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Chapter Thirteen
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2021-08-25 09:17:00Three long days after Austin had left for camp, Emery arrived at the hospital for her usual volunteer time. Anne met her at the door and pulled her into the office area, away from the children.
“You may want to go spend a little time in Molly’s room today.” She gave her that look they’ve all learned was one that a loss may be happening soon.
“Noooo.” Emery frantically shook her head. She knew this day was going to come, but she wasn’t prepared for it to happen right now.
Anne gripped her hand and nodded her head that it was true. “She slipped into a coma last night and hasn’t regained consciousness. The disease has weakened almost all of her vital organs and her mom wants her to die naturally. It was Molly’s request that nothing be used to keep her here. She wants her family to be able to move on and have a life again.” The little girl knew what was happening to her body and the only concern she h
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It was almost noon when Emery rolled back out of bed and made her way down to the kitchen. According to the note that was left for her, it seemed her parents had gone to the store for some groceries. Emery grabbed a banana and went back to her room so she could eat, get her clothes, and then get a shower. She had two hours before Austin would arrive back at the school.Emery arrived at the school parking lot ten minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the buses. There were several other people there, mostly moms, dads, girlfriends, and boyfriends waiting for the buses to make their entrance. She didn’t know any of them, not on a talk to basis, so Emery just sat down on the ledge that went around the perimeter of the building.The buses started to pull into the drive-around about thirty minutes after Emery had gotten there. She saw that everyone was getting off and looking around for whoever may be waiting for them. The second bus was almost unloaded and one
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Emery and Austin spent the rest of the afternoon in his room talking about everything that had gone on at camp and about Molly’s funeral that Emery had a hard time discussing. It still seemed unreal that Molly would no longer be making everyone smile and bop around with her whistling and happy demeanor. It was going to be a sad, lonely place for a while, but that’s what happens when you let emotions get the best of you. They discussed school that was starting in two weeks and how Austin was happy about finally being a senior. Emery faked her enthusiasm that they were going to finally be seniors. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy about finally graduating, but wasn’t sure what the year held in store for her. If she were a normal, healthy teen girl, she’d be thrilled and ecstatic about being seen with the most sought-after guy in school. But since she wasn’t, Emery was just happy to have made it this far.The subject of their upcoming birt
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“Where do you want to sit?” Emery met up with Austin outside of the cafeteria. They had made it through the first of their four classes and had three more to go until they could finally leave. None of her friends had lunch this period, but a lot of Austin’s teammates and other people he hung around with did and were already filing in line for food.Austin looked around and saw the people he had eaten lunch with for the past three years were beginning to filter in. He was thankful that none of Apryl’s crew had lunch at this time, but he knew Emery probably wouldn’t want to sit with a whole table full of guys and girls she hardly knew. “How about courtyard?” He nodded toward the outside seating that had been constructed for those who favored eating outside. There were a few small picnic-like tables and benches that were surrounded by the colored flowers of the school’s theme, navy blue, and white.“Okay.” Emery
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“Where are we going?” Emery gently smacked Austin on the back. They’d finished their last class and met in front of the school. As soon as he had seen her, he’d picked her up and thrown her over his shoulder. She could tell that they were walking toward the parking lot because she heard the cars going by and saw the feet of other students as Austin moved past them. Finally, after a few minutes of being carried Emery was put back down on her feet.“Just to my truck until practice starts,” Austin told her. “And what are we going to do in your truck for the next thirty minutes?” Emery saw the sly look on his face as he shut her door and ran around to his side.“We.” Austin wrapped his arms around Emery and pulled her closer to his side. “Are.” He began to lightly kiss her neck. “Going to do something that I’ve been waiting all day after watching you in that skirt.” Austin noticed a s
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“You okay?” Austin saw that Emery looked a little paler than when he had gone in to change. He hoped that the sun hadn’t taken its toll on her yet, since they still had two hours of practice to get through before they could leave. “Stay here a minute.” Austin went over to the cooler that had the ice and water bottles for practice. He grabbed two of them out and took them back to Emery. “Make sure you drink these so you don’t get sick sitting out here in the sun.”The bottles were cool to the touch and Emery held them against her face. Austin was being so nice and thoughtful right now, it was hard to believe that he had cheated on her during the school day. “Thank you.” Emery set one of the bottles down on the bench and opened the other to get a cold drink.The sound of the coach’s whistle signaled that practice was about to start. “I gotta get going.” Austin gave Emery a quick kiss on the che
