Two years before the accident

HARLEY

4 June, Saturday

"Harley, I need you to breath sweetie."

I shake my head, the pain in my chest tightens and my eyes burn. This is all too much, I'm going to die. Why is this happening to me? I shake my head because breathing seems so hard.

"Come on sweetie." Molly rubs my back lightly and says sweet, comforting words to me. But nothing can get rid of the pain. Tears spill out as I try leveling out my thoughts, trying hard to concentrate on Molly's voice.

"Count with me.1, 2, 3... just focus on my voice okay? Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale."

She rubs soothing circles on my back, holding onto me, being my rock. My lungs suddenly open up and I'm able to breath slow trembling breathes. My tears flood my cheeks as oxygen travels through me. A strangled sob leaves my lips and I cling onto Molly.

Molly and I were working out but my lungs could not take it. My breathing became laboured and I became dizzy from the lack of oxygen transported in my body. Shortness of breath is one of the things I've grown to live with for a while now.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with an Atrial Septum Defect, which is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of my heart. The doctors said the hole is not so big that I'll need an immediate surgery, but I still attend monthly checkups. Dr Larson, my cardiologist said that the hole can close on its own so it won't be necessary to worry too much, as long as I take care of myself and don't forget to take it easy.

That means that I can only exercise for a maximum of thirty minutes a week, so as to not put too much pressure on my heart. The doctors don't seem too worried about it, though they did mention that if the hole hasn't closed on its own in the next two years than I'll have to go for surgery so that they can close it.

"That's it sweetie. Are you okay?"

"Ye-yeah. Thank you Molly."

"We should really take it easy. We were both so lost in thought that we didn't realize just how fast we were going."

A laugh escapes my lips inspite of the fast rising and falling of my chest. Because even my worst times hardly feel that bad when I'm with Molly.

"We better not mention this to Dr Larson. She'd kill us both."

Molly breaks out into a snort kind of laugh, but is cut off by my phone ringing from the kitchen island. I get up and try to steady myself before grabbing it and answering without checking the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Harls, I need you for Tuesday. So make sure you have no plans, okay?"

Marcela's voice fills my ears in a soft melody. Even though I haven't been at work for only a day, I already miss her sweet voice. Marcela's been a mother figure for the past few years, helping me get through so much by just being by my side. Molly and Micheal have always been there, but Marcela was more like a mother to me because she treated me like her very own. There were times when I'd be having the worst day at work, and she would lay my head on her lap and stroke my hair, letting me cry out all my sorrow without minding one bit.

Her affection for me is so great it feels as though mom is still here most of the time. Marcela and mom were best friends since primary school and never left the other no matter what struggles were put before them. Marcela understood my pain and grief so much more then anyone else because she lost her mom a few years before I was born, in a tragic car accident.

"Okay, but what for? Do we have plans?"

"Something like that. Mr Burkley from 'Burkley Passions' wants to use my designs for his upcoming photoshoot! You are expected to meet him and go over the designs on Tuesday. And dress nice, you never know what to expect."

My eyes widen as I screech in excitement.

"Oh my God! That's great news May, I am so proud of you. I'm free anytime you need me to be, just text me the time and address."

We say our goodbyes and drop the call. Shock washes over me as I absorb what just happened.

"Mr Burkely from Burkley freaking Passions wants to use Marcela's designs for his photoshoot."

"WHAT? Say that again, I don't think I heard you correctly." Molly rubs her ears in an attempt to rid all the invisible bubbles from inside them.

"Mr Burkley from Burkley Passions wants to do a photoshoot using Marcela's designs. And I have a meeting with him on Tuesday to run through the designs and finalize everything."

"Oh my GOSH! Mr Burkley, as in Mr too-shy-to-post-a-picture-on-the-internet Mr Burkley? The Mr Burkley who owns the biggest fashion photography industry in the entire country?"

"Yes, that Mr Burkley."

"And you're having a meeting with him on Tuesday, correct?"

"Yup, this Tuesday which is exactly two days away."

"Ahhhhhh!" Molly grabs my hands swiftly before she shimmies around the couch and heads straight to the bathroom. Her scream echoing an octave higher as she turns the shower on.

"Get done real quick because we are going SHOPPING!"

"But we-"

The door shuts before I can make out a full sentence, to try and talk her out of her frenzy.

...

AARON

5 June, Sunday

Every Sunday I visit New Hope orphanage. Its been a second home to me ever since mom and dad got divorced. The children at New Hope helped me get through those tough times even though I was nearly twenty one years old when they separated and my problems were nothing compared to theirs.

