Camilla hands me a backpack and I immediately recognize by the noises from inside it's treats.
"Luz can be a bit of a handful when she's hungry so I've packed you enough snacks to last- hopefully.. eight hours"
I smile kindly slipping the backpack on over the front of my leather jacket, turning to luz she grips my hand and drags me to her forest path, it's so much more beautiful than mine...so many new plants and types of trees. Looking around I smile brightly at the cool air blowing into my face, the light dancing as the leaves and pine needles rustle. Luz grips my hand tightly causing me to stop, letting go of my hand she clenches her chest and rests on an oak tree her face flushed of most color, sliding down to sit on the forest floor she sighs heavily. Pulling off the backpack I kneel in front of her my face full of worry
"Luz hun... are you okay?"
I ask quietly to her my hands placed on her cheeks, shaking her head she looks up and smiles her hands waving to reassure me
"I'm okay... just my ribs pinching- hurts like a son of a bitch.."
Breathing in deeply her upper torso wavers painfully as if she's having trouble breathing in, taking my extended hand I lift her up and the backpack, I then ask lovingly
"Little bit hungry?.."
Her face lights up greatly and she almost immediately nods to me, unzipping the backpack I hold it open to her so she can pick and choose. Pulling out a couple bags of cheetos and some water bottles I close the backpack and sling it over my shoulder, handing me one of each I lean in and press a kiss to her lips her lips spreading into a smile as I whisper lovingly
"Thank you babe"
Luzes smile widens as I part my smile plastered on my face like a stone carving, taking her hand I continue the walk down the trail making sure to stop every minute or so to give her lungs a break despite that not happening a second time. Stopping at a large acorn tree riddled with all sorts of nerdy and colorful things held up with thumb tacks the most obviously recent is the Polaroid of me and luz in grom 2019 and us cosplaying azura and hecate back in late 2020 at megacon, she opens up her arms in a little flourish and exclaims
"We're heeerreee.."
Smiling at all the years of built up happy memories I look closer to the memories of us all with the title:
'She may not know it yet..
but she's the best girlfriend..
I've EVER had'
Tapping the title I look at her with a smile, her face slightly blushes.
"It's nice to know that I mean that much to you... even if I find out two years late.."
She wraps her arms around my neck gently and mine gingerly wrap around her waist, she smiles to me and teases
"Not two... just one"
I chuckle lovingly knowing exactly what she means, gently kissing her neck I bury my face into her shoulder
"Yeah yeah.. I didn't forget the beginning...before you went to camp for real this time- I was joking"
Letting go of her I ask suddenly in a soft manner
"The beginnings at the top yes?"
She nods understanding that I don't mean the abomination incident 2019, carefully maneuvering myself up and through the trees branches I sit down at the end of the items and look at the faded however still vibrant beanie baby penguin. Slipping down I hug her gently and sit down on the forest floor luz joining me, she smiles at me lovingly her eyes shimmering brightly at me.. then gloss.. she hitches forward clenching her chest like before but this time she starts to worry so much I ask concerned.
"Luz.?? Are you alright?"
She smiles at me trying to seem normal but her body starts showing signs of dizziness, she places her hands on her ears and shakes her head slightly to probably try and rid her dizziness, standing up she stands wobbly on the ground then falls much like a toddlers second time standing.
"I'm really dizzy...yikes this feels weird-"
I look at her concerned and ask worried
"Should we get you home to get some rest?"
She nods but is completely resentful about the idea of sleeping, taking my hand I slowly stand her up and head down the path. Reaching the end of the path I knock once and head in saying enough to make a presence,
"We're home camilla!"
Luz sits down on the couch sideways and after I set the backpack down on the floor in front of us I lay comfortably ontop her front my head resting above her heart, handing her the remote she puts on the animated series of the good witch azura. Focusing hard on her heartbeat I raise my head and look down confused before I rest my head back down to make sure I'm not hallucinating, her heart keeps skipping beats.. again- but after around thirty minutes it steadies and returns to normal. Gently swapping positions with her she lays ontop me her arms crossed over my chest, her cheek resting on my collarbone. And after three episodes she closes her eyes gently her barely audible snoring following shortly afterwards, rubbing her back slowly I look down at her ever so gently sleeping on me but those skipped heartbeats.. worry me. Running one of my hands through her hair I smile trying to keep positive and pause the TV to stare lovingly at her, her lips curling into a smile as she wraps her arms around me. Closing my eyes I wrap my arms further around her and join her peaceful slumber, only waking when she mutters gently and adjusts herself. Opening her eyes hesitantly she asks quietly not sure if she's awake or not,
"Am I alive?.."
Chuckling slightly I kiss her forehead softly to which she mumbles a loving 'mmh..' to my touch, her embrace tightening as I mumble tired 'mhm..' she smiles and says quietly
"Mmn...that's good.."
