Lucy In The Sky Page #3

Lucy Noel, a young adult diagnosed with lung cancer, is ready to make peace with the world. But once she finds her beau, Arlen James, she finds that life is worth living, even if you’re dying. Make the best of your life on the planet so you can go out with a bang.

• Romance

								


"What do you think? Blue and white? Lavender and white? Or black and white?" Lucy asked, while picking out wedding colors. "Lucy...why white? I like the idea, but a white wedding just sounds too clichè. Ooh, I have an idea!" Arlen snapped his fingers. "Yeah?...let's hear it," Lucy sighed, suddenly losing interest in wedding planning. "Pink and black!" Arlen exclaimed. "But, Arlen. You don't understand! I'm wanting white for a reason..." Arlen stared blankly and said, "okay? Pray tell." "White is the lung cancer awareness color!" Lucy yelled. "Oh, right. I'm sorry, how could I forget? Okay. How about emerald green and white?" Arlen asked. "Beautiful, babe! Absolutely gorgeous!"

Two days later, Arlen comes home looking for Lucy. He searches all around the house until he hears sniffling in the bathroom. He rushes to the bathroom immediately, opens the bathroom door and finds Lucy on the bathroom floor, covered in blood. Lucy was holding her mouth. When she noticed Arlen, she quickly covered her face and put her head between her knees. "Lucy, baby. Don't be embarrassed. This is us. We're getting married! No secrets, okay?" Asked Arlen. "I can't. You don't understand," said Lucy. "Well tell me, Lucy. Don't leave me hanging. I'm a listener. You know that," said Arlen, rubbing Lucy's arm. Lucy quickly pulls away and said, "You're a coward." "Excuse me?" Arlen said. "Arlen, I love you. But you're a coward and you know that!" Exclaimed Lucy. "How am I am coward, Lucy? I don't get it!" Yelled Arlen, suddenly frustrated. "You are a coward because you just up and left. And you left because you didn't want that worry on your shoulders. So how am I supposed to trust that you'll stay with me forever?" Asked Lucy. "Lucy, I made a promise. We made a pact. Do you honestly think I'm going to give that up? That is the most important pact I've made with anyone. You are my life now. What you're going through, your sickness... I'm a part of it now. We're a team. A lifelong commitment was made because even though you are on death's door, I am in love with you. And because I'm in love with you, I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you alive. To take you to doctor visits, to chemotherapy treatments, to hospitals, wherever I need to take you for your health and for your well being. I am now not only your future husband, but also your caregiver. I'm ready and willing. I love you...don't you ever doubt me again!" At this point Arlen was infuriated. Not with Lucy, just at the fact he was mistaken for a fool. "Okay, I apologize, Arlen. It's just-" "What?!" Arlen interrupted. "It's just what?! The fact that you're now doubting me for sticking around? That you think I'm that Goddamn selfish that I would even think about leaving you under horrific circumstances. And don't you dare fucking apologize. Now that we both know what you really were implying, and the feelings you had toward this whole thing...own that shit, Lucy! You know better. You know, you're not the same person you used to be. I would blame it on the cancer, but how would that explain anything?" Said Arlen, now pissed. "So what you're saying is you do want to leave me..." Said Lucy, very quietly. "No! Lucy! That's not what I'm saying at all! How the hell could you even think that? This whole argument has been about the fact that I love you and I never, ever...never will...leave you. I love you, idiot!" Arlen cried. "I love you so much! Please believe in me. Trust me. Please. You are my now. You are my upcoming. You are my forever. I'd hate to say, but even if you go tomorrow...or next Monday...I will still stay with you. Throughout it all. You may not have my lifespan, I may not have your lifespan. But I can promise you, I've never lived more than I've lived with you," said Arlen, suddenly emotional and starting to cry. "Oh, Arlen. I love you so much. Now can you please help me up?" Laughed Lucy. "Of course," laughed Arlen, "darling, there is blood everywhere! Where did all this blood come from?" Arlen said as he picked her up off the floor. "My nose," Lucy laughed. Arlen looked at Lucy and they both busted out laughing. "Your nose." Arlen laughed but deadpanned. "Yes. Shut up! Let's go to bed." Lucy said. "Yeah. Bed. At 6:15 in the evening," Arlen started cracking up again. "Come on, Arlen. I'm sick remember?" Lucy begged. "Yeah, okay. That's such a lame excuse!" Arlen laughed. Lucy started false coughing. Arlen pushed her down on the bed with one arm and said, "just go to bed, sicky." Laughed, turned the lights out, and left the room.

While waiting in a hospital room on the oncology unit, Lucy couldn't think of what could be worse than cancer. She tried to think happy thoughts but somehow, in the back of her mind, she knew it was bad. It could have just been because of what Karla Ghates had said. Then the doctor came in. "Lucy, I don't know how to explain this in the easiest way... I've got some bad news..." said Dr. Gettysburg. "What is it? What could be worse?" Lucy started to cry, as Arlen held her hand and held her close to him. "Yes, doctor," said Arlen, "what could be worse?" "Well, the results from your first PET scan came back. I'm sorry, Lucy...the cancer is spreading throughout your body." "No...no..." Lucy cried. Then everything turned to silence. Complete silence. It was like the world just stopped revolving. Lucy's tears turned to glass; as they fell on the linoleum hospital floor, they shattered and made a loud noise everytime they hit the floor. Lucy's eyes were pools of hope yet darkness. She knew she wouldn't win this fight. She knew that it was time to give up. Her life was over and there was nothing she could do about it except for wait until her final breath. For her final heartbeat.

By the time September 17th came around, Lucy was so weak that she couldn't even get out of bed. But it was Arlen's 25th birthday. Lucy did not want to miss what could be her last birthday with Arlen. "Don't even think about getting out of bed today, babe. You need your rest. It's important," begged Arlen. "God, Arlen! You're starting to sound like my mother! I can get out if I want to. And I need to. This may be your last birthday that I'm alive. We have to take pictures...we...I...I have to see you open presents. I got you a present for God sake!" Lucy started panicking. "Shh, Lucy. It's okay. We will bring the party here. To our room. I'm sure everybody will understand." Assured Arlen.  Sure enough, the birthday party was thrown in Lucy and Arlen's room. Everyone watched him open gifts. When he got to Lucy's, his jaw hit the floor. It was a letter, called Forget me not. The letter read:
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