Navigating Love and Legacy

NANNA At the grocery shop The rain drizzled softly against the roof, the clouds were as gloomy as her gaze on the almost empty street,the chilly wind blew through the thin silk dress coming in contact with her pale skin and Aayla an exceptionally beautiful girl with long legs and jet black waist length hair was seated on a bench outside the convenience store where she works, her blue eyes dazed and wet as she tried holding back her tears which weren’t willing to be held back and trying to doubt the one word that seems to have shattered her happiness “ Nanna has cancer” the thought of losing her Nanna was driving her nuts. Nanna as Aayla fondly calls her grandma, returned from the hospital with a mind blowing diagnosis and she has since refused to believe her Nanna has less than 4 months to live with her. Aayla had already lost her parents to a gruesome accident at age 11 and had no one to rely on except her grandma and now Nanna was diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Nanna had already noticed something was off with her health but she kept declining aayla’s plan to see her doctor together as she didn't want to break her baby’s heart. Aayla lived a free and adventurous lifestyle since she believed in the philosophy of living just to meet one’s basic need, She wasn’t superficial like other girls and never tried to live beyond her means or make long term goals but the world just spinned right before her eyes changing every single thing she was accustomed to, she was willing to do anything to make sure her nanna lived through the ailment but the steps to take she was yet to figure out. The drizzles had turned to drumming sounds on the roof as the sky poured out her heart and she was behind the counter in no time looking very sickly and pale with little or no time to feel sad she began to check out customers as her shifts runs late into the evening and someone slid a lollipop in front of her with a calm but concerning voice asking are you okay Aayla? She looked up, standing in front of her was a tall and slightly chubby and cute blondie smiling brightly at her. It was Addison; Aayla’s friend…Oh hi Addy I'm alright she said forcing a smile and trying to make silly jokes but Addison was even more convinced that something was wrong with her friend and with a mock she said girl lie to someone else bout that alright? Text me when you are done ok? I’d be home when your shift is over and no excuses addy left the store with a love you pookie and aayla smiled while she watched her friends receding shadow, she knew there was no contesting Addison decision of checking in on her. Addison has been aayla’s friend from her college days although 3 years older she had always felt like a sister to aayla and the friends usually shared everything on their minds but aayla’s expression has been imprinted on her mind since she got home she has known her for over 8 years and she was the most carefree and happy person addy knows but seeing aayla’s expression earlier kept her on her toes. 7:40pm and the weather looked great for a walk so Aayla bade her manager bye and began to take the busy route to addy’s place while beeping her phone trying to notify her that her shift had ended. On the other end of the line. Hey pookie as Addy would fondly call aayla are you free now; yeah I’m right around the alley coming right up. Nah just hold up I’m on my way down let’s go to a drive range and swing some bats you do need some stress reliever, I’d be with you in 5 and with that the Line ended with a resounding echo leaving Aayla with no option of replying and just staring into space… FEW MINUTES LATER….. Hey pookie are you ready? Aayla responded with a smile of affirmation and the two headed for the drive range on foot as it was just a few blocks from addy’s apartment. Wanna talk about what’s on your mind or should I just have you shipped to ends of the earth? Addy said while holding aayla in a friendly headlock she set herself free and laugh a bit dryly finally trying to loosen up a bit. Nanna is terribly sick and I’m scared and just so you know I don’t mean her usual health inconvenience this time Nanna is really sick the doctor said it’s stage four(4) leukaemia aayla said with tears already streaming down her face, Addy could feel the fear in her eyes, her lips and whole body quivered in an unusual manner, Addy felt really sad seeing her friend cry and break down that way so she held aayla tightly to her chest engulfing her in a bear hug even though Aayla is a bit taller than her with tears drizzling down her eyes both friends cried without a care in the world, passersby stared and whispered to themselves. AT THE RANGE Loud sounds of bats hitting a baseball with swooshing sounds of the air fills the range. Aayla filled the bat with all the rage and pain she feels and in no time she was sweaty and felt a lot better, Addy was happy her friend wasn't as unhappy as she was earlier, both girls lying on the bare range floor feeling exhausted. Breathing hard Addy spoke first; Aayla it's gonna be alright, Nanna is gonna get well you need to be her strength right now and do not hesitate to talk to me about anything okay? She nodded and smiled without saying nothing, she knew her friend was trying really hard to not see her break down, 10: 35 pm both girls walked out the range, looking sweaty with bottle of waters in hand as they looked like they had just represented the country in the Olympics. They hopped into a cab and headed for the 19th avenue and addy made sure the shared cab dropped aayla in front of her house.Nanna had been waiting for Aayla for hours as she knew the news would have her petrified and she kept wondering where her baby would be at the time, she even had her favorite dishes chicken parmigiana and lamingtons ready but aayla was nowhere is sight and that had her worried sick. A few minutes later She hears the sound of car pulling over then she scurries to check through the window and there Aayla alights from the cab, Nanna finally heaves a sigh of relief. Aayla walks in and is surprised to see Nanna standing across the table waiting eagerly , her heart broke as she dropped everything on the bare floor and ran to hug her Nanna trying to absorb all of her warmth.She finished all her Lamingtons even though she was completely full and she went to bed feeling like she was just a little over 11.