A small smile appears infront of me and suddenly all the stress from the past week washes away. The orphans at New Hope can change so many lives without you even noticing. Their carefree smiles show just how innocent they are, how they didn't deserve to be left alone in the world. But maybe it was all for a purpose, maybe all of them were left here so that they could change the darkest of hearts.

New Hope orphanage looks like it could be a two story house. There's not so many children that they would need a huge plot to care for them, but they are so busy and full of life that the simple house feels like a mansion that's filled with hope. The pastel colours, the soft contours of the walls and the beautiful souls that made this place a home brings so much joy to anyone that enters.

"Rony!" A tiny figure jumps into my arms as I kneel down, instinctively wrapping my arms around her small frame.

"Hey Suzy. Was your week as eventful as usual?" I stare into her brown eyes and the brown iris' make me feel as though I'm staring into the eyes of the girl I bumped into in the coffee shop yesterday.

Though the eyes I lost my way in seemed to have something else that attracted me to her. Those pupils were like magnets pulling me towards her. Something inside me stirrs at the thought of those gorgeous eyes and I have to swallow hard to try and get rid of the nauseating feeling inside my stomach.

"You have no idea. Firstly, Luke tried putting his gross fingers in my hair, saying that he liked how shiny it is. And to make things worse, he kept following me around even though I told him countless times to buzz off! Gosh Rony, you need to do something, you know how much I hate people who pester me and can't follow simple instructions."  Suzy's chest heaves from exasperation, her hands on her hips.

"I see. Did you try asking what his reason for following you was?"

"Yeah..." She knots her fingers together and bows her wig clad head, seemingly embarrassed as her cheeks turn crimson.

"And?"

"He said he wanted to be my friend. But,..."

"But...?"

"But I said no because he was trying to touch my hair. And if he were to touch it, he would know what's wrong with me. He'd think I'll make him sick, but you know that won't happen. I had to say no Rony." She snifs with her head still bowed and my heart breaks for her.

Suzy was diagnosed with cancer that was passed down genetically from her mother. Her mother being her only guardian made it hard to place her anywhere, so the only solution was to put her in the system.

Over the past two years she's been recovering fairly well after many sessions of chemotherapy. Every part of her body still remains hairless, and the fatigue always takes up most of her days. But her strong will to enjoy everyday never ruins her days which is so precious.

"Come here."

I lift her up and cradle her in my arms. Her light weight soothing all the tension in my body. Her embraces always make me feel at home. Its like I've never been lost, because she was the only one that really helped me through my darkest times.

She lost her mother, and I lost my sister, both to cancer. We went through our grief together, so I guess we both helped eachother one way or another.

"You should never be afraid to tell people what a strong, beautiful person you are okay. They won't look down at you because you're a survivor. Don't you think Luke actually liked your company and that's why he was following you?"

"You really think he likes me?" Her smile lights her face up and she removes her head from the crook of my neck.

"Yes, of course he does. Everybody likes you Suzy."

But that smile is short lived, for her face falls just as quickly as it lit up.

"But I don't think he likes me anymore, Ronny. I was mean to him and now I feel bad. Do you think I should apologize?"

"That is a great idea."

Suzy apologized to Luke and told him he could be her friend if he really wanted to. They ran off and went about there business while I visited all the other kids. I discussed a few things with the social workers about the progress off all the children and asked how they were coping with the increase in children this past month.

The head nurse Lucy lives here. She works and fills the hearts of all the children at the orphanage with that of a mother figure. Her warm demeanor attracts so many people to her, its almost as though she was born to be a mother.

Lucy is in her mid-forties but doesn't look a day over thirty. Her small, slender figure and dark hair, high cheek bones and plump lips all make her look so young and beautiful.

"Hello there Lucy. How is your day going so far?"

She's dressed in a floral blouse and jeans with simple white sandals. Her hair pulled back into a sleek bun with bangs covering her forehead.

"Hello Aaron. My day is going great, what a dumb question to ask. The kids are so full of life, their energy makes me feel as young as them."

Lucy always has a way to hide just how tired she is due to all the stress from having to care for so many children at her age. And that is something I admire about her, she always speaks about the good and never the hardships in any situation.

"You are too kind. You look beautiful today by the way, those colours really highlight your features." I wink and she breaks out into a melodious laugh. And I'm reminded yet again how lucky I am to have met all these beautiful souls.

...

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