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It was finally Friday and the first night of football. It was a home game, so Emery told Austin she would just drive herself to school and then meet him back at the field before the game. Of course, she had to double promise that she was going to show back up and not go to sleep like she was known for doing.The day had gone well, like the rest of the week had gone since Austin and Emery had talked about their relationship complications. He had moved from each of his seats in the classes that Apryl was in so that she was on the complete opposite side of the room. He told the teachers that she would be too much of talking distraction for him to focus properly. It wasn’t that Apryl was very talkative, but he didn’t want to get her into trouble by telling them she would be making too many sexual advances on him for his comfort.“You will be here at six this evening, right?” Austin had to make sure that Emery was going to be there before he ha
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Halftime was over and the teams were both scoreless. Austin was back on his side by the bench, carefully going over the playbook, but every once in a while he would glance back at Emery and smile. Each play that he did came out perfect, but it seemed the other team’s defense was as good as theirs at stopping the runs and passes.Austin looked worn out and defeated going into the final minute of the game. Emery could tell by his movements that this game was kicking his ass. He had just given the ball to their lead running back, but he got knocked out of bounds at the five-yard line. There were forty seconds on the clock and the team had one more play left until they had to do another kickoff. Emery watched as Austin took two steps back as the ball was hiked to him and then ran toward the goal line. Every defensive player was after him and had caught on quick to his sneaky move. The people in the stands were all standing, screaming, and cheering him on for the last two ya
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Austin parked in the first open spot he found. He raced around to help Emery and gave her a long kiss before letting her touch the ground. “Ready?” He waited for her to nod her head, then gripped her hand and led her to the place that seemed to be the happening place right now. He had to wave to everyone who called his name and once again congratulated him on the win. He saw some of the other guys were there, but most were probably still stuck in traffic as they’d been for a while. “Where do you want to sit?” There weren’t too many open private spaces left and the team had the other section all taken up with yellow taped ribbon so that not just anyone could sit with them.“Some of your team is over there.” Emery pointed to the ones who had their practice jerseys on like Austin did.“You sure?” He really didn’t wait for an answer as he led her to the place he knew was going to get wild. After the
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It’s been almost one year since Emery found out cancer returned and claimed her life. We had to move back closer to home to where her doctors practice so that she could complete her chemo and radiation treatments again. It was so hard to watch her go through that, knowing how much pain she was in and how much I wish I could’ve taken it all away, but I couldn’t. There was nothing I could’ve done to help her except hold and love her as much as I could. She kept fighting and trying to stay strong, but it seemed the disease took her from me no matter how hard we both fought it. We did get to see another snowfall together. As she watched from our bedroom window, I made a snowman for us like the ones we used to make together. I had a feeling that would be the last time we would both be present for the yearly tradition of building the snowman. Too many memories would tear me apart with that scenario to continue
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“Austin,” Emery yelled once more at her boyfriend, who was always taking forever to get ready. “I have a long drive and you, dear, have to be at work in thirty minutes.” After graduation from nursing, they both passed the mandated state board exam to get their nursing license and landed jobs at a children’s hospital near Lake Erie.“I’m coming.” Austin bounded down the steps of their townhouse and kissed Emery when he reached the bottom. He grew to love her more and more with each passing day and couldn’t wait until the next year when she said they could finally become legally wed. “So,” he wrapped her in a tight hug, “you’ll be careful driving to your doctor’s appointment and promise to tell me everything as soon as you get back, right?”Emery kissed him once more before stepping out of his embrace. “I will, sir.” She saluted him.“I just want to know eve
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Emery didn’t know what to say. They’d talked about this a few times before, but as of lately it hadn’t been mentioned at all. She’d told him last year that she would never get married to leave her husband all alone if cancer ever came back and overtook her. But now that she felt better than ever, she was having a change of mind. “I don’t know what to say.” After a minute delay of him asking and still being on one knee, Emery finally gave him an answer.“I’d like for you to say yes, but that decision isn’t up to me.” Austin stood upright and kept the ring in his hand.“I thought we had talked about this before. You know my reason why. It’s not that I don’t love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I can’t promise you forever.” Emery knew she was only supposed to cry at a time like this out of happiness, and she was happy, but also so confused and upset.
