Peyton stared wide-eyed at Brooke and not moving. Brooke immediately regretted ever saying a word to anyone. Not only was Peyton staring but Lucas and Haley had stopped dead in their tracks. There were a few moments where no one spoke and dead silence filled the air.

"What did you say?" Lucas said quietly. "I could have SWORN you just said you had brain cancer…is this some sort of a sick joke?"

"Lucas!!" Haley cried out. "Seriously, stop being an ass. Brooke, please tell me you're kidding."

Tears continued to stream down Brooke's face as she shook her head no. Peyton slowly stood up and back away from the bed where Brooke lied.

"Pe-Peyton?" Brooke said through tears.

"You're not going to die," Peyton choked out.

"Wha? Peyton, I-I…"

"Damnitt, Brooke! You're not going to die, I won't let you! It's not supposed to be like this…"

"Peyton, why don't we go for a walk," Lucas spoke up.

"No, Lucas! I don't want to go for a walk. I'm going to stay right here and prove to Brooke she's clearly delusional."

"Obviously Peyton isn't taking this well, Lucas…Just get her out and calm her down so I can talk to Brooke, alright?" Haley said urgently.

Lucas grabbed Peyton's arm and started to drag her out. There was a moment where Peyton resisted, and tried to push Lucas off of her but he had a firm grip on her arm and yanked her forward.

"God, Lucas…what's gotten into you?" Haley said.

"Nothing…I'm perfectly fine," he said in a bitter tone and went out the door with Peyton.

Brooke's cried had settled down, but the hollow feeling in her heart only grew. I knew it was a mistake to say anything. I wish I would have had the guts to have truly killed myself…it would have been so much easier than this.

But that's the thing, Brooke. You're being so damn selfish yourself you didn't realize that other people have feelings, too.

Don't my feelings count? Don't I matter?

No! You knew that a long time ago. You are a nothing to yourself and the world.

"Shut up!!" Brooke yelled out loud not realizing it at first.

Haley slowly walked over to her, and sat down on the side edge of the bed.

"Brooke, I'm so sorry…" Haley began to sob, leaned down and wrapped her arms around her. "God, Brooke…why does this even have to happen? It's not fair to you…When did you find out?"

"In New York; I was having so m-much trouble accepting it. I still haven't. But Haley, it's why I came back to Tree Hill. It's the REAL reason. It's why I want to adopt a child and be a mother. There's so much more I want to accomplish…I-I just don't know how-how to deal with this!"

"We're going to get you through this, Brooke…ok?" Haley said as she pushed herself up and stared at Brooke. "Me, Nathan, Lucas, and Peyton…we're all going to be there for you. You know that right?"

"Peyton didn't take it very well…"

"No…she didn't. But she'll be ok in time. And she loves you as much as we do, Brooke. Trust me; she'll be there for you."

"Yeah, I guess…I guess you're right." Brooke looked off and out the window wondering when the world decided to turn so dark and grim.

"I'm going to go find Peyton and Lucas. Are you going to be alright for a few minutes? Do you need anything?"

A single tear fell down Brooke's face, "How about my life…can you get me my life back?"

"I'm so sorry…I really am…" Haley said quietly and then quietly slipped out the door leaving Brooke to her thoughts.

Sobs of pain echoed on the hospital room walls as Brooke considered what life she actually had left. I've got nothing…I'm going to die a slow death over the next year…And I've got nothing. True, she had her clothing line, but she thought about how it meant nothing to her if she had nobody to share it with. She had gotten her chance at being a mother with Angie, but then Angie went away, leaving the hole in her heart to grow dark and grim. And love? Ha! Love never truly existed for her. After all, the only person she ever truly loved was in love with someone else and her own mother despised her. And she grew to accept that after time, but it still didn't stop the thoughts and memories from pulsating through her mind.

