A/N: know I said I was going to stop this but I had a sudden burst of brilliance. This story is coming to an end anyway so hope you enjoy the last few chapters =]
Coping
Gabby's P.O.V.
I watched from the door way as my sister shaved her hair off. I know Lauren and have our differences, but we still love each other. We're family, and family sticks together. Ever since Lauren came home and told us about the disease I haven't been the same. Some how I feel like this is my fault. I know it's not, but I can't help but feel guilty about the whole thing. I still find it hard believe she has lung Cancer. To me Lauren is a perfectly healthy teenager. She still does all her usual things. She's only 17. She can't be dying. She's too young to die.
I walk over and give her a hug. She's shocked at first but then hugs me back. Tears form in my eyes and roll off of my cheeks onto Lauren's top.
"Don't cry." She whispers in my ear. She strokes my hair as I cry even harder. Lauren's so strong about this whole thing. The chemo didn't work, it just made her feel weak and tired, and it made her hair fall out. It didn;t do anything to the cancer. The doctor's want her to go back and have another round. I don't want her too, but she's going through with it. I'm scard it might kill her before he Cancer does.
Lauren's sitting in the hospital be, yet again. This time her hair's a light brown, she's wearing a wig. My mother, father, Addie, Taylor and I are sat around the bed. We're talking like a normal family. You wouldn't suspect that one of us is slowly, quietly, painfully, dying. Soon enough we are joined by more family and friends. Lauren just smiles at them. All of us laugh and joke. We carry on talking, until the doctor comes for Lauren. The room falls silent when he enters.
"Okay, Lauren." He says, checking her clipboard from the bottom of the bed. Lauren just sits there, smile still on her face. "Are you ready?" He asks.
"Yes I am." Lauren replies, she doesn't let the smile leave her face as each person in the room hugs her goodbye. Sh calls goodbye as he doctor wheels her out of the room.
I sit quietly in the corner. Thinking about my brave sister. I look at everyone in the room. No one is talking. Some are staring blankly at the wall, others are wiping away stray tears. My father is holding my mother in his arms. She's trying not to cry, I can see it in her eyes. My sister's are clinging to their boyfriends for support, just like every couple in the room. I, on the other hand, have no one to hold onto. If Lauren was here she'd be he one I'd hug. But Lauren isn't here. Lauren s enduring more chemotherapy. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes again. I try to hold them back, but I can't. They fall from my eyes and splash against my lips. I lick away the saltiness, but more tears come.
Alex's P.O.V.
I hold onto Jason's hand tightly. I bury my head even further into his chest.I can't help but think about Lauren. Shes so brave. I could never cope with everything she's gone through, let alone keep a smile on my face. Laurens not even 18 yet and she's already suffered more pain than most adults do in their entire life time. I try to think of the good happy times I've had with Lauren, but that makes me cry even more. I can feel Jason stroking my hair, just like Lauren used to do when we were little. She used to pretend she was the hairdresser and I was the customer. That memory stops the tears for a brief moment, before they come springing back because. What if Lauren dies? I'll have no more happy memories of my wonderful cousin.
I break away from Jason and stare up into his eyes. He's been crying too, but not as much as me. I don't blame him. Lauren's his best friend, they dated for a year. He's never done anything without Lauren before. He smiles at me and wipes away a tear drop from my cheek. I smile back and rest my head on is shoulder. He kisses the top of my head and then lays his own on top of mine.
When Lauren's wheeled back in, she's fast asleep. I dwell on the fact that she looks so much younger in her sleep. Most people have left by now, Lauren was gone for hours. There's only me, my sister and mother, Jason, my aunt Courtney and uncle Duncan, Gabby, Addie and Taylor. I look over to Gabby. She's been sitting in the corner, alone, since Lauren left the room. Her eyes are puffy and her face is red. She must have been crying this whole time. I guess it's harder on Lauren's parents and sisters. They have to take care of Lauren when shegoes home. It must take a lot of work.