Chapter 1
You ever think that life just isn’t fair, one day you’re the life of the party and next thing you’re in the hospital on your death bed. Dying is something everyone goes through, but does it have to be so painful. Shouldn’t the treatment make you feel better not make you feel worse. Chemotherapy is basically pumping poison into your veins and hoping that you kill what’s coming for you before it gets you.
Raven kept writing in her journal and stopped not knowing where to go from there. She had decided to keep a journal of the days that she was confined in the hospital for treatment. It gave her a sense of normalcy since she used to keep a journal as a little girl; it was something that gave her comfort. She can’t remember why she even stopped.
“Does that actually help you?” Raven turned her head to the door to see a man standing there. She had seen this man walking around the hospital, but it never seemed like he was visiting someone. Maybe he was a doctor or possibly a nurse. The man’s arms were crossed and he was leaning against the frame of the door, he was approximately 6’5 with black hair. He was tan; it looked as if he was of Hispanic descent.
Raven held up the book, “Makes me feel normal. I used to write when I was a little girl.” She smiled at the man curiously, what did he even want? The man motioned to the seat next to the bed and Raven nodded allowing him to sit next to her. “So who are you?” A mysterious man that walks into her hospital room, she should be suspicious, and she was always told that she was too trusting after all.
“My name is Nico.” Nico held his hand out for the girl to shake and she did so reluctantly. The man smiled at her as they shook hands, it seemed familiar.
She thought to herself, “Have I met this man before? His smile seems so familiar.” She shook her head ignoring the thoughts. “Um not to be rude Nico, but what are you doing in my room?” Raven asked shifting her position in bed moving slightly away from Nico.
Nico shook his head and tried to reassure her with a smile, “I’m sorry I should explain myself. I’m actually starting work here next week. I was just getting a lay of the land, I had to keep coming back because there was only one position available and a lot of people applied. As for why I’m in your room, I’ve noticed you when I came to visit. It just seemed like you needed someone to talk to. I guess you could call me a concerned passerby.”
“Why would you do that for someone you don’t know?” It was hard to believe that anyone could actually take time out of their day to talk to someone that was hurting. As much as Raven believed in the good, it’s clear that life isn’t always good. After all how good can life be after getting diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 18. She had just graduated high school and she was supposed to be working towards her future in college, and it was all thrown down the drain during her annual checkup.
“I believe that everyone needs someone, even it is just to vent now and then.” Nico replied and his eyes went to the clock on the wall. “I’m sorry but I have to be going. I’ll come talk to you when I’ve got the job.” Raven nodded and she still couldn’t believe Nico’s words. There was something about him that seemed off yet so familiar. She couldn’t place this feeling that she had, could he be just acting kind or perhaps maybe he actually was. Whatever the case Raven had a gut feeling that she had seen him somewhere before and it was not in the hospital.
A week had passed and Nico had not yet returned to talk to Raven, it bothered her immensely so she decided to speak to one of her nurses. Apparently the nurse had never heard of Nico, and there was no position available at the hospital. The man lied, of course he did. No one visits someone in the hospital out of the kindness of their heart.
This man whoever he was, was not who he claimed to be. He visited me and claimed that he was going to be an employee of the hospital. He lied to me about everything, but why do I feel like I know this man. Who is he?
“Writing again?” Raven snapped her head to the door to see Nico standing there once again.
“Who are you?” She asked again glaring at him. He looked paler than last week; perhaps he was a patient with a mental disorder. “Maybe I should call for help?” She thought as Nico approached her bed.
“My name is Nico.” He held his hand out to Raven to shake. She looked at him in disbelief, what was he playing at? She already knew his name from his last visit. She took his hand shaking it once again.
“We’ve met before.” She replied unsure what to say, this man there was something about him that she couldn’t figure out.
“Have we?” Nico asked taking a seat next to Raven and he tilted his head. Raven looked at him, she really looked at him. His eyes they seemed so familiar, where had she seen those eyes before.
“Why are you here?” Raven asked wanting to… needing to know who this man was and what he wanted with her.
“I came to visit an old friend, my friend’s quite ill and the doctors don’t think she’ll make it.” Raven’s eyes widened at the mention of an ill friend. Who was this ill friend?
“What’s your friend’s name?”
“I call her Rae, we grew up together.”
“Why do you call her Rae?” She asked curiously, the nickname sounded familiar to her. It was like an inkling in the back of her head that was creeping out but it just wasn’t clear yet.
“When we were kids and she smiled it was like a ray of sunshine. Her smile brightened the room and she made everyone she met happy.” Nico said with a smile on his face but it wasn’t one of happiness it was one of sadness. Like he was remembering someone from long ago, Nico’s eyes went to the clock once again. “I have to go, I’ll come visit again.”
“Wait…” Raven called out but Nico had already left her room not even giving her a glancing look.
A week had passed once again and Nico had not returned yet again. Raven waited for the man day after day. She couldn’t remember where she had heard the nickname Rae from. She wanted to know who Nico was, she knew him but she didn’t know how she knew him. As a month passed, Raven had not gotten any better from when she first arrived. The chemotherapy had made her even worse. The doctors told her she only had a couple days left to live due to her body failing her.
I guess I’ll never know who he was or where I met him before. I’m going to die soon, and I don’t want to go. I’m too young to die, I haven’t truly lived yet.
“Writing again?” Raven weakly turned her head to see Nico in the door frame. He looked even paler than before. Where had he been all this time?
“Who are you? Tell me the truth.” Raven began to speak but Nico interrupted her.
Nico held his hand out and Raven placed her hand in his, “My name is Nico.” Nico’s eyes went to Raven’s journal and he grabbed it. “You are too young to die.”
“Please tell me who you are?” She was too weak to be angry that he just took her journal, and Raven squeezed Nico’s hand hoping for an answer. “I need to know.”
“You already know who I am. My name is Nico; I’m here to visit my sick friend Rae. Her smile lights up the room.”
“Who is Rae?” Raven asked trying to sit up but as she got half way up her strength left her and she collapsed back down.
“Let me help.” Nico replied helping Raven sit up. Nico’s eyes went to the clock, “I have to go, and I’ll come visit again.”
“No!” Raven screamed at him. “Tell me who you are?” But he was gone yet again. Tears filled Raven’s eyes as she lay back in bed. She closed her eyes knowing it would probably be the last time. Knowing that she would never wake again.
“Come on Rae let’s go play.” The young boy said holding out his hand to the little girl. “What game should we play today?”
“I’m Raven stop calling me Rae. Let’s play catch.” The little girl replied grabbing Nico’s hand.
“I’m going to call you Rae.” The boy responded and he smiled at the girl. “Let’s go play then.” The girl nodded her head and the two began to play ball. They were having so much fun with each other that they didn’t hear the tires squeal as the car approached them. The car was heading straight for Raven. All of a sudden Raven was on the ground and the car sped off. Her friend Nico had saved her, he pushed her away from the car at the last minute. Raven’s mother had called that little boy her guardian angel.
“I remember.” Raven said as she opened her eyes filled with tears. “Nico, my guardian angel.”
“I was wondering when you would remember.” Raven turned her head to the door to see Nico standing there. “You’re too young to die Rae. I’ve been watching over you since that day. You’ve made many people happy and you’re going to make so many more. I’m happy that I got to meet you when I did Rae. I’ll be watching over you, live Rae live the life you were meant to live.” Nico smiled at Raven as he vanished just as the sunlight hit him.
