***NOTE*** this story is entirely fictional. if you have any comments on it, you can email misty at billy_gunns_babe82@yahoo.com. in her story, logan is based on scott moffatt, and genesis is based on her.
As Genesis paced restlessly around the hospital waiting room, a million things ran through her mind. Love, she'd always thought, could cure any kind of pain, from scrapes and bruises when you're a child to your first broken heart. She found it hard to believe that this time love was the cause of the hurt.
Her boyfriend, Logan, had gotten sick about a month ago. He had terrible migraines that wouldn't go away. Just when his parents were going to take him to the hospital, he started to get better, so they let the matter drop. He had been fine ever since then. Until that day.
She still wasn't quite sure what happened. One minute they were standing in the hall talking before lunch, and the next he was passed out on the floor.
His parents had rushed to the school and taken him to the hospital, but she hadn't been allowed to go with him. They made her finish out the day. The last four periods dragged by slowly, but finally the bell for eighth period rang. She bolted out the door and ran straight to the hospital.
Now, all they could do was wait for the test results. Logan's mom, Mrs. Spencer, was in his room. The rest of his family was wandering around the hospital. She finally sat down, only to get up a minute later when Mrs. Spencer and the doctor walked through the grey double doors.
Genesis could tell that Mrs. Spencer had been crying. Her face was tear-streaked, and her eyes were red and puffy. When they reached her, Mrs. Spencer said, "Gen, I think you should sit down."
Genesis tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat, but she couldn't make it disappear. She slowly lowered herself to the green cushioned couch, and Mrs. Spencer sat down beside her. This can't be good, she thought.
"What's wrong with Logan?" she asked. "How long 'til he gets better?"
"He won't be getting better, Genesis," Mrs. Spencer said, her voice catching.
"What do you mean, he won't be getting better?" Genesis asked, confused. "Of course he will. He has to."
"Genesis," the doctor said, "Logan has a brain tumor. It's in a very unusual spot, so there's no possible way we could operate to try to remove it. Radiation and chemotherapy probably won't help. They'd only make him sick."
"I don't understand. How do you know they won't help? You haven't tried yet."
"The tumor is too large. Radiation and chemotherapy wouldn't affect it, but Logan would still get the side effects."
"So, you're saying there's no hope? That he's just gonna die, and you're not gonna try to do anything to save him?" She hugged herself tightly. The hospital suddenly seemed so cold.
"Genesis, you make it sound like we don't care, but we do. I don't want my son," Mrs. Spencer stopped and took a deep breath. "I don't want my son to die sick. I want him to be comfortable."
"Why do you keep talking like that?" Genesis asked, her voice rising. "Logan isn't gonna die. He can't." A single tear ran down her left cheek. "I won't let him." She suddenly burst into tears. Mrs. Spencer pulled her close, and Genesis sobbed uncontrollably in her arms. "It's not fair! It's not!"
"I know, honey, I know," Mrs. Spencer whispered as she started to cry softly.
"Why? Why Logan?"
"I can't answer that. I wish I could."
"He doesn't deserve this."
"I know."
Genesis sat up and wiped at the hot tears running down her face. "Can I go see him please?"
"Of course. I'm going to get some coffee. I'll be back up later." The two of them stood up, and they all three headed in different directions.
When Genesis reached Logan's room, she stopped outside the door. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she opened her eyes and walked in. Logan looked up at her and smiled. "Hey."
"Hi," she replied as she sat down in the chair beside his bed. He looked so pale and weak that she almost started crying again, but she stopped herself.
"So, I guess they told you, huh?"
"Told me what?"
"That I'm dying." He said it with such conviction that it scared her.
"Oh, Logan, don't say that! You don't know that! Something could happen. You could take radiation or chemo."
"Gen, just stop. I'm dying. I've accepted it. You have to, too." There was no waver in his voice.
"Oh God, Logan, what will I do without you?" She began to cry again.
"You'll get over me and be happy."
"I can't."
"You have to. I want you to."
"But, it's impossible. I love you, Logan."
"I love you too, Genesis. More than anything. But, I want you to be happy."
"I can't be happy without you."
"Yes, you can, and you will. You have to promise me you will."
"But, Logan..."
"Promise me!"
"I promise."
"Good. Now I want you to go home and get some rest. You need it."
"I donšt wanna leave you."
"Gen, if you don't rest, youšll get sick. And, I don't wanna be the cause of you getting sick."
"You can't make me go." She folded her arms across her chest and looked at him.
He looked at her with his crystal blue eyes. "Please go. I don't want you to remember me in the hospital. I want you to remember the way I was before. Please?"
"Okay, I'll go. But, I'm coming back to see you. You can't shut me out of your life. You're still here."
"I know," he said as she stood up. She hugged him long and hard and then kissed him.
"I love you," she said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"I love you, too." She turned to go. As she walked out of the door, he called, "Think of it this way... Išll be in a good place. Our own paradise. Išll wait for you, Gen."
The tears released themselves as she walked out of the hospital. She went home, threw herself onto her bed, and cried for hours.
That night, Logan died. It was the fastest case the hospital had ever seen.
The next day, a delivery arrived for Genesis. It was a helium balloon with a card attached to it. The balloon had a picture of a beach beside the ocean at sunset. She opened the envelope and read the card: Our own paradise. Išll be waiting. Love you, Logan. She smiled. As she walked back into the house, she was suddenly overcome with a huge feeling of relief.
"I love you, too, Logan," she said.
