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“What?”
I let out a humorless chuckle at her stupefied face.
“He broke up with me.”
I tilt my head back, one lone tear slipping down my cheek. I brush it away quickly, not wanting Grace to see me cry. I was so done with crying.
“But Prescott loves you.”
Then why hasn’t he said it once?
“He hates me. I remind him too much of…” I let my words trail off. Even after all this time, after everything that has happened, I still can’t reveal his secrets to people. Not even my best friend.
Grace sits down on the floor, taking my hand in hers. “You remind him of what?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I shake my head. “I knew what I was getting into. I told him we shouldn’t be doing this. That I didn’t want him to go through this. Nobody should be forced to date a dying girl.”
Grace grips my hand tighter. “You’re not dying.”
“But I am.”
“You’re not.” Grace gives me a strong shake. “You’refighting. You’re fighting to live. You will live. Do you get that? We’re not losing you, so I don’t want to hear any more nonsense about dying.”
I huff as more tears gather in my eyes. “It doesn’t work that way.”
I wish it were that easy. Wish it, and it’ll come true, but those are fairytales for children.
“Well, I’ll make it work that way. You’renotdying. We’ll beat cancer’s ass. And then we’ll beat Prescott’s ass.” Grace tilts her head to the side, making her locks sway. “Or maybe it’s the other way around. After all, I have to return the favor for kicking some sense into Mason last year.”
“I don’t want you to kick Prescott’s ass.”
“Well, I want to kick his ass for making you cry.”
“I’m not crying,” I protest just as another sniffle breaks out of me.
“No, of course not.” Grace tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, a few strands falling down into my lap, which only makes me sniffle harder until I’m full-on crying.
Grace pulls me into her arms, and I let her, burrowing my head in the crook of her neck. “I don’t think I can do this, Grace.”
“You can. I know it’s hard, but I know you. I know how strong you are.”
“I’m not as strong as you think.”
Grace pushes me back far enough so she can cup my cheeks and press her forehead against mine. “Then it’s good you have us to help you carry the burden. You’re not alone, Jade. You’renotalone. I’m here. Rei’s here. Penny’s here. Nixon, Yasmin, and Callie. We’re all here.”
But Prescott isn’t.
And I wasn’t sure I would be able to do this without him.
He was my light shining at the end of the tunnel. It didn’t matter how dark it got or how hard it was to keep moving; as long as he was there, calling to me, I was able to push through. But now my light is gone. The only thing left is the darkness, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to find my way out.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I stop resisting it and let the tears fall.
Grace pulls me to her, stroking my back as I cry, whispering soft reassurances into my ear. I hate myself for being this weak. I hate myself for breaking, but at this moment, I don’t have it in me to be strong.
Pulling back, I wipe away the tears, only to notice more of my hair stuck to Grace’s shirt.
I reach for it, twisting the hair between my fingers. “I have to shave it.”
