You have no idea how long you've been sitting in this chair. It's been a few hours maybe? It was hard to tell. You didn't really look up from your mom as she slept in the hospital bed. The situation turned out to be much worse than you had originally thought.

You found yourself wishing that she had passed out from exhaustion.

You held your head in your hands as you tapped your foot.

After you found her upon your return, the ambulance showed up and took her away. You rode along while everyone else went home to try and go on with their day, but they were all worried about you.

Your phone had gone off a few times, but you didn't bother to check it. You had a lot on your mind now.

You slowly lifted your head up when you heard a noise coming from your mother. You looked at her as she began to wake up.

Mom: What.....

She looked around the room before she finally noticed you.

Mom: Y/N? What happened? Where am I?

You lowered your hands before you sighed.

Y/N: The hospital. I found you passed out on the floor.

Your mom lifted a hand to her head. She then smiled.

Mom: Oh my. Must have overworked myself, huh?

You clenched your fists. How could she still try to hide it? How can she still pretend like everything is okay?

Mom: I guess I should take a few days off.

Y/N: The doctor told me about the cancer.

Your mom quickly looked at you to find that you were staring at the ground. After she was brought in, the doctor had asked you if she had been taking her medicine.

You were confused before he told you the truth that shook you to your bones.

Your mom has breast cancer. She had known about it for months.

She didn't tell you.

Mom: Y/N....

Y/N: Why didn't you tell me?

Mom: I didn't want you to worry.

Y/N: You didn't......look at you! You're in a hospital bed because you're dying! Why didn't you tell me about this?! I would've stayed!

You didn't really realize that you were yelling at her. You were just scared. Hurting. Your mom was the only family you had left. You couldn't lose her.

Mom: Y/N, lower your voice. We're in a hospital.

How could she be so calm right now? How can she still be so collected? She was in a hospital with something inside of her that was going to take her life.

Mom: This is exactly why I didn't tell you. I don't want you to spend what's left of your highschool days worrying about me.

Y/N: That's not fair. You're my mother. I always worry about you. This is a huge deal. Mom....

You lowered your head before you stood up and walked over to her. You slowly reached out and she held your hand.

Y/N: I....I can't lose you.

Mom: I know, sweetie. And you won't. I will see you graduate. I'll see you take that beautiful girl of your to prom. I'll be there for it all. I promise.

You just stood there as she gently squeezed your hand.

You didn't want to fight or argue with her. Not now. Not ever, really. She was alive and with you now. That was all that mattered.
---------------
Ezreal laid on his bed with nothing to do. He was still trying to reel in after seeing your mom on the floor like that. He had tried to call you, but you didn't answer. He left you a text instead.

He figured he could go and visit once you got back to him. Your mom was practically his second mom, after all.

Everyone was worried. No one knew what to do.

Now that he was thinking about it, Kayn had to tell Akali what happened so that Evelynn knew. That had to be the worst game of telephone.

Ezreal decided he hated this. His best friend was hurting and he couldn't do anything to help. But he also knew there was no point in just sitting here and wallowing in his own despair.

He sat up and grabbed his phone. Then, he made a call.

He waited as it started to ring.

Finally, someone picked up.

Kai'sa: Hello?

Ezreal: Hey. What are you doing right now?
-------------
You must have dozed off sometime after your conversation with your mom.

When you finally did wake up, you realized just how tired you were. The chair that you had tired to get comfortable in was only hard and proved to do the exact opposite as what you wanted.

You looked over to see that your mom was still asleep.

Caitlyn: Knock knock.

You looked to the door to find Evelynn's mother standing there. You realized that you had never really seen her dress in her work uniform before. Somehow she still managed to look damn good in it.

She entered the room holding a clipboard with your mom's information on it.

Caitlyn: Hey, sweetie. How are you doing?

You didn't really answer. You more or less mumbled out a half hearted "fine" before you rested your head on the back of the chair.

You were so unbelievably tired.

Caitlyn could see it in your eyes. They were barely open. You had only really slept for a few hours in the last few days. It was really starting to catch up to you.

Caitlyn: If you need to lay down, I can get you a bed and...

Y/N: Will she be okay?

Caitlyn was surpised by your question. Though, it only made sense that you would want to know your mom's condition.

Caitlyn: Right now, she's stable. But we'll have to keep an eye on her. And the cancer....

She took a deep breath. It was hard to tell this to anyone, especially a kid she knew. Someone she genuinely cares about.

Caitlyn: It's getting worse.

You felt like she had just stabbed your heart with a needle. Of course it was. Look at her. She couldn't even get up.

Caitlyn walked over and took a seat next to you. She placed a hand on yours.

Caitlyn: Do you have any family to stay with? Perhaps an uncle or a grandparent?

You shrugged.

Y/N: I have a uncle over on the east coast. But....that's it.

Caitlyn nodded.

Caitlyn: We may have to get a hold of him.

Y/N: What?

Caitlyn realized that now wasn't the right time to talk about this. She decided to bring it up later.

Caitlyn: It's...just so he'll know. Do you have his number? Have you even talked to any of your friends?

You shook your head.

Y/N: No. My phone died.

Caitlyn: Do you need a charger?

Y/N: No. I....I don't really want to talk to anyone right now.

Caitlyn nodded in understanding.
-------------------
Kai'sa felt extremely guilty. She couldn't help it.

