Author Note: And here, my faithful readers, is where this journey ends. From what I've read, most of you enjoyed it.
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With tears in her eyes, the experienced news anchor interrupted Saturday night "Must See TV" to bring the nation the news.
"It's been confirmed that President Lyman lost his battle with brain cancer this afternoon at 4:55. He died in the residence of the West Wing, surrounded by his closest friends, Senior Staff and Vice President Seaborn. White House Staffers report that the President was at his desk working until a little after 2 this afternoon and only retired to his bedroom when the pain became unbearable. Vice President CJ Seaborn was sworn in as President of the United States only moments ago in the Oval Office.
"Funeral arrangements for President Lyman have yet to be made, but NBC will bring you information as soon as we have it. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program."
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I just can't believe that he's gone. I mean, it's kind of been a waiting game for three years now, but still, he's gone.
There were times that I could forget that he was dying, but recently they got fewer and farther between. But early in it all, it was pretty easy. I mean, there was no way, just by looking at him to tell that he had terminal brain cancer, so I let myself forget a lot.
During the campaign – that was all any of the reporters wanted to talk about. Every time Josh or CJ had a microphone in front of them, someone asked about the cancer. The good side of this is that funding for cancer research went through the roof.
But, research money or not, it never did Josh any good. Every month, his doctors gave him a new miracle drug that never performed any miracles.
We had some pretty major victories, though. And I had the privilege of working right outside the door of the Oval Office while it all happened. Like the time that Dr. Mulligan presented Josh with the documentation for the AIDS vaccine. Or when they released the hostages from Libya. Or when Josh saw Maeghan and Steven's daughter for the first time.
It's been a good ride but it's over. President Lyman is dead and so is my Joshua.
Saturday, May 27 – exactly four years from the day that changed everything – everything changed again. For now the world needs to learn how to get on without one of its greatest citizens – my best friend and the man I once loved. And so do I.
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