DEAR NEIGHBOR

CHAPTER ONE

Summer...

The birds are chirping, the weather is bright and warm , in a word - perfect

But it wasn't perfect for everyone, in a way , it was a mockery

Regan walked out of city hospital in a daze,she clutched the medical report in her hands , the cruel piece of paper that contained only a few words yet that had cruelly determined her destiny

A destiny she didn't want, didn't think exist - not as though she ever got what she wanted

She felt frustrated, annoyed and at a loss , according to the report, she had only a year left ..

All she wanted was to get a casual medical report yet all she got was the News of her awaiting death , a death that came too much as a surprise, another surprise in her life that seemed to shatter her whole

The doctor had said alot , telling her about her illness, trying to comfort her ,a whole lot of medical words which she didn't understand in anyway at all, after she wasn't listening, only one of the doctor's words had stuck in her head , hitting a nerve

"There is no cure "

To put it in plain words , she would die and nothing could stop it , not the greatest doctor nor the best medicine. It was once again a surprise to her life

Regan looked into the sky , the clouds in place, the sun shining, yet this beautiful scene was like a knife piercing into her , telling her that she didn't belong there, a cruel reminder of the medical report in her hands

She ran a hand over her blonde locks,tears streaming down her cheeks

All kind of emotions welling inside her

Anger, frustration, fear , annoyance and a lot more that she didn't understand

In a way, she wished she could go back in time and stop herself from ever going for the medical examination, maybe just maybe she would have continued to live in a blissful ignorance, yet her rationality told her it was simply impossible, afterall, wishes never came true - she had learnt that the hard way

A part of her also told her that maybe it was a prank,a not so funny prank that the doctor had planned or maybe a tv show or something, all she knew was that she didn't want it to be true yet deep within she knew it wasn't a prank , it was the truth , the truth which she would have to live with for her very short year to live

She would have to leave everything behind. Though she knew her life wasn't exactly the best out there, she still didn't want to to give it up...

A ringtone sounding like a five year old singing a cherry happy birthday song in a childish tune sounded , Regan hurriedly brought out her phone from her brown bag

"Hello"

Her voice was low , sounding as calm as she could though her heart thumped loudly in her chest

" What's wrong mom , are you crying?"

A childish voice sounded over the phone, the tune laced with worry, containing a childlike innocence

" N-No. I'm fine " Regan responded , her voice a little shaky as she wiped the tears on her cheeks which had suddenly increased, the tears as though on mission to build an ocean

"Hmph. Don't lie to me mommy, tell me who bullied you and I'll come and teach them a lesson" the voice sounded, the voice was childish , the words naive yet the arrogant tune in it sounded like a contradiction to it adding a cute feeling to it - not the least threatening

"I'm fine" the words slipped out of her mouth as the tears poured down with no intention of stopping (maybe the ocean would be ready soon)

There was a pause on the other end, the two falling into silence, the silence was eating her, she wanted to say something but she knew better than to talk now lest she'd start bawling loudly

"Mommy, I'll always be with you , I'll protect you, even from the world" the voice sounded over the phone, filled with determination

Regan clutched her phone tightly

'I'll protect you'

'Even from the world '

These two words, though naive were all she needed . He was going to protect her ...

She didn't know what it was, maybe it was her illness acting up or maybe she was just crazy or maybe it was because no one had said this plain words to her before. All she knew was that she felt reassured

Her heart seemed to have been tugged lightly, she didn't care again, she wouldn't care again because her son was going to protect her

" I know" her voice sounded , almost inaudible as though she was talking to herself instead

"I'll be with you forever mommy" the voice sounded again. The determination in it was overwhelming

Regan bit her lips, she wanted to tell him that it wasn't that easy, that destiny wouldn't let him yet it was as though she believed that too

Some years ago, someone had told her that life is meant to be lived to the fullest, with no care for anyone, the only one that mattered was the one close to you, the rest, they didn't matter

Live life like it was your last with no regrets

Now , somehow, these words that had been said casually seemed to be a grace to her

So what if she had only a year left , she didn't care, her son was going to protect her

He was going to be with her , she wouldn't let him down, not for anyone, not for herself, she was going to make sure that she would enjoy his protection

He was all she needed , his words were the greatest comfort she could ask for ...

"Mommy?"

His voice brought her out of her thoughts

"I know" she said, a smile blooming on her cheeks

"I have to go now, see you later mommy. Love you " with that the call was ended

Regan looked at the dim screen of her phone

'love you too '

Though the words unsaid, the warmth overwhelming

She would made sure he would protect her 'forever'