Missed Opportunities

(revised)

"Ian... I'm sorry," Dr. Milford said solemnly. "There is nothing more I can do. You have six days until..." He trailed off, and looked up at me with real sadness in his eyes. I was grateful for his compassion, but it wouldn't help me. It couldn't help me. I gulped.

"I understand." I whispered. The room seemed to begin slowly turning around me. I took my head into my hands.

Of course I had seen it coming; I'd known for nearly two years that they wouldn't be able to keep me alive forever. Ever since the accident, my body hadn't been working right. When Natalie and I were caught in an explosion several years back, she came out nearly unscathed. From the outside, I appeared healthy as well. Other than a long scar down the side of my face and a few temporary scratches, I was perfectly unhurt.

But inside I was breaking.

I didn't find out until several months after the accident, but the radiation had given me leukemia, and the doctors had tried everything but with no prevail. My hair didn't even fall out from the chemotherapy. In fact, I was ready to rip it out because it was such a painful reminder that I was becoming no worse, but no better either.

Two years of uneventful treatments and dull hospitalization. Two years of loneliness and worry, of living in a cold, sterile hospital room. Occasionally Natalie would visit with tales of her travels and the latest clues and Lucian breakthroughs, but all I really cared about was news of the Cahills- one in particular. I wanted desperately to make amends with her, but couldn't in my condition. I hung on to the fact that she was alive, and that made me feel just slightly better.

I'd changed in those years, away from the luxuries of Kabra mansion, away from the Clue Hunt, away from my sister. I'd grown. After being separated from my family for so long, I could look at the whole situation with a different perspective. The Lucians no longer seemed so glamorously powerful…they seemed unnecessarily vicious. I couldn't believe how I had let myself become such a pawn in their stupid game. Look where it had gotten me…

"Well, what can I do?" I asked. "Since we already know...how it will end...can I leave the hospital? I'd rather die out in the world than in an ugly room."

"It would probably be better for you to stay in the vicinity, but honestly there isn't much else we can do by keeping you here... maybe extend your life for two days, tops. So I suppose you should go and live your last week to the fullest. Have you wanted to do anything that you've been unable to do? Have you any missed opportunities or unfinished business?"

Missed opportunities... these words spoke to me. I'd had plenty of regrets, but missed opportunities? I was sure there was something…

Amy.

She was a missed opportunity. There were many times when I could have joined her and Dan, but instead I always followed my mother's wishes. Now I was free to make amends...or, I supposed, an even bigger mess.

But I only had six days to live, so it didn't matter if I made any messes! I'd be carefree in heaven!

Or burning in hell...

Wull hey thar everyone…

Well, I sort of thought this story was a missed opportunity itself. (Not that I'm dying or anything.) So I decided to rewrite it a little, and then maybe add on a teensy bit more. Yeah, it's short (this was originally just a "tester chapter") and it's not great, but I figured that I owed everyone at least something. I don't know. I'll get the second chapter up soon, and possibly a third. I really just wanted to fix what I'd started already. Also, the spacing could be weird since I haven't really done this in a while, you know.

After this though, I really can't stay. I have kind of a big life. :) But so do you all!

It's a COCKAMOUSE!?

"I look at the floor, and I see it needs sweeping. Still my guitar gently weeps."