It was the last day of the year. Things had changed a lot since we all found out I was practically cured of cancer. William had started a course of treatment with a specialist for his alcohol addiction. He is proof that if you want to change, you can. He was no longer the person of the past. He was the William that everyone would like to be next to. A person who supports you in everything you do.
Sometimes he took me to look at the stars, which always made me think of Jacob. I wanted to ask him so many questions before his death. I wanted to ask him what was on his mind. I wanted to ask him how he managed to hide immense pain inside and show himself happy on the outside. He had told me to enjoy life for him too; and that's what I'm doing.
«Come here and I'll get you little critter!», I said to Bella as I chased her around her house. Finally, I was able to tell her that my "cold" that had lasted for fifteen years had passed.
We had decided to spend New Year's Eve with the Collinses, of course.
"Hi baby". William's sweet voice. He gave me a small kiss on the forehead and hugged me. I could smell the strong scent of him. "How are you feeling?" he asked me. "I am fine. You are fine?".
"I am fine". He hadn't drunk for ten days. I was very proud of him.
«Are you happy to start a new year, with me?».
"Of course I am. We have so much to do now that the cancer is practically gone.'
"We have a whole life ahead of us to do whatever we want, my baby."
Finally, I felt free. Free from everything.
"Honey, can you help me prepare dinner tonight?" Anna asked me.
"Certain". I left William another little kiss and he followed her into the kitchen, where my mom was also.
«So moms, what's the menu?», I asked smiling.
«We are preparing the usual appetizers for the starter. As a first course we decided to make some baked pasta, you, my love, should prepare the salad», my mother replied. While they started preparing the appetizers, I grabbed some tomatoes and started slicing them.
"Do you need a hand?" Logan asked as he entered the kitchen.
"But please! You don't even know how to warm up a pizza!», I told him laughing. He answered by sticking his tongue out at me.
"Steph will be arriving soon too. Please, mom. Don't make me look like shit," Logan told his mother. Steph was his new girlfriend. We hadn't managed to establish a relationship yet, I hadn't seen her many times, but she seemed very nice and sweet to me.
"Is this what you think of your mother? And then, young gentleman, be careful how you talk » reproached Anna. My mother and I laughed.
While I was cutting the onion for the salad I started crying like a baby.
"Honey, are you okay? Why are you crying? », My mother immediately asked me, she was worried.
"It's so nice to be able to all be together," I replied. She gave me a hug but in the end I told her the truth.
"Nope, Mom. Actually I'm crying because I'm cutting the onion». I laughed.
"Diana Margaret Smith, you are just like your father!"
Actually, it was really nice to spend time together. It was as if two families had become one. We had also spent Christmas day together and we had celebrated the "almost" end of my cancer all together.
"Hi!" Steph greeted, walking into the kitchen.
"Hi, Steph. How are you?". She was just a beautiful girl. She had very long red hair and some freckles on her face.
«I'm fine, and you?», She told me smiling. "Well. Couldn't you cut the onion for me? I'm crying my eyes out!" I replied laughing.
"Certain! Give me here, I'll do it, don't worry». She took the knife and continued preparing the salad.
"I'm going to the bathroom for a moment to wash my hands!" I warned everyone in the kitchen.
She walked up the stairs slowly and like every time, I stopped to look at the picture of Elizabeth hanging on the wall for a while. They had two: one by the fireplace and one in the upstairs hallway. She was a really beautiful little girl who had her life taken away so quickly. "Are you still looking at this photo? Don't you ever get tired?" It was William's voice.
"She's your sister too. Imagine if she had been here with us now.'
"Unfortunately, these things happen, my dear." He put his arm around my shoulder as we continued to look at that photo.
"I know. But it's so sad."
"Why are you crying? Usually, you don't cry when you look at this picture," he asked me.
"I know. I cut the onion and I can still smell it. I go to the bathroom to wash my hands. Do you want to accompany me?».
"At your Princess' command." I laughed.
"I saw your father having a beer earlier. Are you okay?" I asked as I was drying my hands.
«Yes... the temptation is strong. But it's not like before. Now I'm happy. Before I drank to not feel the pain I had inside. Now, like your tumor, that pain is gone. It's easier to resist not drinking."
My eyes drifted to look at the floor. I was starting to cry and it was no longer the fault of the strong smell of the onion.
"I'm proud of you, Will," I whimpered. "Don't cry, my baby. It's all over and we don't have to think about it anymore." He gave me a warm hug. "Can I give you a kiss?" I asked him.
«Is there also something to ask?». His lips snapped on mine. It felt so good to kiss him. Feel it near me. Feeling that despite everything, we're still here. Together.
"It's ready!" my mother yelled from the kitchen.
"It's time to go eat! Finally, I'm starving like a wolf », she told me laughing.
I stood for a moment looking at him. His beauty touched my soul and his love touched my heart. With each passing day, I was more and more in love with him.