Lily found out I was sick because I couldn’t hide the swelling around my face anymore.
She was furious.
For two straight days, no matter what I did, she scolded me.
I finally got so upset I cried under the blanket and shouted, “You are way too good at yelling at people!”
“You only know how to bully me!”
“If you’re so capable, take me to see my mom!”
“You’d never out-argue her anyway!”
Lily went quiet for a long time.
Then she sat beside me, touched my hair, and said gently, “When you get stronger, I’ll take you to see her, okay?”
I knew she was lying.
I knew I wasn’t getting better.
But I couldn’t bear making her worry more.
So I smiled and nodded.
“Okay.”
After that, I tried even harder to recover.
I swallowed handfuls of pills.
Took needle after needle.
My arms turned purple with bruises.
I didn’t complain once.
Sean watched all of it in silence, jaw clenched, then walked out and slammed the door.
That night, I heard him arguing with Lily outside.
“Megan wants to see her mother. Can you not understand that?”
“What would it cost you to let her go once?”
Lily shouted back, “I think you just want her to die sooner, you bastard!”
“You think she’s lived too long and she’s in the way of your little side piece, right?”
I secretly wiped away my tears.
I hated that I had become a burden.
That Lily had to fight people for me.
After that, I stopped asking to go see my mother.
But my spirit started fading faster.
I slept more.
Stayed awake less.
And little by little, I realized it was time to say goodbye to Lily too.
Then, strangely, I had a brief stretch where I felt stronger.
My body hurt more every day, but my mind grew oddly clear.
Like a candle burning brightest before it goes out.
Maybe Chloe heard I seemed to be doing better.
Because one afternoon, while Sean was away, she came to the hospital.
The moment Lily saw her, she snapped, “No dogs and no sluts allowed in here. Get out before I help you.”
But Chloe surprised us.
She dropped to her knees beside my bed.
Crying.
“Megan, I’m pregnant with Mr. York’s baby.”
“You’re dying anyway. Please, just do one good thing before you go.”
“Give my child his father back.”
I stared at her.
She’d been pregnant three months.
I’d been sick three months.
So while Sean had been telling me he needed me, he’d also been sleeping with another woman behind my back.
What did a man like that need with a dying wife, anyway?
Nothing.
He had just been lying.
Good thing I had never believed him.
Chloe reached for my arm, still crying, and nearly dragged me off the bed.
I was too weak to resist.
Lily lunged in front of me and got several scratches down her arm.
Then suddenly someone grabbed Chloe by the hair and ripped her backward.
Sean.
His face was murderous.
He looked like he wanted to tear her apart.
“I told you,” he growled, “if you ever came near my wife again, I’d bury you.”
Chloe’s expression changed instantly.
She opened her mouth to say something, but Lily had already grabbed a pillow and hurled it at both of them.
“Take this trash and get out!”
Sean dragged Chloe away.
Before leaving, he looked back at me and said, “Wait for me. I’ll come back and explain.”
Wait?
Who was waiting for him?
I didn’t care.
Not anymore.
Lily lowered her head and looked at me anxiously.
“Meg, are you okay? Does anything hurt?”
I pressed a hand over my chest and put on my saddest face.
“My heart hurts.”
“I need to go shopping to feel better.”
She stared at me.
Then laughed despite herself.
Maybe because I really had seemed better lately, she agreed to take me out.
We bought a roasted sweet potato from a street stand.
Then I climbed right into her little car and started eating inside it on purpose.
Lily was obsessive about cleanliness.
She never let anyone eat in her car.
Sweet potato crumbs fell all over the seat.
She gritted her teeth and pretended not to see.
Then I directed her to a luxury bridal boutique.
She was getting married in the spring.
I probably wouldn’t live to see it.
But I wanted to see her in a wedding dress.
She didn’t ask why I had brought her there.
She just followed me inside with red eyes.
We were best friends.
We understood things without saying them.
I picked a satin gown for her.
Then, for myself, I secretly picked a bridesmaid dress.
After we got changed, I squeezed into her fitting room and took a picture with her.
Like I’d still be there to send her off properly.
My eye for style had never failed me.
Lily looked beautiful.
Unfairly beautiful.
“Should we buy it?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes and whispered, “Buy what? This thing costs a fortune. Take a few more pictures and let’s go.”
I smiled.
Then, while she stayed inside admiring herself in the mirror, I slipped out and paid for the dress anyway.
Because Lily was the best girl in the world.
And the best girl in the world deserved the prettiest wedding dress.
After that, I quietly left the shop, ignoring the brutal ache in my chest, and took a cab to the cemetery.
Mom.
This time, I really came to say goodbye.
No jokes.
And no crying, okay?