• Every day, I would pray and hope that my best friend would get better. He has been in the hospital with cancer for so many months it’s scary. I visit him every day to make sure he is getting better, but every day he seems to be getting worst and worst.
    I have always known what it was like getting cancer since I had the disease when I was very little. I couldn’t go outside much, I had to stay in and get better, I almost died one day, but that’s when I met my neighbor, Michael. He came over and played with me, whatever I wanted; dolls, cards, board games, and so on. Later on I got better, and I wore a hat for a long time until my hair grew back. Since we went to the same school and when he saw me there, he smiled and said, “Hi, Marie.”
    I was so happy, I didn’t know he would be there, and I thought no one would talk to me. My teacher made me take off my hat, I still had no hair. I took the hat off and the whole class laughed I was so embarrassed. Michael walked over and took the hat away and put it back on and said, “Marie, you have the coolest hat, and the cutest face.” I was blushing with a smile on and whispered, “Thank you, Michael.” Then he walked back to his seat.
    Once some of my hair grew back I looked like a boy. People came over to me and asked if I was a boy or a girl. All the girls laughed and I was left out of all the groups, but Michael always stuck up for me. He came over and said, “Marie is her name, therefore she is a girl.” Then he grabbed my hand and said, “Let’s go to lunch.” I followed him and we had lunch and he bought me the most beautiful hairpin. It had a pink butterfly on it and it was so cute. He put the pin in my hair and said, “Now who is this lovely lady?” I giggled and we both walked back home together.
    But now, this is different. This time he has the cancer, and he has the bald head. I come over every day as if I live here. Once in a while he would wake up and smile at me that warm smile he always gave me. One day he said, “I hope I die in your arms, or at least when you’re with me.” I started to cry and I held his hand praying that he would get better soon.
    Next day he wasn’t there. Michael wasn’t in his hospital room. I looked and felt the bed, I wanted to cry, but some reason I couldn’t because of all the other times I have cried I don’t have any more tears to cry. “Hello Marie,” said a familiar voice. I turned around and saw him, Michael I was so happy I rapped my arms around him and said, “You’re okay! You’re okay!” Then I backed away and looked at him with his sweet smile on, jacket, and red cap. He took off the cap and put it on my head and said, “I love you Marie, and I wouldn’t give this cap to anyone else, but you.” I put the cap back on him and said, “You have the most beautiful smile.” He hugged me and kissed me on the forehead. We walked out of the hospital holding hands until the very end.