Chapter 1

Later that Day...

I flew into Burgess and spotted Jamie walking home by himself. He usually walks home with his friends, so I knew something was wrong.

I flew in and landed on the fence next to him. He did not notice me.

"Hey, Jamie," I said.

"Wo," he said as he jumped.

"Oh, did I scare you? Sorry bud?" I said.

"Yeah, you got me good," he said with an awkward chuckle.

"Hey, what's wrong kiddo?" I asked looking concerned.

"Well...it's about my brother," he said with a deep sigh.

He sat on the fence and I jumped down and sat next to him.

"My brother...he...he...he, I started to notice a tear coming down his cheek.

I took him and held him close to me. I could hear loud sobs coming from my sweatshirt.

"Hey, hey. What about you brother?" I asked with great concern.

He lifted his head from my shoulder and wiped his face with his sleeve.

"He is very sick. He has lung cancer," he said.

"Oh, no. Well, is he going to be okay?" I asked.

"No, the doctor said he has only 2 months to live," he said sobbing loudly.

"My dad died from lung cancer," he said sobbing.

"Isn't it treatable?" I asked.

"It would have been, if they would have caught it on time," he said sobbing loudly.

"Oh, Jamie, I am so sorry," I said hugging him tightly as he cried in my sweatshirt.

"Wait, isn't he in Europe?" I asked.

"Yes and he is too sick to come back home, and we don't have the money to fly over there, so I won't even get to see my brother one last time before he dies," he said sobbing in my sweatshirt again.

"Jack I am worried that since my dad and my brother both got lung cancer, that I might get it someday too," he said.

"Jamie, it's highly unlikely that you would get it too," I said.

"I know, but it is still possible," he said.

I hugged him tightly and tears started rolling down my face. Hearing him cry made my heart ache.

"You know you are just making me colder?" He said.

"Oh, sorry kiddo," I said pulling away.

"No, it's fine. I like it," he said.

"Oh, hey I almost forgot. Happy late birthday!" I said.

"Thanks," he said.

"I wish I could have been here, but the other guardians needed me," I said.

"It's okay," he said.

"Well, hey, do you want to play?" I asked trying to cheer him up.

"Yeah, snowball fight!" He yelled.

We played for hours, till sunset. When he went home I could tell he felt a lot better. I am glad I could cheer him up. It is my job as a guardian and a best friend.