MAKE IT COUNT.

i can't handle change

finn just nodded faintly, his lips started to dry. finn's mother made him face her by holding his face, "finn, honey, i will never, ever, leave your side again. do you understand that?" she said firmly.

the younger boy just nodded mindlessly.

"mr. and mrs. wolfhard, may i speak to you outside for one moment?" dr. harbour jumped in. finn's stepdad immediately followed while his mother was hesitant to leave his son at first but kissed his forehead and finally let go of him.

finn was left there alone, his tears finally streamed freely.

//

7:40 pm.

millie thought it wasn't too late to visit the freckle-faced boy. so she got up from her bed and excitingly walked out of her room, she was about to go inside room 316 when she saw three adults blocking the doorway. she recognized one familiar face which was dr. harbour and two unfamiliar ones, she studied the grown woman from afar and noticed she looked a lot like finn. but millie wondered why the woman was crying.

she walked nearer to the three adults and she slightly heard the murmurs clearer. the grown woman started to talk, "so what exactly is the easiest treatment here? you know how delicate he is-"

"dr. harbour, w- what's going on?" millie jumped in the conversation. she noticed that two unfamiliar adults looked at her up and down with furrowed eyebrows. "ms. brown, it's late. you shouldn't be outside your roo-"

"a- are you one of my son's friends?" millie looked at the woman who spoke to her. she's his mother, it makes sense now.

"finn? y- yes," the younger girl shyly said. "someone like finn with a friend?" the grown man asked in confusion. "don't say that," finn's mother said sadly.

"what's happening? is- is he okay?" millie asked in concern. "finn. . .he has- he has tumors in the other part of his leg," she paused and broke down crying again, "he may have a chance to be cancer-free again. . .b- but. . .he has- cancer cells spreading throughout his body," finn's mother buried her face to the grown man's chest and sobbed uncontrollably.

millie just stared at the floor. she wasn't crying, at least she tried not to. "c- can i see him?"

"i don't think he wants to see anyone right n-"

"please?" the younger girl begged with desperation in her eyes.

finn's mother glanced at dr. harbour, who gave millie an assuring nod. "i- i'm really sorry about him, mrs. wolfhard," millie said before she hurriedly went inside room 316.

she finally saw sight of the freckle-faced boy who's weakly laying on his bed. finn got up and laid on his headboard, "m- millie,"

the british girl just stared at him for a few seconds until she came rushing up to scoot beside him and didn't hesitate to hug him tightly and bury her face on his chest. finn was taken aback by the girl's sudden actions but he returned the hug immediately and realized that she knew as well.

he broke the hug and checked millie's face, "you're not crying yet,"

millie just closed her eyes tightly and hugged him even more, "i don't want to," he hugged her again, "it's alright to cry," he paused, "crying doesn't make you weak, millie,"

"i don't want to cry," she shook her head, "because if i do, i won't ever stop,"

"then i'll wipe your tears forever,"

those words made her tear up immediately. the room was only filled with her uncontrollable sobs and sniffs for a few minutes while he just patiently caressed her hair.