Imperfect Harmony

C

C

I was in school. Walking to math class to be exact, talking to Eden, my best friend. I don't remember exactly what we were talking about but I know it had something to do with my crush. When I think about it, it all happens in a montage sort of thing. We were walking, she was talking, I was talking, our voices fuzzy, she pointed in his direction, I started flipping my hair, fixing my part, making sure my makeup looked okay, then she says, "SIKE!", we laugh, I get short of breath, she says,"Harmony, are you okay?", I say,"Yeah, I- uh...should be.", she says,"Harmony, you're wheezing.", I gasp, fall, she screams, and I black out.
•••

I wake up to beeping and crying. I feel someone holding my hand.

"M-Mom?"

"Yes, honey, do you feel okay?"

"I guess. My chest is tight and i can't...bre...athe."

The doctor came in. "Oh great, you're awake!  Well the results on her biopsy came back and well...I'm sorry but your daughter has Stage 2 Lung Cancer. Again I am very sorry. We would like to start treatment as soon as possible. "

So, I'm...dying?

Eden came in.

"Hey, love! How you feeling?"

"Okay I guess." I feel okay other than the fact that I am dying. Yes.

"Well that's great. Look what I brought!" My mom and the doctor had already walked out at this point. She brought her ukulele. She started singing and playing.

"Wise men say, only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you.

Shall I stay?  Would it be a sin?

If I can't help falling in love with you.

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling so it goes

Some things were meant to be

Take my hand

Take my whole life too.

But I can't help falling in love with you.

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling so it goes

Some things were meant to be.

Take my hand

Take my whole life too.

For I can't help falling in love with you.

For I can't help falling in love with you. "

"Why aren't you smiling? This song always makes you smile." Tears started to well up in my eyes.

I sighed. "Eden, I'm dying. I have Stage 2 Lung Cancer." The tears fell from my water line.

"N-No. This isn't supposed to happen. We're supposed to walk through the doors of the high school together. We're supposed to be eachothers Maid of Honor. You aren't going to die. You're gonna be okay."

"But that's the thing, Eden. We don't always get what we want. We want those things to happen and quiet frankly they just aren't going to happen. I'm dying. Accept it."

"No, Harmony. You're only at Stage 2. You can still beat this."

"EDEN FAITH OLIVER!"

She ran out and left her tears and ukulele behind.

I sighed and put her ukulele on the food table. The doctor came in and started hooking me up to a machine. She put a new IV in and started what apparently was Chemo.

"Now, this might make you lose your hair, you might get skinnier, and you will more than likely look tired all the time."

"Great, I'm dying and I'm gonna look ugly too."

"Harmony!" My mother hissed.

"It's true. Truth hurts."

The doctor left without a word.

"Harmony, you should really be more optimistic about this. Have hope. Lighten up."

"Mom, I'm being realistic. If life were optimistic then I wouldn't be in this situation right now would I?"

"No but--

"But what? Do you want me to pretend that I don't have cancer for your sake? Do you want me to just pretend like the Make A Wish Foundation isn't gonna come ask me what I want to do before I inevitably die? Do you want me to just pretend like it's not all happening when I brush my hair one morning and it's all coming out in chunks? Do you want me to just act like I'm all okay? Oh wait, this must scare you more than it does because you're the mother of the kid who's dying, not the actual kid who's dying. My mistake."

"Harmony--

"Save it, I'd rather stay here by myself regardless. Go home, get some rest, and think about who really should be scared here."

She walked out. I didn't expect her to. I thought she was gonna like put up a fight or something. But no, she actually listened to me and walked out.

"Is there anything I can get you? Anything to eat or drink?" My nurse asked as she unplugged me from my chemo machine. "I mean, you are gonna be here a while.  Might as well take advantage of the opportunity right?" She slightly chuckled. It wasn't a genuine chuckle though. More like a forced one. One out of pity. "Uhm, yeah, a popsicle and a list of tv channels would be nice." I replied. "What color popsicle? We have pink, blue, green, red, and orange." "Blue. Thanks." She nodded her head.
She came back with the list of channels and my blue popsicle. I found the adult cartoon channel and opened my popsicle and sucked on it. Only one thing came to mind after that:

This is the best hospital popsicle I've ever had.