What use is there to fight this? She continued to think about how her life was deteriorating and didn't see Lucas come into the room. When did everything go wrong? Was it in high school? Was it when I was born? Last year? A sob broke out from her trembling lips as she laid there attempting to figure out if she ever truly was happy with her life. I wish I could go back and change the events in my life…I would have fought more. In a slow-like manner, she lifted her hand up to wipe the tears from her face and noticed the bandages around her wrist from where she had sliced not even twenty-four hours ago…

Come on, Brooke…Slice…Slice…You've got nothing left in life now.

No! I won't do it! I can fight and I've got my friends and—

And family?! You know you don't have family, Brooke. Your own mother despises your very being and what makes you even THINK that your friends will honestly care?

But…But my clothing line!

No one cares, Brooke. I mean, think about it. Did Peyton or Lucas or Haley or Nathan ever stop by Clothes Over Bros?

Well, they di—

Did they ever buy anything?

I-I uh…

Peyton defended me against my mother!

It's because she felt pity against you, not because she cared!

Lucas, he—

Cheated on you twice and ran off to marry your best friend without telling you in Vegas.

Stop it!! They didn't get married!

Yeah, because Peyton came to her senses.

Peyton loves Lucas.

I wouldn't be so sure of that…It's more like she's pretending so she can hurt you.

Shut the hell up! What about Haley and Nathan? Oh God…and Jamie!? They all love me…I'm Jamie's godmother!

No, they don't. You're only Jamie's godmother because Haley didn't feel comfortable making Peyton it, and because she felt bad for you, too.

I—that's not tr-true…

Face it, Brooke…you're all alone and have got no one. Why would you fight for a life you never had??

…Brooke choked back another cry as the memories of before her attempted suicide replayed in her head. What was I thinking? I-I…Her thoughts were caught off by a warm hand and fingers intertwining with hers. Glancing up, her eyes locked with Lucas's.

"L-Lucas…how's Peyton?"

"She's fine. You don't worry about her, she'll be fine."

"I shouldn't have told her like that, I just…Lucas, I had to tell her before it got too late."

"I know, Brooke. I'm just worried about you. I-I never thought in a million years this would be happening."

"Oh God, I know…I-I w-wish it wasn't. I'd give anything to go back and pretend the doctors didn't tell me what they did. I w-wish I didn't know because then-then…" Brooke trailed off as she burst into tears once more.

"B-Brooke…shhh…it's going to be ok," Lucas consoled as he wrapped his arms around her. She tried to pretend she felt nothing, but the mere feeling of Lucas holding her reminded her of all the past memories she could never have back. I refuse to-to feel anything for Lucas Scott again! I won't put myself through that misery again!

"L-Lucas, listen…I d-don't think that—

"We can't lose you, Brooke…I-I can't lose you, again," Lucas interrupted and Brooke's eyes widened in surprise.

"Lucas…I-I, b-but Peyton…"

"Don't get me wrong, Brooke…I love Peyton to death…it's just…I-I don't know," Lucas managed as he brushed a strand of Brooke's hair out of the way. Brooke shivered and stared, eyes still wide, at Lucas.

"I'm…Lucas, I can't do this. I-I can't go down this road with you again. Nor-nor am I going to do that to Peyton."

"And Peyton did it to you! Didn't she?!"

"Yes, Lucas! But SO did you. And I forgave the both of you…TWICE…why can't we j-just let it go at that? I can't deal with this…I already have enough going on, like I don't know, the fact that I'm dying! I-I can't believe you'd come in here and do this knowing all that you now kn-know about my condition! And I—

"Brooke…"

"No! You-you listen to me, Lucas Scott. I-I can't do this…D-don't you get it?! I won't get the chance to be m-married! I won't get the chance to have a family! I won't get a chance at love! I wont-wont get the chance to be ha-happy! Because I'm dying and have-have a year to fucking live!! Don't-don't do this…you and Peyton have a ch-chance to be happy. Don't-don't ruin it on me-me and—

Brooke was cut off by the feel of lips pressing hard against hers. Her body went into a shock for a moment, and then she realized whose lips were against hers; Lucas…

To be continued...PLEASE REVIEW!! Your reviews will control how far I decided to go with the story, etc...so PLEASE REVIEW!! :)