Chapter 3

"I'm probably going to die…" Nick said nothing. "My grandmother had the same condition as me and she died really young, I wasn't born yet…" I sighed. "I have to be prepared what's coming."

"Prepared?"

"Yes. I need to be careful and I need to enjoy myself as much as possible, before my time comes…"

"But there has to be something they can do." He said.

I completely ignored him and said, "When I was little and before I knew I was sick, my mom and dad took me a meadow and watch the sunset together; from when it started to when it ended."

"Is that why you have the window facing west, to look at the sunset?" I nodded as I rested my head on my pillow.

"I want to go there again and see the sunset and breathe in the fresh air." Nick then came closer to me and took both my hands in his and smiled.

"Let's go." He said looking out the window. "Your parents took you there like 10 years ago, right?" He looked at me. I nodded.

"This time, I'm taking you." He stood up and held out his hand.

"You're not serious, are you?" His face was really serious, he meant it. "I'll go, but I'm not allowed outside."

"It doesn't matter."

"But Sarah has my wheel chair."

He leaned closer to me and I felt his arms under my body and the next thing I know is that I'm up in the air close to his body, with his arms holding me tightly. I looked up and him and he looked down at me, and smiled.

"Then I'll just have to carry you."

We were able to sneak out without being seen and made it out of the hospital. He carried me all the way, I felt so bad. But he didn't seem to mind, he seemed happy. I fell asleep in his arms, I didn't know how much time passed, but when I woke up I was in a meadow. The sky was still clear, but I could tell it was going to set soon, so I was very excited. He placed me down, gently, but he held my hand tightly. I let go of his hand and started to walk forward feeling the air in my face and my hair.

"Is this any way you thought it would be?" He asked standing next to me.

"No. This is so much better."

The sun started to set and I started to cry. This is the moment I've always dreamed of, and to share it with someone as special as Nick it made me feel even better.

"It's so beautiful. I'm so glad you brought me, Nick. Thank you."

"No problem." He smiled at me.

"Nick, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing, never mind…" We were silent for a moment. "I'm ready now." He turned his head to look at me. "I'm ready to leave this world."

I turned to look at him and his eyes were wide with shock of what I just said. He took a step closer to me. He tired to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. I began to cry and quickly hugged him, and he hugged me back. After a while I calmed down and we both sat down, taking in the view.

"Nick, why are you doing all this for me?" I asked. I was very curious.

"My dad and my brothers told me to take good care of girls. They've had more experience, so I should take their advice."

"That's nice. I don't have any siblings." I confessed. "So that's why you brought me here, to talk about our personal life. Now that I think about it, we're really opposite. You have parents that love you, you have siblings that care for you, I bet you have lots of friends. We have nothing in common, why should we be friends?"

"No." He said, standing up. "That has nothing to do with it! I…" He didn't say anything. I stood up and looked at him.

"Then what is it?" I asked. "Tell me!" I ordered, but then I felt dizzy. I once again fell, but he caught me.

"Melanie! Melanie! Are you ok?"

"Why are you doing this for me?" I asked as tears came out my eyes. "I haven't been fair to you, but you still do this for me? Why?!" I couldn't sop myself from talking, but he still didn't answer any of my questions.

"I love you, Nick. I love you… Please, don't leave me…"

Those were my last words when I fainted in his arms. The next morning I woke up in my bed, obviously. I looked around and there was no one here. But then, the door swung open and Sarah came in with an angry face followed by Nick.

"You idiot! I told you that you couldn't go outside! Why did you disobey me?!" Yelled Sarah.

"I'm sorry." I said looking down at my hands.

"Don't blame her, Sarah. It was my fault, I forced her to go." Said Nick.

"That doesn't matter anymore. All you can do is rest, you have a high fever. The medicine I just gave you will make you dizzy, so don't try to move so much." She said and left.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Nick, sitting next to me.

"Not so well. I'm sorry you had to go through all this. You don't have to do this." I said closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

"My dad used to tell me 'to give it your all when you find someone to love. To never surrender. If you do, you'll only end up regretting it. The biggest fools are those who give up without trying." He gave me a weak smile. I smiled back, but I still didn't open my eyes.

"Will you play a song for me?" I asked.

"Sure, what do you want to hear?"

"Anything's fine." He smiled and grabbed a hold of my guitar.

He got into position and began to play.

Worlds are spinning round

Theirs no time for slowing down

So won't you take a breath,

Just take a breath

People change, promises are broken

Clouds can move

And skies will be wide open

Don't forget to take a breath.

"That was really good." I said.

"Thanks. I sort of just made it up." He confessed. "Can I ask you something?" He asked.

"What?"

"Why is it that you don't want me to leave you? Why do you want me to stay by your side so badly?" I couldn't answer those questions, I didn't know why, though.

"I just… I guess I'm just afraid that I'll be left alone again. It's a painful experience and I don't want it to happen again." I said.

"You don't have to worry." He said, pulling me into a hug. "I won't leave you alone. Wherever I got I'll take you with me, it's a promise." He said.

"Do you pinky swear?" I asked pulling him away and held out my pinky.

"Pinky swear." He said wrapping his pinky around mine.

"You know… you never did tell me why you took me to see the sunset…"

"Well…I…"He blushed and stared down at the floor.

"You don't have to tell me, I'm glad you took me. I don't care why." I said.

"That's all?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked back.

"Can't you remember a single thing?" I just stared at him with confusion; I had no idea of what he was talking about. "Well, you passed out in the meadow. But before that you… you said something."

"Did I say something to you?" I asked with curiosity. "What?"

"You did."

"What did I say to you?" He stayed silent and I got mad. "If you're not going to tell to me don't bring the subject up."

"Right, sorry." He looked up at me and saw my mad expression. "Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" He asked.

"You don't have to pamper me, you know."

"I thought that's what you wanted, for me to do anything you asked."

"I haven't asked for anything, beside I don't know how much longer I have left. It's harder for a kid my age to survive these kinds of illnesses. I'm telling you now, nothing good will come from being with me."

"I don't care about that." He said, without giving it a second thought.

"The doctors told me that my condition has to do with my heart. I didn't understand very well, but they also said that I can get surgery."

"That's great." He said happily.

"But… There is a 50 chance I'll survive and a 50 I won't. That's what I scared about."

"I herd from Sarah that the surgery is really dangerous." He said.

"Yeah… I'm recommending the surgery. If I don't, my life will just keep getting shorter and shorter. But I'm ready." I said and looked at him. "Thanks to you." He blushed and then nodded.