Winter was approaching sooner than was expected. It was just October and the warm after-summer weather had taken a turn to being bitter cold. Cold harsh wind rustled through the dried leaves of Dogwood trees in our backyard. Dad had never said anything about them but I knew that mom had planted those.

After all these years, the man still couldn't get over the woman who left him and still looked at those trees admiringly.

Pathetic.

I sighed as I rubbed my hands trying to warm them up. Our heater was broken and we wouldn't have enough money to fix it up till next month's paycheck.

I really hoped nothing else happened or else we would have to freeze to death. I rolled on my bed which was littered with books and papers and stared at the caramel coloured ceiling. A pen was clenched tightly in my hand.

Random thoughts filled my head. From the new Fast & Furious movie to my Biology assignment.

But mostly the thoughts were about Rose. She hadn't come to school for the past week because apparently she was sick with flu.

I told her not to eat all that ice cream.

Rose.

The strange petite girl with chocolate brown hair. Who's smile was seriously out of this world.

Out of this fake world which was full of cruelty.

Her words were so deep and meaningful that hearing them was like committing a sin. As if I wasn't worthy of listening to such kind words.

And her lips. A light pink-

My eyes widened.

What the hell?

Her lips?

Where the hell did that come from man?

I groaned and got up.

Lying around all weekend holed up in my room was making me crazy.

Sure. Blame it all on the room.

I walked out of my room and down the narrow corridor. Standing in front of the living room, I glanced around searching for my dad. It was evening but the all of the lights were already out.

"Dad, are you sleeping at random times again?" I asked a tired yawn escaping my mouth.

Getting no reply I assumed that my suspicion was in fact correct and he was sleeping. I walked inside and noticed that the TV was on. I glanced around trying to find the remote.

Then I heard a pained groan from my left.

My head snapped towards my dad who was lying on the couch in an uncomfortable position with his hand tightly clutching his stomach.

I ran to him in a matter of seconds, "Dad? Hey, dad! Look at me, dad!"

An incorrigible grunt was my only answer.

"Dad? What's wrong? Dad!"

My thoughts were getting all jumbled up. I could feel tears of panic stinging in the back of my eyes. My dad was the only person in this world whom I had left. He was my only family. My so-called-mother had done nothing to contribute to this family other than bringing me in this world.

"Dad! Please tell me! What's wrong?" I said frantically shaking his hand. Or maybe it was my hands that were shaking. I couldn't tell.

"My stomach," he grunted out in pain.

Suddenly it struck me.

Running to my room, I frantically searched for my phone.

Aha!

I quickly dialed 911.

"Hello, 911. How may I-"

"My dad's having an appendicitis attack," I gritted out anxiously.

After giving them our address, the ambulance came in about ten minutes and we were escorted to the central hospital.

I gripped my hair with my hands as I looked down at the colourless hospital floor. I didn't know how long I was sitting there, waiting impatiently.

"Mr. Sawyer?"

I looked up at the smiling face of a doctor.

"Is he alright?" I stood up, "My dad? He's fine, right?"

He grinned, "Yes. Your dad is completely fine. The operation went smoothly and he has been stabilized."

I let out a sigh of relief and ran a hand through my hair, "Oh thank fuck."

The doctor gave me an amused look and continued, "Your dad is in room 462. Since he was recovering really smoothly, the hospital didn't see thee point of keeping him in the I.C.U and put him in a normal room along with other patients. Hope you don't mind."

"No, it's fine," I try to smile but it probably looks as is I'm having a seizure.

It wasn't like we could afford the cost of an I.C.U either.

After the doctor, Dr. Marcus took his leave, I sighed in relief and poured myself a cup of coffee from the hospital vending machines.

Sipping my coffee, I entered through the huge glass doors which had 'Room 462' carved onto them.

I noticed my dad immediately. He was lying in a bed in the corner talking to a girl in a wheelchair.

Seeing him up and talking, I smiled slightly. And yes, this time it was a real smile, not a seizure. I walked towards him slowly.

Noticing my presence his eyes lit up, "Son! Look what a wonderful girl I met here! She'd make a perfect wife!"

I shook my head at his childish behavior.

Only my dad would think about planning my wedding with some poor patient while on a hospital bed.

I opened my mouth to yell at him for the scare he gave me but froze when the girl on the wheelchair slowly turned around.

Rose.

She was here.

She was on a wheelchair.

She had an IV stuck to her arm.

My eyes widened as I took in her appearance. Her usual pale skin was deathly white. Her already small frame had turned into skin and bones.

Still she managed that real smile.

Not a forced one, not an apologetic one, not a guilty one.

A smile that said she was genuinely happy to see me.

"Evan!" her voice was more hoarse than usual, "What's up?"

"Rose?" I finally managed to blurt out, "What? You? Why? Here?"

She threw her head back and laughed, "Wow. You sure know how to express yourself."

Confusion, shock, wonder at how she could laugh like the happiest person on earth when she looked like a zombie filled me.

But even a twinge of terror was mixed with that.

Horrible terror.

Because somewhere in my heart, I knew what she was doing here.

I opened my mouth to ask.

To ask for answers.

To beg to deny my terrible suspicion.

To yell at her for lying to me.

But a voice beat me to it.

"Ms. Winters?" a nurse asked from behind me, "It's time for your check up."

The plastic cup slipped from my frozen hand. I whipped around to face the nurse with wide frantic eyes, "Check up? For what? Why?"

The dark skinned nurse looked at me with eyes mixed with sympathy as if she could already sense what she meant to me, "To find if her body is suitable to accept a bone marrow transplant."

A/N

I'm on a roll today, aren't I? XD Actually since this is a short story I want to finish this quickly and start on my other stories...so vote and comment!!!