~PROLOGUE~

Aubrey pulled into the convenience store, looking for a gift for Sophie , to celebrate her birthday. Yes, they might have fought two days ago, but Aubrey would never forget her special day.

As he stepped inside the store, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, expecting it to be Ryan or maybe even his mom. But instead, the screen read "Sophie"

She had been trying to reach him ever since their fight, but Aubrey just ignored her calls. He decided to answer this once, after all his anger had subsided.

He didn't know why, but his heart skipped a beat as he answered the call. "Hey, what's up?" he said, trying to sound casual.

But Sophie's voice on the other end was weak and trembling. "Don't worry, this will be my last call. Aubrey...I'm sorry," she whispered.

Aubrey's grip on the phone tightened. "What's going on, Sophie? Where are you?"

But Sophie just laughed, a sad, mirthless sound. "I'm...I'm at the hospital," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Aubrey. I'm so sorry."

Aubrey's heart was racing now. "Sophie, what's going on? What's happening?"

But Sophie's voice was fading away. "Goodbye, Aubrey...I love you..."

And then the line went dead.

Aubrey stood there, frozen in shock, as the convenience store clerk looked on in concern. "Dude, are you okay?" he asked.

But Aubrey just shook his head, his eyes fixed on the phone in his hand. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

He stumbled out of the store, back to his motorcycle. He didn't know what to do, or where to go. All he knew was that he had to get to the hospital.

But as he roared away from the curb, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was already too late.

—————–—–

Sophie's eyes fluttered open, the harsh light of dawn piercing through her window like a cruel joke. She lay in bed, her body weak and exhausted from another round of chemotherapy. But she couldn't afford to rest. Not today. Not ever.

She threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangling in the air. She was a fighter, and fighters didn't give up. They kept pushing, no matter how hard life got.

And life had gotten hard for Sophie. Diagnosed with cancer at just 18, she had been forced to take on multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Her aunt, who was supposed to be taking care of her, was more interested in spending Sophie's hard-earned cash on her own luxuries.

But Sophie refused to give up. She worked tirelessly, juggling her jobs and her treatment, always keeping her eyes on the prize: a cancer-free life.

Meanwhile, across town, Aubrey was waking up in a very different state. He was sprawled across his bed, his head pounding and his mouth dry. He had no idea what time it was or how he had gotten home.

All he knew was that he had to get up and do it all again tonight. That's what Aubrey did. He partied hard, lived harder, and never looked back. He was the life of the party, the king of the club, and the one everyone wanted to be around.

But little did Aubrey know, his life was about to take a drastic turn. He was about to meet someone who would change everything. Someone who would make him question his reckless ways and make him want to be a better person.

Someone like Sophie.