Prologue

“Leniela wake up! Please wake up!”

Emma cried, holding her friend’s hand, who was laying unconscious on the stretcher as they rushed inside the hospital.

“What happened to the patient?” a nurse asked while they continued moving.

“ I-don’t really know. We were having a few drinks and then she went to the restroom. When she didn’t return after some minutes, I went in and saw her lying on the floor,” Emma quickly explained as the tears kept falling.

“This is as far as you can go miss,” the nurse said, stopping Emma while the others entered the Emergency room .

“Please save her, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anything happens to her”.

“We’ll do our best miss” a man in white scrubs tapped Emma assuringly on her shoulder before rushing inside.

“What’s the patient’s current status?” he asked one of the nurses while putting on his gloves.

“She fainted after taking some drinks, chances are, she must have been drugged or worse poisoned”.

**

An hour later, Emma sat beside her friend while holding her hands. Moving her eyes towards Leniela’s right hand, her heart squeezed in pain at the sight of the drip.

It was all her fault. If she hadn’t requested taking her to the club to celebrate Leniela’s eighteenth birthday, then she would have been in her usual cheerful mood. Emma felt a slight move of Leniela’s fingers and she looked up to see Leniela’s eyes open.

“Lenie, Oh My God you’re awake!” she squeaked, hugging her dear friend. Hearing a squirm, she quickly disengaged from the hug.

“ I’m sorry if the hug was too tight. It’s just i thought something bad happened to you. I should inform your mom now. , i totally forgot to call her,” Emma said quickly cleaning her eyes before reaching for her purse, but Leniela held her hand.

“Let’s not get her worried over nothing’”. Emma noted in understanding.

Leniela felled pity for her friend. Her eyes were swollen, which told her she had been crying. To be honest, she didn’t know what happened. She didn’t drink any alcohol but her head was spinning, which is why she went to the restroom to watch her face, but fainted.

“What happened Leniela? The Doctor refused to say anything. He insisted you wake up first.” Leniela was about to respond when the door opened and the Doctor walked in.

“How do you feel now?” he asked with a small smile.

“I think I’m good enough to go home,” Leniela replied politely. He turned to Emma

“I’ll like to talk to her alone” she creased her brows before staring at Leniela.

“Why can’t I stay? I’m her best friend. Is it a major problem?”

“It’s alright Emma,” Leniela said and Emma sighed softly before walking out of the room. While Leniela anxiously waited out for him.

Sure that no one was listening in on them, the Doctor began," we’ve discovered that the reason you fainted is that you have glioblastoma"

Leniela creased her brows, confused.

“ It’s a fast growing malignant brain tumor”

Leniela felt her head spin. She just stared at the elderly man as if he was a clown. What is he even saying?She wiggled her head

“ You must be mistaken, I’ve been fine for the past Seventeen years if i have what you say how come it didn’t show any symptoms and even if it’s true how did i acquire it?”

“Like I said, it grows rapidly and there’s a high probability that you inherited it from maybe either your parents or grandparents.” The Doctor explained with a heavy heart. She was so young to experience this, but he couldn’t do anything.

Leniela went dead silent as it all sank in. What type of birthday gift is this?

“Is there treatment? Can it be cured?” She calmly asked, and he shook his head pitifully. He was surprised that she looked calm given the bad news.

“But there is therapy and some drugs which can be given to you. I’ll need your parents to discuss further.

“There’s no need”

“But..”

“If you say it can’t be cured, how long can I survive?"Her voice was still calm as she looked at the Doctor.

“The maximum number of years so far is 22, but in your case I’m sorry to say this but only Four months, you have only four months to live.”

The room went silent for a couple of minutes.Leniela raised her head up staring at the white ceiling.

“ I just clocked eighteen today which means i’m legally an adult which is why i ask that no one else should know about this. I’ll handle it myself”The man nodded in understanding.

“ I’ll make sure you're discharged immediately, “ he informed and Leniela muttered a thank you.

When she heard the door close, she huffed, blinking her eyes to prevent the tears she’d been restraining.

“ This is it, Leniela Moretti, this is the end of the road for you, so you better make the most of it,” she chuckled bitterly.

“HAPPY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY TO ME”.