our lives, but Liliana’s life . . . She never really had a start. Just the horrible truth that the end could be any day.

Like every perfect story, the day started out . . . Terrible.

“Adrain!” Mom’s quiet knock makes my heart stop. I thought she was still at work. If I’d known she was going to be here then I wouldn’t have slammed the door letting my sobs echo through the whole entire world.

“I’m fine,” I make my voice as loud as I can, I’ve noticed that it’s the secret to hiding tears. At least for me it is.

“Sweetie, just tell me what’s going on.”

I let my eye lids fall down over my eyes as I hug my stuffed lion to my chest. Even at fifteen I still feel like a child. Maybe I still am.

I hear the faint click of the door as Mother steps slides in. She’s still in her light blue nurses clothes. I’ve never really found out what those are called. Her kind eyes are shinning with tears as she sit on the edge of my bed.

“Did it happen again?” She asks, “You hurt yourself.”

Suddenly the fresh cut on my wrist starts stinging.

I hold my breath, and shake my head weakly.

A few months ago when I had started my medication for anxiety I started feeling better. I could talk to people, and the whole world felt safer. But then . . . I pushed myself so hard. Wanting to talk to people, and the punishment for failing to achieve my goal was . . . Hurting myself.

Mother told me it was something she’d suffered from as a teen as well. Still I felt like I shouldn’t be like this. All the other boys at my school are strong and speak their minds. Sometimes I feel like a mistake. Actually I feel like that all the time.

“Adrain,” Mom pulls me into a tight hug, “Your scaring me so much.”

I let my tears soak Mother’s shoulder as I let my arms hang weakly at my side.

“You’ll tell me,” now her voice is filled with tears, “If you ever think about hurting yourself again. Promise me Adrain.”

I shake my head, “I can’t promise you when I’m not sure that I’ll be able to keep it.”

Mom lets out a pained gasp as she rocks me back and forth like when I was little.

“I can’t live without you,” Mom cries quietly, “Please if you ever get to that point again. Just remember that you are my life and if you do this. Then . . . Baby I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“But,” I let out a small breathless cry, “You lived without me before.”

“Only because I didn’t know you. I do know and I need you.”

…………………………………

“I don’t think this will work,” I say, staring out the car window as Mom pulls into the hospital parking lot.

She gives a quick glance my way, “Adrain, the terminally ill paitents that I care for are suffering. Not in the same way as you, but I think having someone their age to talk to will make it at least a little better for them.”

I let out a quiet sigh. I’ve never been good at talking to just a normal, happy person. But a person who’s living in pain, not just because of the cancer but because of the thought of death.

Mom stops the car and reaches over me to open my door, “There’s on girl I think you’ll like.”

My heart stops. Girl. I can’t even talk to boys, how am I supposed to talk to a girl?

Mother laughs, “She’s not going to bite you.”

………………………………..

Mom’s feet thud agaisnt the tiles of the hospital hallway as she halts in front of a wooden door. Room number thirteen.

“Alright,” Mom whispers, grabbing the door knob and twisting it open.

It’s pitch black inside, the only light visible is the moon.

“Liliana,” Mom says. Then with a small click a lamp on the bedside table flicks on.

I’m shocked when my eyes get used to the bright light. The girl laying in the bed a few feet away from me is beautiful. Not like beautiful, like . . . Beautiful.

“Adrain,” Mom’s voice brings me back to the present. “This is Liliana.”

I meet Liliana’s eyes. They’re so blue, like the ocean on a sunny morning.

“Hey,” I say lifting my hand in a wave, “I’m Adrain.”

(Not like it will happen but like Shadow Queen🖤 has done with some of her stories, I’ll continue this story if this gets 5 likes. I’m like 100% sure it won’t but hey I’m a risk taker. Anyways thanks for reading!)