1 week later:

Kenna's POV

Today was the day of my second chemo. Another day of terrible pain.

Only fifteen minutes away from now.

In the past week, Tyler and I have gotten really close.

After that day at the hospital garden, Tyler would come to my hospital room every evening at around seven o'clock and leave around half past ten.

Mom and Dainca would go out to give Tyler and me some space.

We talked a lot, and we knew almost everything about each other by now.

Ally hasn't replied to a single call or text of mine. I'd probably be sad and dying in some corner of this world without a friend if not for Tyler.

I now have a friend in him. One whom I never want to lose.

"I wonder why she hasn't replied to a single call or text. It's been almost two weeks now," I said, disappointed, yesterday when Tyler visited me.

"The silly girl doesn't know how to maintain a friendship. I'd treasure someone like you," he said, piercing those deep blue eyes into mine.

I took his hand and smiled.

"From Dr. Tyler to Tyler and now my friend Tyler, look how fast things have changed," I sighed.

"We'll be glad in this case," he mumbled under his breath.

This boy is such a flirt. Get yourself together, Kenna.

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Now in the chemo room, Tyler gives me a side hug as Danica inserts the tube into my arm.

He wraps his arms around me and holds me close to him, rubbing his hands on my back soothingly to calm me down.

Mom isn't in the chemo room today. She said she couldn't watch me like she did last time. That's why she stayed back in my hospital room.

Danica tries to soothe me with her words while thrusting the tube in my arm even farther. The pain is starting to get unbearable now.

I began to sob.

"Hey, no Kenna. You're my strong girl, and strong girls don't cry," Tyler coos in my ear.

I try to believe him. I believe his words that I'm strong.

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The rest of the chemo was very painful. Tyler held me for most of it, letting go of me in between to help Danica with the chemo. This chemo was more painful than the previous one due to the increased dosage.

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Back in my room, I now fought to keep my eyes from shutting.

The rest of the day passed in a blur as I felt nothing but pain.

It's around seven o'clock now.

It's time for Tyler to visit me!

Danica gets us a pot of soup, which the three of us sip silently.

After about ten or twelve minutes, there's a knock on the door.

Mom and Danica glance at each other as they collect the now empty soup pot and bowls.

"Okay, Kenny, see you later," mom says, making her way towards the door with Danica closely behind her.

"Bye Kenny. Take care," Danica says.

I try to smile at them, and I succeed.

As mom and Danica exit, Tyler walks in, shutting the door behind him.

He walks up to me and gives me a tight hug. The ones that make you feel comfortable and safe.

That's how I feel right now—comfortable and safe in his arms.

He just stands there with me wrapped in his strong arms amidst all the wires and beeping machines around us.

He speaks after what feels like ages: "Kenny?"

"Hmm?" was all I could manage.

He breaks the hug and looks at me. Those deep blue eyes pierced into mine.

"You're my strong girl. Nothing's going to happen to you. You'll be alright before you know it. I'll make sure about it", he says, looking deeper into my eyes, and I could sense the honesty.

"Thanks, Tyler," I say, grateful that he is willing to do everything to save me.

He pulls a chair close to my bed and sits on it.

"So, are you feeling any better now?" he asks as he takes my tiny hands in his larger ones.

Tyler does this every day, and it's a habit I've gotten used to.

"Slightly better; the pain is fading away," I say, gently squeezing his hand.

"Well, you have no idea how glad I am to hear that," he says, flashing me his gorgeous smile.

I feel good already.

"So, um, if you feel better tomorrow, maybe we could hang out? I'd like to give you a change of atmosphere," he says nervously as he rubs his thumb on the back of my hand.

My face lights up. "Yes, of course".

He sighs with relief and smiles. I don't even bother asking him where we'll be hanging out.

We then chatted some more about our favorites, elaborating on why we liked or loved them as much as we did.

About an hour later, I was tired. Well, I'm tired of talking.

I'm not tired of listening to Tyler.

Tyler didn't notice my silence; he kept talking about how much he loved Star Wars and naming and describing almost all the characters.

