Chapter Five: Forever&Always

Everything was different now. Time was more fragile. Things seemed to go to fast, too soon. All the good things where little.

She's scheduled for a kidney transplant on Thursday. It's Tuesday. December 1st, Tuesday. If it goes well it's going to save her life...for now. The doctor told us it's
dangerous to get a donor that isn't family. But there's no time left. No time to sit around and ponder what to do. The surgery will go on, mom won't let it not
go on.

"Your here!" Was the first thing I heard Tibby say when I walked into her hospital room.

"I am!" I exclaimed back with a grin. My grin was forced. Not like it used to be. It used to be easy. Like a sixth sense. Smiling as a sense. I liked the idea of that.
***
I had to leave, leave poor little Tibby here alone for the night, again. I wish she could come home. I hoped tomorrow she would be up, she wouldn't need the transplant.
I hoped she would live longer than me, so I wouldn't be here without her. I didn't want to be here without her. I hoped I wouldn't be on Earth without her. There's always hope, I reminded myself.

"Bye, Tibby. I'll be here tomorrow," I assured her.

"I love you," She replied, looking up at me, thoughtfully.

"I love you, too," I said, smiling, even though I felt like crying. These goodbye's where the hardest.

Tibby told me, "I'll love you forever."

My throat choked up. I cleared it.

"Forever and always," I replied.

"Forever and always," Tibby echoed. "Forever and always."
***
It's Thursday. Kidney Transplant Day. It's going to go well. How can it not?