Chapter 43

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

DANIEL

"How was Margo today?" Laura asks as we get in the car.

I shrug. "She's tired." I hate seeing her getting weaker. I want to rewind time and spend more with her. It's not fair that she's so sick. I thought we had a lot more time, but every time I visit her, I'm forced to accept that she's leaving soon.

Olive starts talking about her play and a movie that she's going to watch with Annie soon. Laura listens, but peeks at me through the rearview mirror every few minutes.

We stop for takeout on our way home. Olive eats hers as we drive home, but my food sits on my lap untouched. I can't bring myself to take a bite. I have no appetite.

"Is it hard to braid short hair?" I ask.

"Not really," Laura says.

I feel so helpless. I feel like all I do is sit next to Margo, but I want to do something for her. I can't travel the world with Margo, but I can braid her hair. "Will you teach me?"

Laura smiles. "You can practice on my hair when we get home."

Olive twists around. "Can I help too? "

I grin softly. "If you want to."

"Of course I want to," she says, twisting back. "I want to make sure you do it right."

Laura laughs. "You don't think I'd teach him right?"

She raises her eyebrows. "How are you supposed to see the back of your head?"

"Okay, that's true. Olive will teach, and I'll model since I have shorter hair than her."

When we get back to the house, Laura runs to the bathroom to find a brush and a hair tie. Then she sits on a stool and Olive and I stand behind her. Olive shows me how to part the hair down the middle so we can do two braids. She gathers the hair in her hand and sections it. Then she starts to weave it in a pattern creating the braid. After she finishes her side, she has me try the same thing on the other side.

I'm not good at braiding hair. She makes it look a lot easier than it is. I try again and again. Poor Laura sits there for at least an hour as I practice. Finally, I create a braid that's somewhat decent.

"How's this?" I ask, stepping back.

Laura stands to look at her hair in a mirror. "It's perfect. Margo is going to love it."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

Laura sets her hand on my shoulder. "I know."

I try not to smile, but I do. I can't wait to go back tomorrow and braid Margo's hair for her.

Olive runs into my room at five in the morning. She shakes me awake.

"What's wrong?" I ask, rubbing my eyes .

"It's Margo. You need to go right now. She isn't doing well."

I jump up and run out of my room. Laura and Rob are up and putting their shoes on. "We'll drive you," Laura says.

I nod, finding my shoes. My heart swells. I want to cry, but I hold my tears back by biting my tongue till it bleeds. Margo wants to see me happy. I know that. I will say goodbye with a smile on my face.

We drive to the hospital in silence. My nerves are on edge, and my chest burns with every breath I take. As soon as the car parks, I fly out of the car. I don't wait for the others. I sprint through the parking garage and into the hospital. I don't stop running until I'm in her doorway.

I'm out of breath, chest heaving.

I open the door, and my heart plummets to the floor. Margo's family is gathered around her crying. Mrs. Blakely is almost hyperventilating she's crying so hard. Her arms are wrapped around Margo. "I'm not ready," she sobs.

Annie looks up at me and shakes her head.

Margo Blakely, my Margo, is lying in bed, but she's gone.