The next morning, Christine dragged herself to college, her heart weighed down with the news of Lara's illness. Every step felt heavier than the last, her mind wandering back to the heartbreaking conversation with her best friend. The bustling campus around her seemed to fade into the background as she replayed Lara's words in her head: six months. How could something so final, so devastating, happen to someone she loved so much?

She barely noticed Robert waving to her as she approached their usual lunch spot. He had already set up their food, sitting down and watching her with curious eyes.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle, aware of her distant mood. Christine gave him a small, forced smile, hoping it would be enough to convince him she was fine.

"I'm good," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she sank into her seat.

Robert wasn't convinced, but he let it slide for the moment. Instead, he attempted to lighten the mood, cracking a few of his usual jokes, hoping to draw a laugh from her. Yet, Christine remained quiet, her fork pushing food around on her plate but not lifting any to her mouth.

After a few failed attempts at humor, Robert's concern grew deeper. "Come on, Christine, what’s going on? You’re clearly not yourself."

She sighed heavily, her mind still full of Lara's condition, but before she could respond, Robert’s phone rang.

"It's Nicole," he said apologetically as he glanced at the screen.

Christine’s lips curled into a smile at the mention of Nicole. She was Robert’s secret girlfriend, a model, and someone who had captured his heart completely. The two had kept their relationship under wraps for the sake of avoiding public scrutiny, but Christine knew all about it. They both found it amusing when rumors about Christine and Robert circulated around the university, but they never bothered to correct anyone. It was easier, and honestly, it gave them something to laugh about when they hung out.

“Go ahead, talk to her,” Christine encouraged, motioning for Robert to take the call.

He smiled gratefully and walked a few steps away, speaking in hushed tones. Christine, for the first time that day, felt a small warmth in her chest as she watched him. Robert had always been there for her, and his love for Nicole only made Christine feel more at ease. She knew she wasn’t truly alone, even though her heart ached for Lara.

When Robert returned, his face was apologetic. “I’ve got to go. Nicole’s waiting for me, and we have plans this afternoon.”

Christine nodded, understanding completely. “Of course, no worries. I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”

“Yeah,” Robert gave her a quick hug before leaving. “Take care of yourself, alright? You don’t seem okay. I’m here if you need to talk.”

As he walked away, Christine sat back down at the table, the sudden emptiness around her swallowing her whole. Without Robert’s comforting presence, her thoughts immediately returned to Lara. She pulled out her phone, opening their last conversation. She couldn’t stop thinking about how fragile Lara had sounded, how much pain was buried under her words. Without hesitation, she began typing.

"Hey, Lara. How are you feeling today?"

Lara’s response came quicker than expected.

"I’m doing okay. Better, I guess. What about you?"

Christine felt a small sense of relief that Lara’s mood seemed to have improved, but she knew better than to take it at face value. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she began typing again, choosing her words carefully.

"Just thinking about you. I know things are hard right now, but I promise we’ll get through this. After my exams, I’ll come visit, and we’ll have so much fun together, like old times. Just hang in there, okay?"

Christine tried her best to sound optimistic, throwing in some silly jokes to lighten the conversation. She wanted to lift Lara’s spirits, to make her feel like everything was still okay, even when nothing felt right.

"I’ll bring snacks, we can binge-watch all those terrible rom-coms you love, and I’ll even let you make fun of my music playlist. Just like the good old days."

She could practically feel Lara smiling on the other end of the conversation. It warmed her heart, even if only a little.

But then Lara’s tone shifted again, her emotions bubbling back to the surface.

"Christine, don’t forget about me when I’m gone. Please don’t. Keep me in your memories, okay? Visit my parents sometimes. They’ll feel so alone without me… I’ve been such a burden to them my whole life, and now I won’t even be able to take care of them."

Christine’s heart shattered once more. How could Lara think so little of herself, after everything they’d been through? She wanted to scream, to tell her that she was wrong, but instead, she swallowed her grief and continued to type.

"Lara, you were never a burden. You’re the best daughter they could have ever asked for. Don’t think like that."

But Lara wasn’t finished.

"Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this. Not Rachel, not Bella… no one. I don’t want them to pity me. I want to live whatever time I have left without that hanging over my head. And, Christine… if you ever have a daughter, will you name her after me? I want a little part of me to stay with you, always."

Christine wiped away the tears that were threatening to spill over her cheeks. Lara was asking too much of her, and yet Christine would do anything for her. She would be strong for her, no matter what.

"I promise, Lara. I won’t tell anyone. And if I have a daughter, she’ll be named after you. You’ll always be a part of my life."

The conversation seemed to be winding down when Lara asked the question that Christine had been dreading.

"Do I have a special place in your life, Christine? Am I as important to you as you are to me? I need to know… so I can die in peace."

Christine froze, her heart pounding in her chest. How could she even begin to answer that? Of course, Lara was important to her, but explaining the depth of their friendship in words felt impossible. Still, she had to say something, even though Lara’s insecurity seeped through the message.

"Lara, of course you’re important to me. You’re my best friend."

But Lara wasn’t convinced.

"Take your time and really think about it, Christine. I don’t need an answer right now… but I need you to be honest."

Christine could hardly keep it together after that. She fought back the sobs, barely making it through the rest of the day. That night, after tossing and turning, she woke up at 2 a.m., her mind racing. She couldn’t shake Lara’s question, couldn’t stand the thought of leaving it unresolved. So, she grabbed her phone and began typing.

"Lara, you mean the world to me. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You’ve been by my side through everything, and I can’t even begin to explain how much you matter to me. We’re going to be best friends forever, remember? We’ll be godmothers to each other’s kids, and we’ll laugh together until our hair turns gray. You’re not just my best friend—you’re a part of my soul."

Tears dripped onto her phone screen as she continued to type, pouring her heart out in a message longer than she had intended. By the time she hit send, her pillow was wet with tears, and her heart ached with every beat. She fell asleep, exhausted, hoping her words would reach Lara the way she intended.

The next morning, Christine woke to the sound of her phone ringing. It was Lara, and her voice was thick with emotion when she spoke.

“Christine… I read your message. Thank you,” Lara said softly. “I needed to hear that.”

They spoke for a while, their conversation filled with quiet reassurances and shared memories. Christine could feel the weight lifting off Lara’s shoulders, even if just a little. After they hung up, Christine rushed to get ready for college, her heart still heavy, but now filled with a renewed sense of determination.

Lara needed her, and Christine wouldn’t let her down.

This was the moment that changed everything for Christine. Her life had suddenly split into two paths: one where she had to be the strength Lara needed, and the other where she had to keep going for herself. And she was determined to walk both of them, no matter how hard it got.