*drug warning*

Ah, sixteen.

The age people anticipate and have huge parties for to spend the rest of their lives getting older.

That's not my destiny.

It's been a month since I found out I was dying, which means I have about a month left. Or less, depending on how my body wants to do things.

But, on the bright side, I'm sixteen tomorrow.

Everyone's excited, even though I'm just having Laurance and Aphmau over. I don't have many other really good friends, so this'll do. Vylad's is ecstatic and Zane is probably just in it for the cake.

I would invite a few other people, but I'm not necessarily in the mood to get sick. So I only invited my best friends.

I've been staring at my phone for about three hours, browsing Instagram and YouTube. Currently watching Shane Dawson.

My god, I'm so alone.

I turn up the volume to tune out the world, just like Zane does. Watching Shane talk about the Mandela effect is good enough. Then, I see the door open. Mom walks in and I take my earbuds out.

"Hey, bud. What are you watching?" She sits down on my bed.

"Shane Dawson. Why?" I ask.

"No reason," she pauses. "Are you okay? You've been alone for a long time."

"I'm fine," I say.

"Garroth, I know it's hard, but you are dying and-"

"And I have to spend every minute with my family and friends?" I ask.

"No, but-"

"Then stop asking. I'm fine, okay?" I say trying not to get too angry.

Mom sighs, "Okay, let me know if you need anything."

She places a hand on my arm and stands up. She gives me a short glance and leaves the room. I lay down on the bed, wasting the time I have.

"Did you do this, dad? Did you want me to die?" I mumble at my ceiling.

Call me crazy, I don't care. I still talk to my dad once in a while. It kind of gives me a bit of comfort. I like to think he's still here once in a while, like he's right next to me hearing everything I say.

I'm not crazy, I swear.

"I mean, it's-" I begin, but my phone goes off. I pick it up and see who the text is from.

Aphmau.

I slide the screen to my passcode. Entering it, it takes me right to the message. I smile, ready to have at least a little socialization.

Aphmau: What r u doing?

Garroth: Relaxing. Hby?

Aphmau: Look outside your window.

Garroth: Are you one of those killer clown things?

Aphmau: If I say yes will u come?

Garroth: Maybe.

Aphmau: Then yes.

I chuckle to myself and get up. A pain that starts at the bottom of my back shoots up to my neck.

Oh, leukemia symptoms.

I walk over to my window. Aphmau waves and I open the screen that seperates us. She waves and slides her hand in her pocket.

"Hey!" She says.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"I came by to say hi!" She smiles.

I raise an eyebrow, "You're coming tomorrow."

"Yeah, but I have something I need to give to you now," she says. "Come down!"

"Okay, okay. Hold on," I smile and close the screen.

I walk over to my closet and grab a light blue jacket with a grey zipper and put a random red hat on. Now, you may think 63° is nice, but to me it's cold. Ever since I got sick I've been getting colder much easier.

I walk downstairs and go towards the back door. Mom notices and walks towards me.

"Where are you going?" She puts a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Just outside. I'll only be out for a few minutes, okay?" I say.

Mom sighs and nods, "Be safe."

"I will." I smile at her and walk out.

Aphmau leans against my house and smiles at me. She's wearing a grey and purple jacket. Mostly purple, considering that is her favorite color.

Her hair is slicked back into a neat ponytail. Her hands are stuffed in her pockets and her smile is vibrant. She walks over to me.

"Hey," she says, a little calmer this time.

"Hi.." I say awkwardly.

"So, that present," her eyes glitter with excitement.

"Y-Yeah," I slide my hands into my jean pockets.

"Here," she hands me a keychain.

I take it and look closer. It has my dad's dog tags, with a couple of his medals, including the medal of honor. I stare at it in awe, unknowing what to say.

"A-Aphmau, I... I don't know what to say," I look back up at her.

"Don't say anything, then," she smiles softly.

"How did you get these?" I ask and keep staring at them.

"You told me you wanted to die with something that belonged to your dad. I told that to your mom and she gave me things that you seemed to love to look at," she says.

I hug her, "Thank you, so much."

"It was nothing," she hugs back.

The cold air bites my entire body. Wind gives a soft whistle in my ears but I don't care. Aphmau is warm, so I hug longer to keep warm.

Is that creepy?

Nah.

She seperates from the hug and puts her hands on my shoulders. I place the keychain in my pocket and smile. She smiles back.

"I have one more thing before your birthday tomorrow," she says.

"Hm?" I tense up a little bit.

"You have a bucket list, right?" Her eyes light up.

"I guess so." I say.

"What's the first thing on your list?" She asks.

I smirk and wiggles my eyebrows in a very pervy way. Aphmau sighs and rolls her eyes. She knows what I'm thinking.

"Okay, how about the second thing?" She puts a hand on her hip and tries not to laugh.

I chuckle, "I dunno."

"Think about it!" She exclaims.

I sigh and look down and the ground and back up. I honestly do not know what I want to do. I haven't really thought about my bucket list, considering I don't wanna die so soon.

But then I look at the growing weeds in the garden. I smile.

"Smoke weed."

Aphmau's eyebrows raise, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

She pauses, pondering for a moment whether or not she should do something illegal. But then she looks up and smiles at me.

"Then let's do it."

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Happier chapter, eh?

Ha. Ya'll should know me better than that.

Btw guys, you have about three days to enter for the drawing contest. Please enter!

Thanks for reading! Bai!
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