Prologue

I walked with Jake to the school, a few parents waiting for the kids to get out. I leaned back into the fence, smiling and waving to a few parents whose kids were friends with Mia.

“She got worse.” Jack spoke.

“Oh yeah, much worse.” I nodded. After Warped, she was bedridden in the hospital, she wasn’t allowed to go back home.

(August 5th) {Lolz that’s my birthday}

I stayed next to Julie as Dr. Evans ran the tests. She was out of breath and she was connected to every machine in the room. The heart monitor beeped, the oxygen pump pumped, the liquid in the bag next to her led to her arm.

Mia was at home with Julie’s parents, staying the night with them. I held her hand, watching as she looked out the window, her eyes looking at the dark sky.

“I’m sorry.” Dr. Evans spoke behind me. Julie and I both turned to him. He looked sad and raised a CAT scan to the wall with a light. He turned off the lights in the room and turned on the light from the board. Julie’s figure was on it, her whole body was lit and I was confused, but Julie cried.

“The cancer worsened, I’m sorry, there’s nothing we can do.” I looked at Julie and she cried harder. I laid on the bed with her.

“What if we keep her on the medication?” I asked.

“It would weaken the cancer cells, but not kill them.” Dr. Evans spoke. “With the medication, I would give her roughly a year to a year and a half. Without them, maximum, six months of pure pain.” I looked at Julie and she cried. I nodded and Dr. Evans left us alone, both of clinging to each other.

“Dr. Evans said that if I chose to, he can give me the vaccine that they use to give the patients to fall into a coma. After, they pull the plug.” I shook my head and held her tighter.

“Don’t leave me.” Julie cried and forced me to look at her.

“Listen to me Michael! I’m dead inside! Literally! I can’t breathe anymore, my heart is being pumped by a machine and I have fluid in my body so my blood can still run. I’m practically a machine!” I looked at her and nodded.

“Bring the whole family tomorrow, please.” I nodded and she sighed, finally getting through to me. “Let’s do something crazy.” She whispered. I looked at her and she smiled. “There’s no cameras here, lock the door and spend the night with me.” I untangled myself from the cords from hugging her and walked to the door, locking it.

We spent the night talking about the past, we made love for the last time, and I held her in my arms for the rest of the night.

The next morning, I woke up and helped her put on her hospital robe. I pulled on my clothes and laid back with her on the bed. I texted the whole family and the band to come by and say our last goodbyes.

We were all a crying mess, but Mia was the worst. She wouldn’t let go of Julie and she cried, kicking and screaming that she didn’t want her to go. Her parents cried, my parents cried, Tony and Jaime were crying in their seats, Vic was holding her hand and Casey was crying as they talked about everything they did.

I took out the video camera I asked Vic to bring and I began recording when Dr. Evans came in with the IV.

“Hey baby, wanna say anything?” I asked, recording Julie. She smiled at the camera.

“I already said my goodbyes.” She smiled. I looked at her as she hugged Mia tighter, tears escaping her eyes as she finally sighed heavily.

“I’m ready. Thank you for everything Dr. Evans.” Vic took Mia out of the room, he couldn’t take it. He left crying, Mia screaming for Julie. Jaime ran after them, tears spilling from his eyes. I held on to Julie’s hand she began to drift off.

“I love you Michael Fuentes.” I cried as her head fell, the heart monitor giving off a long beep. Dr. Evans unplugged it, and that was it.

(Prologue)

“Wow, I’m so sorry.” Jake whispered. I smiled at him and waved it off.
“It’s alright, I moved on, though she will always be my girl.” Jake said his goodbyes, seeing as Mia’s class got out and I got a phone call.

“Hey, what’s up?” I answered my brother.

“I got the meat for the cook out. Tony and Jaime are bringing the beer so have the grill ready.”

“Alright, I’m getting Mia right now so I should be home in 15 minutes.” I hung up as Mia ran to me and hugged me.

“Hey dad! Did you record new music?” She asked me, her second grade teacher making sure I had her.

“Yeah, we’re hoping to put it in the new CD but I need help with the drumming, think you can help?” I asked, taking her bag.

“Sure, but you need to pay me in movies!” Mia smiled up at me.

“Alright, deal!” I laughed. We walked home and once we got there, Mia and I began setting the backyard for the cookout.

In no time, Vic and Danielle arrived, the two beginning to cook. Jaime arrived later with his girlfriend Jessica and Tony with Erin. We cooked and laughed when Mia ran to me.

“Miss Greene is here daddy!” She plopped next to me and I heard her laugh.

“It’s Alicia outside of school Mia.” She laughed. I smiled up at her and she leaned down, softly giving me a kiss before sitting next to me.

Alicia was a great supporter after Julie’s death and began getting really close to Mia. Mia loved to stay after school with her and Alicia walked her home, making sure everything was fine. A year and a half after Julie’s death, I went to visit her with Mia and she told Julie all about Alicia. I smiled at Julie’s grave and ran my hand through the engraved letters.

“You’ll always be my heart. No matter who I date later on, you will always have it, no one else.”

The next day, I asked Alicia on a date.

“Mike, care to help?” Casey asked as he walked in with more beer. I helped him take it to the cooler and I grabbed two and one Sprite. I tossed the Sprite to Mia who caught it and opened it. I smiled, shaking my head on how good at catching she was. I sat back on the chair and handed the beer to Alicia who was about to grab it when I pulled it away.

“You have to pay.” I smiled. She returned it and kissed me, a soft but loving kiss. I gave her the beer, opening it and opened mine. Mia got off the chair and sat on my lap, snuggling into me. I smiled down at her and kissed her cheek.

“You okay?” I whispered.

“Mom is happy.” She whispered. I nodded and smiled.

“Yeah, she is.”

Notes

I fucking cried writing this. The next chapter is the last, I'm sorry