?To Live Forever ?
? Chapter 8?
Written by: Tamara Blair
? Adrian’s P.o.v?
She didn’t say anything,she only stared into space.
“I knew it already” I said and she looked at me.
“Knew what?”
“That you would react this way,you would start to see me differently”
“You are right,i would start to see you differently,Now i see you as someone really strong, you had this bottled up but still tried to be happy”
“I have to be because i don’t anyone to treat me like am some kind of disease”
“When did you know about your illness?”
“When i was born,my mom said that i didn’t cry for some minutes and that my heart stopped but the doctors were able to revive me.
I started growing up but i always fell sick,i had this constant pain in my chest,i would faint 3 times in a day.
When i was taken to the hospital,it was confirmed,i was 5 years back then”
“Didn’t your parents consider a heart surgery?”
“They did but the doctor said it would be too risky,my case was so delicate that if i try to do a surgery,that i would die.
From that day,i was given pills to take, I would come for check up everday to see if the hole has gotten bigger.
I was restricted from doing strenuous work like running too fast,my classmates would laugh at me and call me a weakling.
I can’t eat too much meat or drink alcohol because it would affect me”
“That’s why you eat vegetables and fruits all the time”
“Yes”
She held my hands,then looked at me.
“Adrian,I have never seen someone as strong as you”
“Sometimes i get tired”
“Tired of what?”
“Of being like this, taking this pills all the time,not being able to leave like a normal child,i get tired but i just have to pull through..for my mom,am the only one she’s got”
“What about your father?”
“He died in a car accident when i was 13,it hurt my mom so so much”
I didn’t know i was crying till I felt Claribel’s thumb on my cheek.
“Am sorry you had to see me cry”
“It’s okay,you have a right to cry”
“So tell me about yourself”I said and She sighed.
“Well for me,i once had a happy family,My dad,mom and me. We were so happy until one night.
That night,i heard my mom and dad scream at each other,i went over and saw them look at each other with hatred.
My dad told my mom to pack her belongings and me out of the house,he called me a b@stard child.
My mom told me to go hide under the bed and that she would get me soon,so i ran to my room and did as she said.
I stayed there till i slept off, the next morning i woke up and my mom was gone,she didn’t take me with her like she promised.
My dad was so surprised that i was still in the house,he also thought my mom took with her.
When i asked of my mom,he said she went with her lover who was also his best friend.
He told me my mom cheated on him and that she’s a whore and won’t be surprised if i grow up to be a wh0re just like her.
I didn’t believe that my mom could cheat on my dad,i called her phone severally until one day,she picked but it was a man’s voice, the voice of my dad’s best friend, that’s when I realized that my dad was telling the truth.
My dad lost his job at the office because his best friend framed him up,from that day,my dad became so bitter,he drank to stupor.
He would beat me up everyday, saying i was the reason for everything”
She was crying profusely,she wiped her tears with the back of her palm.
“So you fend for yourself not because your dad can’t afford but because he doesn’t want to take care of you anymore?”
“Yes,ever since i was little,i took care of myself,i would work at different places just to take care of myself.
I even became suicidal one time in my life”
“What? You tried to kill yourself?”
“Yes,i was 15 and i was tired of living,my dad would beat me up everyday i had bruises on my arm.
I wanted to jump off a bridge, that’s when i met Shannon,she convinced me not to do it,since then we have been friends”
“Wow,you have been through a lot” i said and she chuckled.
“And it’s not over yet,i can’t leave my dad because i know deep down he still loves me”
“What if he beats you to death one day?”
“He won’t”
We stayed quiet for a while and just looked at the sky.
“Adrian, what’s the full meaning of A.S.D?”
“It’s Atrial Septal Defect, it’s a rare heart condition”
“What has been the feedback from all your check ups?”
“The doctor said i should keep taking the pill and i will be fine”
“It’s funny how some people look so happy on the outside but on the inside, they have alot of pain”
“That’s how life is”
“Do you bring other people here?”
“No, you are the first person”
“That’s means that am special”She said and i chuckled.
“In a way, yes,we are people with a troubled mind”
“Exactly”
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A week later.
? Claribel’s P.o.v?
“Okay,what kind of music do you listen to?”Adrian asked as we sat on the couch facing each other.
We were at my house,my dad wasn’t around,i don’t even know where he is.
The beautiful garden has been our secret spot for a week now,we both go there anytime we want to clear our heads.
“Any type of music, anyone that makes me forget”
“Forget?”
“Yeah,sometimes i want to drown out the world around me, Music and reading are the only things that do that for me, it’s like a drug am addicted to,am in a whole different place when i listen to music”
“Wow,i listen to music all the time but I don’t feel this way”He said and i chuckled.
“Well,you must have something that makes you feel more alive”
“I will tell you about that in due time”He said and i rolled my eyes.
“You always have to be mysterious”
“I gotta go home now”
“Aww..why?”
“Am going for my regular check-up early tomorrow morning”
“Oh, tommorow is Saturday”
“Well,See ya”He said and ruffled my hair.
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The Next Day.
? Adrian’s P.o.v?
I was getting ready to go for my check up at the hospital.
“Are you ready,honey?”My mom saod as she came down the stairs.
“Yes,mom,we can..
I was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
I opened the door and i was shocked.
“Good morning”
“Claribel,what are you doing here?”
“I want to follow you to your check up”
“You can’t..
My mom arrived at the door.
“Good morning,Ma’am,am Claribel, Adrian’s friend” Claribel said and my mom giggled
“Claribel, it’s nice to finally meet you,you are so beautiful”
“Thanks,i came here because i want to follow Adrian to his check up”
“No,Clary,you can’t..
“Of course,you can come”My mom said interrupting me
“Mom, why?”
“It’s nice to see your friends following you to your check ups, let’s go,Clary”
My mom and claribel entered the car giggling at something Claribel said.
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“So doctor, how’s he?”My mom asked as i finished the check up.
“He’s fine, his heart rate is normal,he should keep taking those pills and please avoid eating Cholesterol and taking too much alcohol”
“Okay, thanks and Doctor,please tell Adrian that he shouldn’t always forget to take his drugs”
“Mom,it was just three times”
“Three times that could cost you your life”The doctor said.
“I can remind him,you can send the time and days he should be taking his medicine”Claribel said.
“It’s not necessary, Claribel”
“It is, Adrian,i want to help you,am your friend”
“She’s right, Adrian, She can be helping you remember”The doctor said.
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Few hours later.
Claribel and I were taking a walk in the late night.
“Wow, Talking a walk at night is fun”Claribel said.
“Yeah,i do this all the time.
I used to walk alone with the stars and the moon at night.
I have walked alone,no one by my side
Now,am walking with you with my head held high,in the darkest night,i feel so alive” i said and we we stared at each other.
The breeze was blowing her hair and the little light that the stars brought made her eyes spark.
“That is the most thoughtful thing someone has said to me”She said as she smiled widely.
Before i couy say anything,she hugged me so tight,i was shocked at first but i hugged her back.
None of us pulled away, it’s like we found comfort in each other’s arms.
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