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Emery heard the lock on the door being undone. She quickly covered her and Austin up even more with the additional blanket at the bottom of the bed. A girl stumbled in and relocked the door. She looked as though she’d had a few too many of whatever alcoholic drinks she’d been drinking. With her blonde curls bouncing along, she tried to quietly stumble to her bed. She glanced over at Emery’s side of the room and her eyes went wide when she saw eyes looking back at her.“Hey, sorry if I woke you. I’m Kristy” Emery’s roommate turned on her own lamp. She pointed and squealed when she noticed Austin beside Emery. “You already brought one back. I’m glad to see we’re alike in that way. I was so afraid that I was going to get stuck with some roommate who didn’t like to party and all they ever did was study and be like the biggest nerd on campus.” Kristy’s mouth kept running more than Emery wanted to hear at
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“Do you have everything?” Emery’s mom was helping her carry down some of the stuff that she needed to take to the dormitory. The past three weeks since graduation had passed in a blur. Mrs. Warden was trying hard to control her emotions, but this was the first time her daughter would be away from home for a prolonged time.Emery looked around her room and the suitcases she’d packed. “Yep, I think so.” The main things she would need in her dorm room were already there. The bed, dresser, and desk had all been provided. She just had to bring her own things to put on or in them. Emery noted that her mom had tears in her eyes and was trying hard not to cry. “I’ll miss you too.” She pulled her mom into a hug as they both wept about her leaving.“I guess we better get going.” Mrs. Warden finally let go of Emery after they had their big cry fest. Both their eyes, nose, and cheeks were now red. She grabbed a tiss
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Two days later Austin found out he’d passed his history course with almost a B. He contributed that success to all of Emery’s help with studying. He took her out to dinner for a celebration and also learned that she’d gotten her letter of acceptance into Case Western. Their plans were moving right along and each was excited to get started on the next part of their life and relationship.“Guess this is it.” Austin stood with Emery in their caps and gowns in the designated part of the stadium. It was graduation night and it was going to be a long process with over nine hundred kids in their class. His last name was in the middle and hers was at the end of the alphabet so they had a good while to wait. “Are you happy that you decided to wait this all out?”Emery nodded yes. She was going to just get her diploma in December, but once she and Austin got serious she went ahead with the normal graduation. “Just ner
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“I can’t believe we graduate next week.” Emery tossed her backpack on the floor and sat down in the chair next to Austin.The library was buzzing with seniors as they all tried to get in some last-minute studying before the last exams the next day. Prom had been the week before and the excitement from that had finally dwindled down. Austin had been nominated Prom King and Apryl had been elected as his Queen. Of course, they had to do their couple’s dance together, but Austin made it comical as he held her at a twelve-inch distance away from him at all times. When the song had finally ended he dropped her like a hot potato and went back to Emery’s side.The couple along with Laney and Brandon went to an after-prom party together, but neither couple stayed out until the wee hours. They’d broken the news to their two friends about leaving in June. They seemed genuinely upset, but then announced they were also going to coll
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“Do we really have to go back?” Emery knew she sounded whiny, but they were almost back home and she really didn’t want to go back to their normal life and routine.Austin laughed and pulled her closer to his side. “We have to now, but just think we can leave all of this in another two and half months.” He had to start football camp at Case Western at the end of June. Although it was a long shot, he hoped Emery would be accepted and be ready to go by then.“That’s if I get into school and if my parents don’t throw too much of a fit knowing I’ll be that far away.” She laid her head on Austin’s shoulder and continued to watch the towns fly by.“School isn’t going to be the issue, telling our parents what we’ve decided to do is the problem.” He knew both his mom and dad would probably be disappointed in what he’d chosen, but it was time for Austin to ta
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The bed squeaked as they both collapsed onto it. Austin regained his breath, then rolled off of Emery’s back. She was flattened out, with her arms spread wide and her face buried into the mattress. “Are you okay?” He hoped he hadn’t hurt her. How would he explain that to her parents?Emery gathered enough strength to roll herself over. Austin was laying there in all his naked wonderment, looking at her as if he was sorry for what had happened. “That was awesome.” She slowly crawled up and lay down beside him. Austin pulled the blanket that had fallen to the floor over the both of them. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her as close as he could.“I love you.” Austin kissed the girl who had stolen his heart on the cheek. She made him feel things that no one else had ever done before. Emery had become his life and he couldn’t imagine a day going by that she wasn’t part of it.Instead of repeating the s
