Hey thanks for everyone who has been reviewing, I love to know what you think, only two more chapters to go after this one! Hope you like it :)
After a few weeks, I cleared out Spencer's locker and got excused from school to help her; the head even said he would tutor me so I would graduate. I wanted to do everything I could for her in the little time she had left. I headed upstairs to give her the contents from her locker when she asked me to dance because she felt like it. I didn't want to tell her I couldn't so I faked it the best I could. A short time after, I felt her slip, suddenly too exhausted to carry her weight. I caught her before she fell and gently carried her back to bed, settling her in. "How you doing?"
"Tired." She murmured.
I sat on her bed stroking her hair looking at her intensely and she was doing the same right back. I reached for her hand but when I looked at her face again, she was asleep.
Deciding to let her rest I set out to buy her a brand new bigger telescope with my savings to buy a new car. When my mum came rushing out, to tell me Spencer had been admitted to hospital. I dropped everything in extreme panic, headed for the hospital.
I saw Spencer lying in bed, eyes closed. Hooked to monitors, pumps, an IV drip. I kept hold of her hand. Reverend Carlin talks quietly with a doctor judging by his face he was hearing bad news.
I awoke curled up to Spencer's bed still holding onto her hand. I felt her move and she opened those beautiful eyes of hers. Sleepily. Closes her eyes again. I rest my head on her shoulder and weep. Her arm rubs my back slightly, and then drops to the bed again. There's nothing to say.
Spencer seemed to look smaller her eyes now had dark circles beneath them. I look out of the window while she sleeps the sky is greyer, darker.
"Hi." Comes softly from behind me. I go to her side.
"Hey." Kissing her lightly.
"I have something for you." She reaches under her pillow and hands me a worn book "Don't worry it's not a bible. It belonged to my mother, it's her favourite book full of good quotes from lots of different types of people."
I knelt on the floor and put my head on her pillow next to hers.
"I believe God sent you to me because I am ill. To help me through." I touched her face tenderly as she said it. "I want to go home." With my dads money I knew I could arrange it, time for another surprise. As I was reading to her from her mothers book, Isabel, her student, walked in. Spencer saw her too and smiled weakly.
I handed her the book and she started from where I left off stumbling but reading. Spencer grinned." Who's been working with you?" Isabel looked shyly at me and Spencer looked to me amazed, her blue eyes twinkling once more. I was glad I had this idea, I was glad I could make her smile.
After Isabel had left she fell asleep again, I left her in peace and went home to make the arrangements to get her moved back home and to get the telescope, once that was in my boot I headed inside back to Spencer's side to try and get some sleep. Taking her hand again I drifted off.
Next morning the nurses and doctors helped us move her back home thanks to my dad's money. I sat by her side while she slept some more after the move she was pretty tired, I stroked her arm until I too fell asleep.
When Spencer opens her eyes the next morning I was next to her ready, showered and in clean clothes. I was taking her out, the nurse unhooked her IV and I carried her downstairs. Then ran back up to get several blankets for her. She sees the telescope I bought her and looks up at me "It's beautiful... Thank you… I don't know what we'll be able to see... Help me stand."
"Wait a sec." She turns to me, questioning, when the neighbourhood suddenly darkens as the street lamps and lights in every nearby house are switched off. The neighbours step outside holding up binoculars. Members of the Star Club and other students look through traditional telescopes.
"We have five minutes before Haley's Comet comes into view." She hugs me as tightly as her strength would allow her to, tears streaming, as she braces herself against me and peers into the telescope eyepiece.
"The comet of the century..." She's completely engrossed. There was a long, quiet moment, until I decided to ask her.
"You love me?" As loudly as I could manage.
She leans away from the eyepiece and looks at me – "Yes."
"Will you do something for me?"
"Ashley. I can't even do for myself."
"But if you could, you would?"
"Yes." This was it.
"Will you marry me?" My throat tightened with nervousness, with hope, fear, sadness, and love.
"Yes" My heart swelled up like it would burst, you know like when you see a really cute puppy? That's how it is with Spencer everyday. I wanted to spend the rest of my time with her making her feel the same.
