His Last Words (Last Chapter)

His last words gave me the courage I never knew was there inside me.

"Jack," I said lightly as I entered the hospital room. In the center was a single-bed with green covers underneath which my brother was lying. The walls were white and the scent of different medicines was spread around the whole room. In front of the bed was a sofa and a table that had a purple vase with white and red roses that had failed to overrule the rancid smell of the medications. There was a huge window with white panes on the wall prior to where I was standing and the dazzling sun rays were entering the room through the narrow space that had been created by the curtains.

"Hi, sis," he croaked. His cheeks were hallowed and the area beneath his eyes was colored a dark shade of grey. His skin looked pale and his eyes had dulled. The energetic expression he used to have on his face was nowhere to be seen, and his lips looked lifeless.

"How are you?" I asked with a heavy voice. I felt my tears begging to escape through my eyes. He was so brave, even more courageous than me. I had decided to quit, I had given up just because of some comments people made on my appearance, and Jack was bravely fighting a disease compared to which he had no power. He had not given up, he did not quit everything and sit, waiting patiently for death to come, he forgot about his disease and lived his life normally, as if he was a usual kid with his whole life ahead of him.

"Were you crying?" he chuckled despite his feebleness and ignored my question.

"No, my eyes are fond of getting watery," I replied sarcastically as I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously?" he asked, "I've never noticed that before."

"Stop it, Jack," I chortled at his stupidity, "How are you, Jack?" I inquired once again in a serious tone.

"I...I think my time is close," he shut his eyes as he said that and squeezed them hard, apparently trying to control his emotions.

"You can't say that, Jack. You can't give up so easily."

"It is inevitable, sis. I have to die someday, whether that day comes sooner or later. I can't avoid it." He smiled despite the tears that were gathering in his eyes.

"Oh Jack," I broke into sobs and enveloped him in a hug as he tried to sit upright. I could feel the wetness from where his tears were dropping on my shirt. We both were crying violently, not wanting to let go. I did not want him to die. He had his whole life ahead of him, he was supposed to live. I cursed fate for victimizing my brother. We had everything; both of us, but our lives were miserable and full of worries and sorrows. Why hadn't we gotten a tranquil life instead of heaps of money that could not even buy us happiness? We have nothing valuable. We have been drowned and drenched in poverty and misery. Our lives were completely unworthy of living.

"Erica, if I ask you something, would you do it for me?" Jack requested as we broke apart and our sobs subsided.

"Of course. Anything for you, sweetheart," I said as I ran my fingers through his blonde hair and brushed away the strands that had fallen over his eyes.

"I want you to stop caring about the world." He stated. I froze at his statement.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I don't want you to change yourself for some stupid people who don't have anything to do except for make comments on you and your appearance. I want you to be brave, sis. I want you to fight them, bravely. You're acting like a coward when you're not one. You're strong, sis. Don't become vulnerable. Take it as my....last wish or something?

He rendered me speechless. Jack was so young and yet he could talk like a grown-up, experienced person. He was right, I was a coward. I didn't fight them. I exposed my vulnerability and let them attack me until I broke. It was entirely my fault. Mine.

"You're right, Jack. I should have been brave, but I was not. I became a coward and let them hit on me. God, what have I done?" I replied after a long time. 

"Will you fight for yourself now?" he asked.

"Of course I will. I won't let them attack me anymore. But....how will I do it?  I mean, I can't just punch them in the face, you know."

"Well, the best way is to use a sassy come-back or something that will shut their mouths, right? Or maybe just roll your eyes and walk away.  Or when they open their mouth to say something, you say 'not interested', smile and walk away," he chuckled adorably.

"Righto, that is exactly what I'll do," I sighed heavily and rested my face on my palm. I didn't want Jack to leave. Why do I not have cancer? Why only him? It should have been me in the hospital, not him. Tears started pouring out of my eyes as I cursed and bad-mouthed fate.  I felt something touch my hand, and when I looked  at Jack, I saw him enveloping my hand in his comparatively shorter ones in an attempt to soothe me. I gazed at his eyes that were filled with distress and sadness, and that is when I saw the twelve-year old kid, afraid of the fact that his time was nearing and trying to put on a facade of happiness, but his eyes had betrayed him. He was strong, but that didn't mean he was content with the fact that he was dying.

After some time, Jack's eyelids began getting heavy sleepily, and gradually he faded into a deep slumber. Little did I know that he wasn't going to wake up. Not ever again.

 

I returned home all chirpy and gleeful. As I went up towards my room, I saw Jack’s framed pictures hanging on the wall. My eyes filled with tears as I looked at my brother smiling at the camera. He looked so healthy and glad that anyone who saw this picture would not have been able to guess that he died a year ago of cancer.

Jack held an important spot in my life. His last words gave me the courage I never knew was there inside of me. He brought out my bravery which caused my vulnerability to vanish. From that day on, I had learned to fight. I did what he suggested me to do; I didn’t give them a chance to speak and I brushed away the idea of revenge that had corrupted my mind. I couldn’t have stooped to their level now, could I? It was way too low. This left an unusual, yet pleasant feeling and I felt more joyful than ever after the grief of Jack’s death wore off. Not that I didn’t miss him, he was my savior; an unforgettable character that had just come and gone and though he had left a vacant space somewhere inside of my heart with his departure, he enlightened the darkness that had taken over me. Now I am in college and I have an amazing friend who accepts me for who I am. I can’t change my nose, nor do I have stopped wearing makeup, but to an extent that doesn’t make me look fake.

People who failed to accept me for what I looked like were not a part of my life, not anymore. I brushed them off like dirt on my nose. I learned that it is okay to be have flaws and I think that no woman or man should be ashamed about their flaws, for all that matters is what is hidden behind the physical beauty of a person. That is all what counts and actually makes a difference.

Author's Note

I hope I managed to make it depressing. Writing this story was an interesting experience for me overall. Hope you liked it as well. Please review :)

Reviews

[WriterGirl247247]

The last chapter ends well and helps your story reach its end.

Again, be mindful of your character's vocab. Make it realistic. A twelve year old speaks differently than a thirty year old.

You only mention he has cancer once at the end. Tell more of Jack's trials throughout the story, and when he was diagnosed.

Where were the parents? They were with Erica when they reached the hospital, but disappeared. Wouldn't they be with their son in his last moments?

I understand Jack's last wish, but make it more heartbreaking. They seem too calm when he's dying.

Be a little more descriptive in your last section, in the time jump. How did Erica's parents heal? Did she reconcile with Anne and Nick? Who's her new friend?

Your very last paragraph, is that still Erica talking or is that an author's note? Make sure the reader knows which it is.

Your story is beautiful and carries an important message. You can tell you put your heart into this. Bravo.

[Tabby Mac]

Im bawling my face off! Well done!! I don't have anything to change. I like it the way it is! The message is strong. The bond is beautiful between the siblings. And this story in particular is very relatable to a wide audience! LOVE,LOVE, LOVE IT!!

[AnayaJ.]

Thanks sooooooooo sooo sooo much!!? :))

[AnayaJ.]

Omit the question mark 😂

[TheShadowsWithin]

This is so beautiful. One thing though, you said that it's okay to be flawless in the last paragraph. Would 'have flaws' work better? Overall, this is really amazing. I hope you'll write more.

[AnayaJ.]

Oh yes thats what i meant to write. Thanks for reading and reviewing :))