Chapter 2

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Monday morning, I was combing my hair in front of the mirror with a piece of bread in my mouth. I'm late for school. I'm a second-year college student in a medical school. Yep, I'll be a doctor just like my dad someday.

"Honey you're already 19, please eat your food on the table."

My mom said as she neatly combs my hair for me. I understand her oozing concern towards me because I'm her only child.

The door open with Zia's head popping in.

"Lauren! Oh good morning Mrs. Lopez."

Zia said with a smile as she slightly bowed her head as a sign of respect. After putting on my shoes I gave my mom a quick kiss and head towards the door to follow Zia.

"Bye, mom."

"Wait how about your breakfast?"

I look at her with a smile on my face as I showed her a thumbs up.

"I'm ok mom."

I didn't​ wait for her response as I happily pulled Zia out.

I was quiet during the ride while watching the blue sea outside the bus window when I heard Zia sighed out of the blue.

"200 years from now do you think the world will still be the same?"

Zia said while looking at her science book. I quizzically looked at her with a smile on the corner of my lips.

"Probably not. Men will never be satisfied and will never stop to improve life but I'm sure that 200 years from now love will still be the same. And it's the second constant thing in this world next to change."

Zia let out another sigh as she looks at the bus window.

"I hope we're really on our way to progress and I hope we're not destroying what we have right now."

The world is beautiful and the world will always be. God's creation would always be indescribable and fascinating but it's sad that we, humans, destroy something that's not really ours instead of protecting it. I hope 200 years from now children can still breathe fresh air, swim and enjoy clean water, climb trees and run down a hill.

"See you later after class."

I said as I wave my hands at Zia. We're taking up medical courses but we do have different majors. As I head straight to my room I saw Casper sitting by the window while scribbling something on his notes.

"Good morning."

He looks at me with a smile on his face and gives me a kiss on my forehead as I sit down beside him.

"What are you doing?"

I ask as I look at his notes.

"I read about Cryonics procedure last night and I find this theory really fascinating. "

I lean closer and give him that "I'm listening" look for him to go on as I brush the hair on his forehead with my fingers.

"It's a procedure where a dead body would be frozen in order to preserve everything in it. The body is injected with cryoprotectants to prevent ice formation during cryopreservation."

I crinkled my nose as I look at him a little bit confused.

"Why would they preserve a dead body?"

He raises his brows as he looks at his notebook.

"Those who were diagnosed with a rare disease that doesn't have cure during their time tries cryonics procedure where their bodies would be preserved after death hoping that they would be revived in the future one day that has the capabilities to cure their disease. It started since 1967 but up to this day it's still unknown if it's possible to revive a cryopreserved human being."

I shake my head with disapproval.

"That's insane. If ever that procedure will be possible in the future who would want to be preserved and woken up one day? I mean, that's horrifying. You wake up hundreds of years after your death, your body well preserved and your memories intact yet the world has changed and all the people you knew are gone. It's just like dying inside, I would never want that."

I heard him chuckled as he bit his lower lip.

"Yeah, but this will be one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in history if ever they can prove it."

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After class, we decided to stop by the beach to watch the sunset. With Zia on my left and Casper on my right. I inhaled deeply as I lean my head on Casper's left shoulder.

"I love sunsets. It reminds me that endings can be beautiful too."

I said almost like a whisper. Casper chuckled as he tucks a stray hair behind my left ear.

"Just like autumn."

He whispered back.

"And just like the shooting stars, it's getting dark we need to go home."

The beach is just 15 minutes walk away from home. Yellow lights on the streets are now switched on giving the surroundings a yellowish glow. The street is a little bit damp because of moist and Casper is singing a song as we walk down the quiet road.

"I will always be yours forever and more through the push and the pull
I'm still drown in your love and drink till I'm drunk and all that I've done,
is it ever enough?"

I smiled as Casper reach for my hand and intertwined our fingers together when I suddenly felt a pang of pain inside me and my vision started to blur. I grip Casper's arm tight while I hold my chest as breathing became difficult.

"Lauren! What's wrong?!"

I can hear a deafening sharp sound in my ear that my body felt heavy and numb. I look at Casper's worried face before falling in his arms.