He looks so happy while talking about the things he loves. The smile on his face was proof enough.

After describing every possible Star Wars character, Tyler exhaled with a satisfied grin.

Then, as if realizing something, he stands abruptly from the chair and says, "I'll leave you to rest, Kenny. Take care, and I'll see you tomorrow at noon, yeah?"

"Yeah, okay," I say, partly happy because I'm really exhausted and can now rest, partly sad because he's leaving already.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," he says, pulling me into his arms for a hug.

I wrap my wired hands around him.

"Take care, Kenny. Good night," he says, letting go of me reluctantly and walking towards the door.

"Good night, Ty." I smile.

He blushes at his new nick name and exits my hospital room.

Mom and Danica emerge a few minutes later.

"Hey Kenny, Tyler left earlier than he normally does. Is everything okay?" Danica inquires.

Mom, Danica, and I had gotten really close this past week. She spends most of her time monitoring me and chatting with mom. I see a new friendship blooming between the two of them.

"Yes, Dani, I'm just tired," I say drily.

"Aw, baby Kenny is tired," she coos.

The three of us threw our heads back in laughter.

"God Kenna, baby, your hair is a mess," mom says, wide-eyed.

"Mom, can you please fix it for me? I don't think I can," I say as I feel the fatigue intensifying.

"Are you sure, Kenny? You've never let me touch your hair. The last time I remember you letting me touch your hair was when you were eight years old", mom says, sounding excited, and Dani gasps.

I giggle, remembering old times.

Mom loved styling my hair. Always. She'd make sure my hair was perfect when she'd dress me up for church, kindergarten, primary school, and other places we'd go. But I didn't have the patience to stay still as she worked on my hair.

Hence, I have never let her or anyone else touch my hair since then.

It feels like just yesterday.

When I was done daydreaming about our memories, I looked at mom who was smiling at me.

"Thinking of all those days when I styled your hair, Kenny?" she asks with teary eyes.

"Yeah, mom," I say, smiling back at her.

"Aw, baby Kenny and mommy Erin are having a nostalgic moment here. What is old Danica going to do?" Danica says dramatically, and once again the three of us fall into a fit of laughter.

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Erin's POV

Once we've calmed down from laughing at Dani's dramatic demeanor, Kenny reminds me to fix her hair.

"Oh right, I almost forgot. Signs that I'm turning old," I say, rubbing my forehead.

"Mom, 44 isn't even close to old," my baby says, rolling her eyes.

"I'm 49; call me ancient," Danica says, winking at Kenny.

They both giggle like little kids.

My new friend and my gorgeous baby.

I turn around, fetch Kenny's hairbrush from the tiny washroom, and make my way back towards her.

Kenny sits upright and turns around slightly so that I can easily comb all of her hair.

After a million years.

I untied the scrunchie wrapped around her beautiful blonde but now messy hair.

I pick up the hair brush and gently stroke her hair in a smooth motion to get rid of the knots.

As I brush the right side of her hair, I notice there's almost a bunch of her hair that has parted from her scalp.

I look in horror as I brush another section of hair behind her right ear, only to see a bigger bunch of hair fall off her scalp.

I freeze in midair. I can't breathe.

I look at Danica, who's looking at her cell phone.

"Mom, why did you stop brushing my hair? I feel lightheaded already," Kenny giggles.

Danica looks up and meets my horrified face.

She makes her way toward me, her face showing no expression.

Her eyes widen as she sees the bunch of Kenny's hair in my hand.

"Mom," Kenny says, sounding irritated and about to turn around.

"Stay still, Kenny," I say way too fast.

She stops immediately.

"What's it, mom?" she asks casually, shrugging her shoulders.

I try to make up an answer on the spot to tell her nothing's wrong. But Danica places her hand on mine.

"Let's just tell her," she says with sympathy in her eyes.

I don't want to. This would disappoint her so much.

But I have to.

And I did.

                                                _

A/N:
So this is the longest ever chapter!

-Carita D'Costa❤️