Her eyes closing again tiredly, giggling I ask softly
"Would you like to sleep on YOUR bed? It's alot softer than the couch"
She opens her eyes gently and looks into my eyes, she rubs her face into my shirt and mumbles kinda being a grumpus
"Only if we can resume the position we were in earlier this morning..."
I stake up the perfect opportunity to tease her by saying
"How early are we talking about??"
She grumbles being an absolute sourpuss, but then she says in a wholesome manner
"Well..the sun was rising.."
She sits up letting me stand up, looking at her tired expression I hold open my arms and ask,
"Would it be easier if I carried you..?"
Without a word she wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, resting my hands on the bottoms of her thighs to support her I walk surprisingly very easily up the stairs, her face buried in my neck. Stepping into her room I shut the door behind me and awkwardly crawl into her bed under the covers thanking god himself camilla has a 'shoes at the doorway' rule. luz lets go and turns her back to me, wrapping my arms around her I pull her in as close as I can. She mumbles basically nothing to express her happiness and I rest my ear on her back to listen to her heart, sighing relieved when I hear it's still normal I bury my face into her shoulder and say quietly
"I love you.."
She smiles softly and presses into me saying equally as quiet
"I love you too.. get some rest am.."
I chuckle lovingly as I rub my face into the fabric of her hoodie my exhaustion coming to the surface, I grumble slightly and say firm but loving
"You get some rest too luz... you need it- I'll be here when you wake up...I promise"
She smiles gently and closes her eyes, closing mine aswell I smile when I hear her snoring and join her in dream world.
______
(Luzes pov)
Feeling her hold me this close is an absolute dream... and she's so loving. Everytime my heart decided to stop she cared for me like I was the first thing to care for on her list, I just hope she doesn't know how serious it is... Being forced awake to the feeling like I'm falling off a cliff then a sharp pain In my chest, my fingers get tingly. Sitting up slowly I scoot back to rest on the headboard my breath wavering unsteadily, my heart skips a complete beat and I feel my body drain of all it's energy then return, as my heart returns to a steadier beat.
It couldn't be...not yet... the doctor said that I could atleast live to see my thirty fourth birthday... not barely my seventeenth. Looking down at amity I run my fingers through her hair, and shakily press my other hand to my lips to stop the cries from coming out. Walking downstairs to mom's room I hear her TV on, knocking shakily I hear her say quietly
"Come in"
Walking into mom's room I hold my left arm and walk to her unknowing just how covered in tears my cheek are, she looks up at me panicked and grips my shoulders wanting to know what's bothering me, all I can say is
"My time is coming mama.. n-not now... but I don't have long at all"
Her face drops as she looks into my eyes...her first and only born.. going to be gone within a few months.. and the girlfriend upstairs not knowing what is going on she's going to lose me too.. Mom pulls me into the bed with her and hugs me close,
"No- n-no it's not.. we'll find a way.. even if I have to pay cash.."
Hugging her I sob silently my heart taking a jerk. Sitting there in my mom's arms she shushes me gently each time I start crying and rocks me slightly. Falling asleep once my tears dry I sigh heavily, my mind only focused on the voices of the TV and mom's whispering tone fifteen minutes later.
"Yes..doctor evans..yes it's luz- I need to know if.. my insurance pays for a heart transplant. Yes mr. Evans it's failing now- I know you said she had til thirty four but she's dying NOW.. I need anything that'll help my daughter.. alright.. thank you- have a nice night"
Then I hear her crying silently, forcing my eyes open I look at her tiredly
"Mom..?"
She looks down at me and smiles
"Nothing mi hija.. you should go join amity.. she's probably awake wondering where you are."
Standing up I nod, walking slowly up the stairs I open the door to my room seeing amity suddenly realize I'm not in the bed, jerking herself to a sitting position she darts her head across the room til her eyes meet mine
"Hey it's alright- I wasn't gone long.."
Joining her I hold her close to me and kiss her forehead, she smiles gently and sighs heavily. Closing my eyes in comfort I feel her nestle closer to me, her warmth radiating off her like vapor pouring off dry ice.
"So.. schools tomorrow.. ready to endure torture and torment for six hours?"
I ask teasingly to amity causing her to snort, she hugs me tightly and giggles into my hoodie
"You say that like it's the worst school ever and plus I have eight and a half hours now.. zero hour for student council, then theres after hour soccer practice to deal with. "
I groan slightly to her schedule only to be interrupted by her voice saying softly
"You can come and watch practice..-"
I snicker slightly gaining a confused.. adorable amity look,
"What?"
She asks kinda offended causing me to mumble nonchalantly.
"I don't need to I signed up for varsity soccer then spring season I have softball- better than volleyball- you traitor"
She chuckles lovingly, our conversations on sports going on through the night.