My body felt heavy I can't even lift my arms. I was quiet until I managed to open my eyes, the white ceiling greeted me with the scent of alcohol. I  know I'm in the hospital.

"Lauren, I'm here."

Casper said almost like a whisper as he kissed my forehead and gently stroke my hair. I can see the dark circles in his eyes and I know he didn't get enough sleep. I gathered my strength to lift my hand and touch his face which he immediately holds and kiss.

"Thank God you're awake. You've been asleep for 5 days."

He said his eyes starting to well with tears.

"That long? What's the diagnosis?"

I croaked and I saw how Casper closed his eyes in pain and looked at me in the eye, I know that there's something wrong right now. I saw mom and dad entered the room and just like Casper they were both speechless​ as they hug me with tears in their eyes. I shut my eyes closed as I listen to their sobs, and manage to smile, with my heart pounding like a mad drum inside. I'm getting a hint of what's really happening right now.

"It's ok, I'll be ok."

They nod their head at me as mom showered my face with kisses.

I was diagnosed with a rare disease that doesn't have a cure and I can't deny the fact that I was scared, so scared that I cried every night. I never had a thought of me, leaving, would be too soon.

It's been 5 months and I'm still in the hospital. I watched the seasons changed and my hope being eaten by pain every day. My body is weak no matter how much my spirit wants to live, dark circles started to form around my eyes and blue veins started to show on my neck and face.

"Good morning Lauren, I brought you some apples."

Casper said with a smile as he placed the apples on my side table. I was just staring at his angelic face with my heart beating fast, my throat was dry like a dessert that didn't experience rain for years but I managed to swallow the lump in my throat before speaking.

"Let's--let's break up Casper."

I said weakly as I inhaled sharply not moving in my bed. He looked so surprised for a moment but he still managed to smile.

"I don't want to."

He simply said as he grabbed the knife to peel the apples. I gripped the sheets of my bed tight as I close my eyes and felt a tear trickle down my cheek.

"Casper please, we need to do this while I still can. Stop wasting your time over a dying girl like me!"

Casper closed his eyes as he lifted the knife and pierced the apple on the table, his eyes filled with pain as he looked at me. I know I'm not the only one who's hurting here. He didn't choose pain, he chooses to love me, but pain followed.

"Can't you see that I'm fighting for you Lauren?"

He looked at me with tears streaming down his cheeks, it's even more painful to see him like this because of me.

"What's the point of fighting Casper? What else do we have to fight this inevitable force?"

He slowly went closer as he hugged my frail and weak body tight.

"I still have my love for you Lauren and that is enough reason for me to fight for you."

My heart aches at the thought that I'll never see him grow old nor raise kids of our own.

"Promise me that you'll still enjoy life even if I'm gone."

I said almost like a whisper trying to stop my self from sobbing. He gently stroked my hair as we hugged each other in silence.

"Can you sing the song you always sing to me?"

I said before​ comfortably leaning my head on his shoulder as I inhaled the faint scent chocolate from him.

"No I'm never gonna leave you, darling---"

I can feel his breath shaking as he sings the first line of the song. I weakly raise my hand and tap his back to comfort him. He inhaled deeply and hug me even tighter.

"No I'm never gonna go regardless
Everything inside of me, is leaving in your heartbeat.
Even when all the lights are fading
Even then, if your hope was shaking
I'm here holding on"

He hugged me even tighter as he kissed my shoulders and I can feel my strength slowly leaving my body as I listen to his song and before losing everything this time I join him in singing.

"I will always be yours forever
and more
For the push and the pull
I still drown in your love
And drink till I'm drunk
And all that I've done, is it ever enough?"

My breathing was slow and I can hear Casper's audible sobs like a child. I gently stroke his hair then his back trying to comfort him with the fact that I'll be leaving him too soon.

"What you've done was more than enough Casper and I will always be grateful. I love you."

I whispered for the very last time as I close my eyes with a smile on my face. I know my journey has come to an end or so I thought.

When everyone thought that Lauren's journey has come to an end Casper knew that she was just beginning the biggest journey she'd never been through.

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Featured song:
Ever Enough
By: A Rocket to the Moon

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