She was sitting next to Ezreal watching a movie at the theater. She didn't know if this was a date. It kind of felt like one.

And to make it worse, she wanted it to be a date.

But he should be here with Lux. Not her. This felt like a betrayal.

Ezreal seemed like he was having a good time. Kai'sa was too. But, she still had the sinking feeling that this was all wrong.

Ezreal: What has this guy been in? He looks familiar.

Kai'sa realized that she hadn't been paying attention to the movie in the slightest.

Ezreal found her suddenly standing up and hurrying out. Feeling like something was wrong, he quickly followed.

Kai'sa walked out of the theater and held herself as that stinging feeling stayed. Ezreal found her and hurried over.

Ezreal: Hey, you okay? What's going on?

Kai'sa: I shouldn't be here.

He was confused.

Ezreal: What? Why not? Are you not having fun? I mean, we can do something else if you...

Kai'sa: No. I'm having a great time. But that's the problem.

She lowered her head.

Kai'sa: I shouldn't be here. Lux....

Ezreal: Likes me. Yeah, I know.

This came as a shock to her. He knew?

Kai'sa: What? Then why...

Ezreal: Just cause she likes me it doesn't mean I like her. I mean, we have nothing in common. I'm actually pretty sure that if it wasn't for the others, we would never have been friends.

Kai'sa couldn't believe what she was hearing. He really held no feelings for her? Like, at all?

Ezreal: Is that what this is about? Kai'sa,  I don't have any of those feelings towards her. I promise. That's why I asked you here.

Kai'sa: So this is a date?

Ezreal thought about it.

Ezreal: I mean, I don't.....that's hard to answer, right now.

Kai'sa was a bit confused. Ezreal just slipped his hands into his pockets.

Ezreal: My best friend is in a hospital watching over his mom. The same woman I grew up seeing as a second mother. We don't know what the hell is going on and he's not talking to us. I just thought that this would be a nice way to get my mind off of it and to try and spend some more time with you.

He then shook his head.

Ezreal: But, maybe this was a mistake.

Kai'sa watched as he seemed to get into his own head. She walked over and placed a comforting hand on his arm. That guilty feeling was quickly rid of.

Kai'sa: Hey, let's go somewhere else.
-------------
You stared at the white wall with no real thoughts going through your head.

It had been two days since your mom had been here. You couldn't even tell how much time had passed. The only reason you knew it had been two days was because you had seen two sunrises.

But, you did have something to tell someone.

Evelynn: Hey.

You looked over to the door to find Evelynn standing there. In one hand was a plastic bag filled with snacks and drinks.

It didn't take long before you were both sitting on a bench out in the courtyard. You had eaten a chip or two, but you didn't have much of an appetite lately.

Evelynn was worried sick. She knew how much your mom meant to you. She knew that you were hurting and that you had been trying to keep to yourself.

But, you really just didn't want to tell her what was burning on the back of your mind.

Evelynn: So, how are you doing?

You didn't answer. You just tapped your foot. How do you even tell her? It would break her heart. But not just that, either.

Evelynn: Y/N....

Y/N: I have to move.

Evelynn was confused. You just ripped the bandaid right off.

Evelynn: What?

Y/N: My mom....she's not getting better. She can't "take care of me" or whatever. So, they're sending me to go live with my uncle. I have three days to get my stuff together.

Evelynn: What? No. N-No. That's Christmas. You can't.....

She didn't know what to say. What could she say?

She chose to say nothing. She just looked at you as you hung your head down low. You looked sick. She hated seeing you like this, but she knew that all she could do was be there for you.

She moved closer to you and held your hand. Then, and only then, did you finally cry.

It hurt. It was a lot. Your mom was dying and you couldn't do anything about it.

This couldn't be the end of it. This couldn't be how the story ends. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair.

Your mother had only ever done good. She was a kind and loving woman. She had done nothing but provide and supported you.

Why was this happening to her? Why?

Evelynn hugged you as you cried. It was the first time she had even seen you like this. You were usually the strong one.

But, just this once, she would carry that burden.

You didn't need to be strong anymore.
------------
You never liked Christmas. It was a holiday you never liked to celebrate.

But now, it was one to truly despise.

You held your bag as you stood at the train station where your friends were waiting with you.

Everyone was shocked to hear the news. But, you assured them that you would come back as soon as your mom was better. Whenever that would be.

But no one said anything. No one made any jokes or made fun of each other.

You all sat in silence as you waited for the train.

Evelynn had her head on your shoulder. She held your hand while you kept your eyes forward.

You couldn't believe that this was it. The end was here. No surfing competition, no Christmas celebration, no dance, no school festival.

It was all over.

And as the train approched, you felt empty. Hollow.

Evelynn: Hey.

You looked down at your girlfriend who smiled.

Evelynn: You'll be alright. You always are.

You kept her eyes on her as your friends all joined her by your side. You looked to all of them and found a small smile forming on your face.

Maybe this was the end, but at least you weren't entirely alone.

And you never will be.

Y/N: Yeah. I will be.

You fully turned to face her, and you kissed her.

Today, you leave. But not without your friends by your side. Not without the woman you love.

You stepped onto the train as everyone watched. They weren't worried about you.

This wasn't the end. This was just a new beginning.

You took your seat, and watched as the train moved forward. Once your friends were out of view, you closed your eyes.

Maybe some sleep would do you some good.

5 Years Later.....