Ａｌｍｏｓｔ Ｙｏｕ

yellow daises.

Wednesday

We walked through Central Park at a slow pace after Maddy's chemo. She was tired, but determined to get this walk in. Over the past couple of days, she had gotten worse, anyone could see it. She was also more aggressive, more stubborn with each day. She ate so much it made her sick, she would fight us on her medication and vitamins. Then she wouldn't eat, for hours. She wouldn't rest when she should.

If she wasn't doing this, she was sleeping. For hours, to the point my heart would catch in my throat every time I would walk in to check on her. It was becoming difficult on all of us.

"I want a hot dog," Maddy said, looking around for a stand.

"We can do that, but can we please grab a taxi after? It's still a long way back to the loft, Maddy." I said, worried this would turn into another argument.

She turned and looked at me, nodding a bit, "Okay."

"Come on, there usually is one here at the exit past the Alice statue." I said, leading her down a different path. We walked, starting to pass by the statue and she stopped, walking over and sitting on one of the bits of it.

"I can't anymore." She said, finally admitting defeat and I nodded.

"I don't want to leave you alone. Not after last time." I said, my breath heavy in my chest.

"I can't walk anymore, Harry." She said, looking back in the direction we had just come from.

"Then I'll carry you out of the park." I said, and her head whipped quickly over at me.

"Like a child?" She said sternly, and I took a deep breath, frustrated that she was going to start in public.

"If you are going to act like one, then yeah, like a child." I said back. I was tired. I couldn't do this. Not today. She searched my face, her eyes stern until they softened, glassing over; tears soon filled them.

"I'm sorry." She cried, looking down at her lap and I closed my eyes sighing. I rolled my shoulders back, walking over to her, taking her hands in mine.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I snapped. You can hold onto me, okay? We will get the hot dogs, sit and eat and then head home, okay? I'm just scared to leave you alone, that's my own issue," I said softly, reaching and lifting her face to look at me. I smiled, she looked so beautiful, with her pink beanie on her head, her big round eyes staring at me. I smiled small as she nodded, and I couldn't help but pull her face towards mine and kissing her. I didn't care who got the photo, I wasn't going to waste moments away like this with her. She kissed me back, the soft smile on her lips as she did.

"I am acting worse than Rosie most days," she chuckled a bit, pulling away from the kiss. I laughed, kissing her nose softly.

"Just a little bit." I teased, thankful she kept smiling.

"Okay, let's go." She said, getting up slowly.

—

Maddy's POV

We got home and I excused myself to the bathroom. I had been feeling nauseous for a while now, but I didn't want to add on to the stress I had already made Harry feel at the park. I had craved and enjoyed the hot dog so much, but I knew almost instantly it wasn't going to settle well. I quickly locked the door behind, kneeling down in front of the toilet and letting everything out, my eyes squeezing shut. I couldn't stop for what felt like an eternity. When I finally opened my eyes, I felt chills fill my body, the toilet was full of not just my throw up, but blood. I closed the seat quickly, bringing my hand to my mouth. I tried to slow my breathing.

"Ha—Harry!" I called out. I pushed myself up carefully, reaching to unlock the door as I heard him approaching.

"What happened? What's wrong?" He said, moving quickly in the bathroom. I searched his face, trying to gather words...but then everything went black.