Celine Garcia
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I'm dying. This disease is eating me alive. Not yet please. I want to be alive, laugh with him, cry and get angry with him. I want to be by his side. I silently cry alone in this dull white room while thinking about these things, little things that will make my life have meaning.

"Celine, how are you doing?", my mom asked as she opened the door to my room but I did not reply. She closed the door and sat on the chair beside my bed. I stared at the sky outside the window. It's sunny outside. The waves must be calm today.

"Honey, I need to tell you something."

"I know. I overheard." My mom started crying. There was no cure for me. I'm dying. I have only a few months left. Who knows, I only have a day left. You know, conciously knowing that you are on death's door makes you think of how you would have spent your life, who to care for, makes you think of things that you still want to do. But at the end of the day, it's the memories that makes you understand that it's not about how you will spend it, it's about who you're spending it with. I can't plan everything for my life, it just sort of happens.

"Celine.", my mom whispered, a face so sad and frustrated.

"It's okay mom. I'm not sad at all. In fact, I'm happy. I'm happy now that I have been forgiven. I may not have heard it directly but...", I placed my hand over my chest, "I can tell." A tear runs down my cheek, my mom stands up and hugs me. Seriously, my eyes have not grown tired of crying.

A day has passed, a week, a month and I'm still alive. I am still breathing, frail but awake. Anthony never fails to visit me on the weekends. He can't visit me on the weekdays since he has a part time job, earning so that he can visit me from quite a distance. He can't keep using his mom's car to visit me. So he decided to work just to see me.

I told the nurse that I wanted some fresh air so I asked her to turn off the AC and open the windows. I sat on a wheelchair beside the window. The breeze was refreshing and I crossed my arms, rested my head on the window ledge. Snapshots of memories flooded my mind. I wish I could spend more time outside.

Stood up. I fell. Pain was ringing throughout my body. I grabbed the ledge to support me when I stood up. Sighed. Someone came in and it was the face that I wanted to see, Anthony.

"Hey.", he greeted, holding a bag of goods.

"Hey.", I greeted back. He closed the door and placed the bag on the table.

"You alright?", he asked.

"Yeah. I just wanted some fresh air.", I replied.

"Let's go outside.", he suggested.

"I can't. I'm not allowed.", I replied. He went outside and came back a few minutes later.

"Where did you-"

"Ten minutes they say.", I said. My face turned into a smile and both of us went out, a nurse was pushing my wheel chair. Anthony told her to give us some privacy after we arrived by a huge maple tree. She just sat two benches away from us.

"How did you get their permission?", I asked.

"Let's just say they saw how awesome and handsome I was.", he replied. I laughed.

"What? Am I not all that?", he asked, frowning.

"It's not that. I was just reminded about that time when we were at the arcade but we weren't able to use the photobooth since we were very short. I wonder how you begged the staff guy to let us use it and lend us a chair on top of that.", I wondered.

"I'm awesome that's why.", he replied with a smug on his face. I laughed. I know he was just trying to cheer me up. He was not the cheerful type of person. Anthony is a silent, reserved, and pessimistic type but still he is a really kind person. And that is what I love about him.

"Thanks.", I said. He looked and smiled at me. He bent down and kissed me. Leaves fell all over the place, gracefully falling unto the grass. His hands on top of mine, warm and reassuring. He gently pulled away.

"Smile more. I like that about you.", he said. I blushed while looking at him. I smiled even more, staring at his warm smile towards me.

"I will.", I replied and he leaned in again and kissed me.

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Anthony Williams

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She's finally asleep. I stood up and I took my bag. I kissed her forehead once more and got out of her room. Closed the door. I leaned against it and this painful feeling really makes me weak inside.

"You...", I looked to my left and I saw Celine's father. Later, we both arrived outside of the hospital.

"What did you want to talk to me about?", I asked.

"Did you know why her mother is a nurse?", he asked.

"I guess not.", I replied. Celine's father clasped his hands together.

"She was just like our daughter." My eyes widen and I looked at him shock.

"Funny, huh? Just when we both thought that we were done with the ordeal, Celine had it. Fortunate for her mother, she survived. The doctors provided the same medication her mother had but Celine wasn't cured. I guess hers is in a much dire condition.", her father explained.

"How were you able to cope?", I asked, "Honestly, seeing her like that makes me so frustrated that I can't do anything. So much for becoming a doctor to save me.", I uttered. Celine's father gave me a pat on the back.

"I may not know what she told you or how both of you are dealing with your past but to tell you how I coped up, I became strong for her. Everyday, her mother cried alone and I sneaked in the hospital every night. Though I can't go inside, I just made myself outside her room. Every night I could always see her silhouette, trying to stand up every time. I could see how strong she was so I tried to be strong for her as well. I did not imagine a future with her. The future was not guaranteed. One thing is for sure, that today, right now, she was alive, breathing. That is what motivated me to visit her everyday if I could. We were both in college that time so every time I had spare time, I visited her. Sometimes at night, when I was outside her room, her silhouette wasn't there. My mind would go wild. Is she dead? Is she okay? Where is she?", he chuckled. I just listened to him. I thought, what a strong man.

"What I'm trying to say is be strong for her by being by her side all the time. Even you can only see her silhouette, just knowing that it's hers can really reassure you. I'm not sure about how you feel about my daughter but as the only childhood friend that she ever had, please protect what is most precious, her smile. I am asking you as her father.", he bowed before me. I was in utter shock. He was in the same situation as I am in now but he was able to overcome the ordeal.

"I cannot guarantee a future with her. It is still blurry and unclear but I'll do my best to protect her smile, even if it will cost me.", I said and tears came out of my eyes. I didn't know how painful this is, to declare myself to protect Celine's smile, I never realized how hard it is to do so but I just have to do it, because I love her. Her father stood up and grabbed a smoke.

"Celine's mother became a nurse to protect Celine. She wanted to protect Celine from harm but I must say that she told me she failed.", her father told me and I was speechless.

"A doctor was it?", he asked.

"Yes.", I replied.

"People become something because of someone. Her mother wanted to become a nurse for our daughter.", her father said as he walked away. I left alone. And Celine wants to be a doctor to save me. I was left speechless that night. Unable to move. Unable to sleep.