As the door shut behind them, a heavy silence enveloped the room. Despite Ashley's presence beside me, the impact of Jonah's departure was overwhelming, leaving a tangible void. The experience underscored how profound changes can dramatically alter the course of our lives, especially when it involves those, we presumed would accompany us on our journey through challenging times. Yet, I wasn't the only one grappling with loss.

Ashley, too, was confronting a harsh reality, one that plunged her into a state of despair. With her gaze downcast and her hands frozen in her lap, a solitary tear traced a silent path down her cheek, staining her pink sweater. When I reached out to comfort her, she instinctively drew her hand back, a reflexive gesture of her inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry, Ashely. I know he meant a lot to you."

"I never told him the truth; I never found the courage to." Gently removing her pink hat along with a wig, she exposed the scars left by her treatments, her head bare from the loss of her hair.

"I've always wanted to be strong, at least that's what my parents always tell me. But I don't have that strength anymore. I wanted to tell him; that my heart feels alive when he is around me. Jonah was a goofy guy, and sometimes a little dumb, but those were the qualities of him I loved the most."

"I've always aimed to be strong, that's what my parents encouraged me to be. But I'm not feeling that strength anymore. I wanted to tell him... When he's around, my heart feels like it's truly alive. Jonah might have been silly and a bit clueless at times, but it was those very traits I cherished most about him."

"He saw beyond any disguise you wore. Jonah always recognized the kindness in your heart. He mentioned to me how one of your greatest strengths was your toughness in every situation. I think you should wear your wig proudly and confront what comes with the same resilience you've always shown. That's what Jonah would have wanted for you."

As tears streamed down her face, a smile began to break through. She hugged me tightly, a gesture filled with understanding that I could never replace Jonah in her life. Then, she got up from my bed and walked back to her cubie, turning off the lights.

What happened to Jonah was not in any way fair Removed from all he held dear, he was thrust into unfamiliar territory. Yet, I was confident in his resilience and his ability to thrive under any circumstance.

Motivated by curiosity, I reached for the letter Nurse Angela had discreetly placed under my pillow, mentioning it originated from Amanda's room. Eager to discover its contents, I searched beneath the pillow until my fingers brushed against the envelope. The front bore my name, elegantly written in cursive. Carefully, I extracted the letter from its envelope and unfolded it, preparing to absorb the words Amanda had felt compelled to share with me.

"Samuel,

I hope you don't find this letter unusual as I am having a difficult time expressing my feelings to you. At this point in my life, I have accepted what life has given me. My parents wait for me, as I walk through the little time I have left.

One day, I came to see my friend, Jonah. That decision changed the way I saw my life. I found a person who was kind and humble. I saw the beauty of your soul through your eyes and immediately, I fell in love with you. The time we spent together was the best time I have ever had in my life. But one thing is certain; we both are marked by death and our time soon will expire.

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The treatment provided to me has yielded no results in weeks, it's spreading, and my time will soon be over. I wanted to tell you, thank you, for being the gleam of hope I've looked for a long time. Even if the situation were to be different, and we spent more time together, at one point, we would both suffer. One of us will reach the finish line first than the other, bringing more despair into our lives.

For years I wondered if I would ever find the missing pieces of my heart, and finally, I found them, inside of yours. Please, do not come looking for me. Let me fade away with time and return to my parents who are waiting for me on the other side.

With love,

Amanda.

As I continued reading, my hands began to tremble, overwhelmed by a profound sense of despair. It was hard to grasp how someone could embrace the concept of death with such resignation, accepting it as their sole path. Driven by a newfound resolve, I didn't hesitate to press the assistance button near my bed. I was determined to speak with her directly, to understand why she seemed to be relinquishing her hold on life when there was still time left for her.

The door swung open, and Nurse Angela entered the room. "You needed help with anything?"

"I need my wheelchair, please."

The nurse was surprised by my request. "Your wheelchair? Are you planning to go anywhere?"

"Could you just bring the wheelchair, please?"

"Samuel, we have a curfew in effect. It's late, and I can't permit you to wander around the village by yourself."

"Great, thanks! That means you are coming with me?"

"Absolutely not!"

Unwilling to be held back, despite my inability to walk, I clutched the bed's handles with all the force I could muster and tried to lift myself out. Immediately, I tumbled to the floor, pain flaring up as I landed.

"Samuel!"

Quickly, she came to my aid, lifting me from the ground and settling me into my wheelchair. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you take such a risk?"

With tears welling in my eyes, I handed over the letter that Nurse Angela had slipped under my pillow. She unfolded it and began to read, her initial tense expression softened as she reached the end of the letter.

"Oh, Sammy. I'm sorry, I understand now."

"Please, Angela, I need to see her."

"Just this time. If the coordinator finds out I have taken you out of the village, I could get in trouble."

With a hopeful grin, I offered a suggestion for any potential inquiries. "Just tell them I fell off the bed and you wanted to make sure nothing was broken."

"Let's move before we're seen."

As she navigated the wheelchair through the village towards the hospital, curiosity got the better of me, prompting a question about Amanda. "Do you have any information on what happened to Amanda's parents? Or is that another case you're not allowed to discuss?"

Reflecting on my question, Angela momentarily halted before coming to a stop. "Her parents passed away in a car accident three years ago. Amanda was just nine then. She was initially taken to the city's old hospital by her aunt, who, upon learning of Amanda's terminal illness, never returned for her."

This revelation deepened my connection to Amanda, providing insight into her permanent residence in the village.

"Amanda was among the first to move into Hopeland Village and remains the sole survivor from the group of children who arrived the same year she did. Ashley and Jonah only joined us six months ago."

With this new understanding, I harbored a hope that Amanda would grasp the reason behind my late-night visit. I wished to persuade her to reconsider her stance on life, hoping she'd see a reason to fight a little longer.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

In an unexpected gesture, Makayla rose from her seat and reached for Amanda's teddy bear resting on the couch.

"I love it. It's unbelievable that you've kept this teddy bear all these years."

"Amanda was my first true love. She's someone I'll never forget, as long as I live."