Chapter 31

Lottie's POV

Graduation day...

"Please welcome Ms. Lottie Mellark!" Mrs. Lighthill announces.

Applause rings through the auditorium as I walk up the stairs towards the stage.

I shake her hand and accept my diploma.

"A speech." Mrs. Lighthill says, walking away.

The applause dies down as I stare at the crowd, knowing this is the last time I'll ever see all of them again.

I smile and clear my throat.

"At first when I knew I had to write this speech, I couldn't write that I was excited for my whole life ahead of me. But I don't have my whole life ahead of me. I'm..." I take a deep breath.

"I'm dying."

Gasps run through the crowd.

"I have a rare case of Tuberculosis, where I cough up blood. I have medicine but that makes me lose my battle faster with it.

That's also why I lost my baby."

I stop, tears threatening to spill.

"I'm going to die in at least three days, but at least I know that I will have down everything I have ever wanted."

I stop, coughing racking my whole body.

"Lottie!" Finn cries out.

I fall to the ground, blood running out of my mouth, gasping hard.

I vomit all over the stage, and it's blood red.

I close my eyes because I knew that today would be my last day.

That's why I placed that notebook on Nick's bed.