The final day of exams arrived in a whirlwind. Christine had rushed through her papers, barely able to focus on the questions. Her mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Lara. With her last pen stroke, she set down her exam paper and hurried out of the lecture hall, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. But it wasn’t just because the exams were over—she was going home. Back to Lara.

The last few months had been a blur of sleepless nights, frantic study sessions, and endless texts with Lara. The stress of managing her grades and worrying about her best friend had been overwhelming, but Christine had pushed through it all. Now, with the exams behind her, she could finally devote herself fully to spending time with Lara.

Christine found herself at the mall, wandering from store to store. She picked up a few journals from a quaint stationary shop, thinking they could write down their memories together. At another store, she bought frames and printed out dozens of photos of them from over the years—silly selfies, vacation snapshots, moments from high school dances. She wanted to surround Lara with memories, to remind her of all the good times they had shared. A few thoughtful gifts, a couple of silly trinkets, and her arms were full. This would be the beginning of their journey through Lara’s battle together, a time to create memories that Christine would carry with her for the rest of her life.

No matter how overwhelming the last few months had been, no matter how frustrated she had felt at times with Lara’s behavior, Christine’s heart was full of love for her best friend. Even at her most annoying, Lara had always been there for her, and Christine intended to do the same. They were bound by years of friendship and memories.

Christine took a late flight home, arriving in her hometown just as night began to fall. The familiar streets felt comforting as the taxi drove her back to her house. Exhausted but full of hope, Christine decided to wait until morning to see Lara. She wanted to be refreshed, calm, and ready to shower her best friend with all the love she had brought with her. Tomorrow, she thought, would be the start of something special.

The next morning, Christine stood outside Lara’s house, her heart pounding in her chest. The gifts in her arms felt heavier than before, her legs slightly unsteady as she tried to compose herself. The house looked the same, as if frozen in time from all the memories they had shared there. The laughter, the tears, the secrets—it all came rushing back to Christine as she stood on the doorstep.

She took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay strong for Lara. No matter how hard this was, no matter how much seeing Lara’s condition might hurt, Christine had to hold herself together. Lara needed her now more than ever. With trembling hands, she rang the doorbell.

Mrs. Morgan answered with a warm smile, her face lighting up when she saw Christine. “Oh, Christine! It’s so good to see you! How’s college? How have you been, dear?”

Christine forced a smile, though her heart was racing. “I’ve been good, Mrs. Morgan. College is hectic, but I’m managing.”

Mrs. Morgan nodded approvingly. “That’s wonderful to hear. Lara’s inside, in the hall. She’s watching Netflix. Go on in, she’ll be so happy to see you.”

Christine thanked her and stepped inside, her eyes immediately scanning the familiar surroundings. Every corner of the house was filled with memories—sleepovers, movie nights, the countless times they had snuck snacks from the kitchen in the middle of the night. It all felt so distant now, as if from another lifetime.

As she walked into the hall, her eyes landed on Lara. She was sitting comfortably on the couch, munching on a packet of chips, her eyes glued to the TV screen. The moment Lara saw Christine, her face lit up with excitement. She jumped off the couch, her arms flinging wide open.

“Kay!” Lara exclaimed, running over to hug her.

Christine barely had time to put the gifts down before Lara was wrapped around her, squeezing her tightly. For a brief moment, all of Christine’s anxiety melted away. It was as if nothing had changed, as if they were still two carefree girls, laughing and joking like they used to.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Lara said, pulling back slightly but still holding Christine by the arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Christine smiled, though her mind was already racing. She glanced at Lara’s pale face, searching for signs of fatigue, illness—anything that might hint at the severity of her condition. But Lara seemed… fine. Too fine.

“I’ve missed you too,” Christine replied. “I brought you some things. We’ll go through them later.”

