From then on, I woke up with a smile on my face, glad that I would be able to see Chrome. She was sunshine on a cloudy day. Seeing her smile brought a lot of joy to me. I was still seeing the darkness, but I could see it withering away. Her presence made life bearable. My father was back at the shop and I was still taking care of him, which dimmed my mood at times. I wish he was better. I wish things were back to how they used to be. But my mother is good and he can't handle how that makes him feel.

As I sit on the rooftop for lunch again with Chrome, I wonder if I should figure out a way to help my father. It's been too long, and while I slightly despise him for succumbing to depending on alcohol to wake up and stay alive, he is my dad. I want him to get better. I look at Chrome and she is looking at me, probably noticing that I was thinking of something.

She places her lunchbox down and looks me in the eyes. With mild concern, she asks, "What are you thinking about?"

"I keep thinking about how I should help my father out of his own personal darkness, but I'm not sure how to do that. And I also wonder who am I to help him when I still depend on the darkness a little." I worry that the last thing I say will disappoint her, but her hand grabs mine and holds it. Her smile makes me feel less guilty.

"I think trying to find a way to help him is a wonderful idea. And it's okay that you're doing this despite the darkness still being there. Actually, it shows you're improving so much. I'm so proud of you, Takeshi."

I grin, a few tears in the corner of my eyes. Chrome understands and she is so perfect. I can feel the darkness clenching at my heart, but she softens it with her words and her smiles. "What do you think I should do for him?"

She mulls over this for a moment before saying, "Perhaps you could find a therapist for him. It might be a little expensive, but if you asked family to help chip in, you could do it. Or perhaps an intervention with his old friends and family will do well."

I shrug and take a bite of my food. After I swallow, I sigh, "I sort of feel like an intervention would turn out badly. So I might just try and contact some family, see what we could do." She nods at the idea before picking up her lunchbox again and eating.

Doing this was peaceful. I am able to eat this delicious food she made while staring at her lovely face. It caused something to stir in me, something I can't describe. She is so special and I wish could express that to her. She's helping me feel normal again and I want to repay her. I know I helped her out her darkness, but I feel like I could thank her so much more. I'm not sure what I could do though.

I stare at her longer before an idea pops into my head and get the biggest grin on my face. I know what I could do and I hope she'll love it.

Before I head home, I make a few calls to some family members. It's been at least a year since I've spoken to them and it was a bit odd speaking to them again, but they agreed to help chip in and promised to help me take my father to the therapist. As I hang up after the last call, I sigh in relief. Things are looking up and I couldn't be happier. It feels like just yesterday that nothing was ever going to get better. But Chrome came along and helped me. She helped me feel alive and try to find my out of the darkness. She is supporting me as I help my dad. And for all of these things, I am forever grateful.

Even as I get home and have to do the daily routine of helping my father, I can't get the grin off my face. I never would have thought that after everything I've went through, I would be looking towards a light instead of the dark. It's an incredible feeling. So despite this rough patch with father, I'm suddenly filled with hope. So much hope.

The next day, I enter the classroom and immediately notice that Chrome isn't there yet. I shrug and figure that she is running late. So I sit down and ignore as the rest of the class as they come in and begin talking to their friends. A few minutes later, the teacher arrives and everybody takes their seats so class can begin.

I don't tend to worry much, but as class droned on longer and longer, I began to feel to a prickle of worry in me. Where is Chrome and why isn't she here? I try to ignore it and listen to the teacher a little, but my eyes continuous glance at her seat. Maybe she is just sick today and I'm worrying too much. I nod and decide to visit her after school. She had given him her address not long ago and he's now grateful she had.

The moment school ends, I run out of the classroom and out of the building, feeling anxiousness take over my body. Why do I feel like this?

I make it to her house and knock on the door, praying she would answer and tell me how silly I am for worrying so much. But instead of her, a woman with short black hair answers and looks at me curiously and greets me. "Hello there. What can I help you with?"

I catch my breath from running and ask with the worry in my voice, "Is Chrome here?"

When I say the name, I catch a glimpse of sadness in her eyes which causes my feelings with escalate. "Chrome isn't here at the moment."

"Do you know where she is?" I feel like I'm being pushy, but I need to know.

She sighs sadly and cross her arms. "She is in hospital. I'm only here grabbing some things.

A choking sound escapes me, but I couch through it. "What's wrong with her?" In my heart, I begin to hope with all my might that it's just something simple like a cold and they wanted to make sure it wasn't affecting her organs. But something inside me was telling me it is worse.

A couple tears prickle at the edge of her eyes and she wipes them away. "The doctors say her organs are rejecting her body again and that there is nothing they can do for her now."

As she says those words, I feel all of the air in my body leave and I collapse to my knees. Chrome is going to die. She will be dead. I shake my head and hug myself. Why is this happening?

Don't leave me, Chrome.

Honestly feel like this chapter is terrible, but there didn't feel like a better way to do it. I hope it's still decent though! Please review!
-Ashley(dolphinherovamp5)