Stay Close

She was just like a gentle, beautiful, bright flower. She brought joy and happiness. She tried to stay strong for others. However, things can turn overtime. As the seasons go by faster and faster, she started to hurt. She would lose her petals one by one and as the seasons pass, and slowly started to crumble and fall. She became cold. Eventually, as the seasons went by, the flower became weaker and weaker by the day. Not being able to stand on its own stem.

It was taking longer than usual. Anxiously tapping my feet and biting my nails nervously. As the time slowly passed, my concern grew. “Where is Rola?” “Where is the doctor?”, “When is she going to come out of those cold steel doors?” Each time the doors opened and closed, excitement rushed through me, but it consistently followed by disappointment.

The doors opened for what seemed like the millionth time, but this time they creeped open slower than all the other times. An old man wearing light blue scrubs came out. He looked hopeless and defeated.

He had then told us that Rola’s tumor was getting worse and didn't know how it could be treated.

Reality hit.

It felt like the world had just crumbled upon me. The Rola I knew, the girl who put a smile on everyone's face. The girl who made everyone laugh, even when they were sad. The strongest girl I know, whose body is now rapidly deteriorating by the minute.

I may not have known this in the moment, but I've learned through this experience that you should always keep loved ones close. Cherish every moment you have with someone, because life is short.

It felt like an avalanche of snow, I felt cold. As if someone had just ripped a whole piece of me away. The world was spinning, doctors, nurses, and surgeons all rushing in and out of her room. It was like a riot. All these questions of anger and frustration rushed through me. Breathing heavily, pacing back and forth thinking out loud, trying to ask anyone around me, “Why? Why Rola?” “Will she ever get better or even get out of that stupid room?” I scream. She doesn't deserve this!

As I tried to walk away from the small, congested room, I looked around. I saw a whole different world. All the different people who go through so many different things. It was scary.

While I continue wandering, I saw the people who matter the most. My family. Sitting on the small, hard, uncomfortable bench. Everyone was patiently waiting, as if they were waiting for something to happen. Everyone had been sitting there silently, as I watched tears slowly fall down their cheeks, gently falling down their lips. As this sinking feeling wouldn't leave me. I didn't know how to move on or what to do next. I sat there staring at my family and wondering. “What are they thinking?” “Do they have any hope?” My mind just couldn't stop with all the questions. The only thing running through my head at this moment was being constantly repeated by a piercing thought,

“Am I going to lose my best friend?”

“Am I going to lose my best friend?”

“Am I going to lose my best friend?”

Through a tough, meaningful journey, a lesson has been taught. Words of wisdom by my two parents. “Stay close to the people who matter the most to you. No matter what someone is going through in the moment or recovers. Always stay close to the ones you love, because things can change in a blink of an eye.”

Stay Close.