Lara grabbed Christine’s hand and led her to her room, where they settled in. The room was exactly as Christine remembered it—posters on the wall, a messy desk, and clothes scattered about. It was as though time had stood still, except for the nagging feeling in Christine’s heart.

“So, how’s everything going? How are your hospital appointments?” Christine asked carefully, not wanting to ruin the mood but needing to know how Lara was doing.

Lara’s face shifted slightly, her smile faltering for a moment. “Uh, yeah… about that.” She glanced away, fidgeting nervously. “Kay, I need to tell you something. But promise me you won’t get mad.”

Christine frowned, feeling her stomach tighten. “I won’t get mad. Just tell me.”

Lara held up her little finger, her eyes wide and pleading. “Pinky promise.”

Christine rolled her eyes but smiled, intertwining her pinky with Lara’s. “Okay, pinky promise. Now spill.”

Lara took a deep breath. “Actually… all this stuff about cancer, it was… it was a lie.”

The words hung in the air, deafening in their simplicity. Christine blinked, the full weight of what Lara had just said slowly sinking in.

“What?” Christine’s voice was barely a whisper.

“I don’t have cancer. I’m perfectly fine. Like you wanted me to be. Aren’t you happy?” Lara said, her voice light, as if she were sharing a joke.

Christine’s mind reeled. She couldn’t process what she was hearing. “So… everything you’ve been saying for the last three months? All the texts, the calls, the breakdowns…?”

“It was a prank,” Lara said casually, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You weren’t paying attention to me, so I thought I’d, you know, fix things between us. Also I wanted to know if I was ever important to you, this question was bothering me since soo long. ”

Christine’s heart dropped to the floor. A prank? This was all just some sick, twisted game? She had poured her heart and soul into being there for Lara, sacrificed her grades, her mental health, and all for this? For that stupid question of hers?

“So… this is how you ‘fix things’?” Christine’s voice was cold, shaking with barely-contained fury. “You lie about having cancer?”

Lara’s eyes widened, suddenly sensing the depth of Christine’s hurt. “Kay, I just… I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I just wanted us to be close again.”

Christine felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She stood, her legs trembling, her mind struggling to catch up with her emotions. She had cried for Lara. She had been terrified of losing her. She had sacrificed everything to be there for her, and it was all a lie.

“I can’t believe this,” Christine whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. “You played with my emotions like this. Cancer is a joke to you?”

Lara’s eyes filled with panic. “No, Kay, that’s not what I meant—”

Christine cut her off, her voice rising. “I spent months worrying about you, neglecting my studies, crying myself to sleep, and for what? A prank?!”

She felt like a fool. She had been made to look like an idiot, clinging to Lara’s every word, believing every tearful text. The betrayal burned through her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

“What happened, Kay?” Lara’s voice was small, uncertain. “Are you angry?”

Christine swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to keep her emotions in check. “No,” she said softly, her voice devoid of any warmth. “It’s good that you’re fine. I’m happy for you.”

She grabbed her bag, her legs carrying her toward the door before she even realized it. “I have to go. My mom needs me for something.”

“Kay, wait—” Lara called, but Christine didn’t stop. She couldn’t. If she stayed another minute, she would break.

Christine walked down the street, her vision blurred by tears. The gifts she had so carefully picked out for Lara felt like a mockery now. She had spent so many sleepless nights crying over her best friend, sacrificing everything, only to find out it had all been a cruel joke. She felt betrayed. Humiliated.

Tears streamed down her face as she quickened her pace, her heart pounding with a mixture of anger and grief. She had lost her best friend—not to cancer, but to a betrayal so deep, she wasn’t sure she could ever forgive it.

Lara had made her look like a fool. All the love, all the support she had poured into their friendship felt meaningless now. She had given everything for Lara, and in return, she had been lied to, manipulated.

Christine’s steps grew heavier as she neared her house, the weight of her broken heart nearly unbearable. She didn’t know if she could ever look at Lara the same way again. And that thought, more than anything, tore her apart.