Chapter 1

|  Chapter 1: "A Resolve to Live Until the End"

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The house was quieter than usual. The lively energy that once defined the Abendroth home seemed muted, the shadows in the corners stretching just a little longer. Days had passed since Lyneora’s 16th birthday—days filled with hushed conversations behind closed doors, muffled sobs, and a heaviness that lingered like an unwelcome guest.

Lyneora sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at the notebook in her lap. The blank page seemed to mock her. She had tried to write something—anything—but every attempt felt hollow, like her words couldn’t capture the chaos within her.

Her diagnosis replayed in her mind like a haunting melody she couldn’t shake.

A few years.... The phrase echoed, cold and final, each repetition slicing a little deeper. She had cried the first night—tears of fear, anger, and helplessness. But now, she was empty, her emotions numbed by the sheer weight of it all.

Her gaze drifted to the window, where the late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the garden. Dae’s laughter used to fill that space as she chased butterflies or played with her dolls. Now, the garden was quiet, a stark reminder of how much had changed in just a few days.

The door creaked open, and Dae peeked in, clutching a stuffed rabbit to her chest. “Lynnie, can I come in?”

Lyneora managed a small smile. “Of course, Dae. You don’t need to ask.”

Dae shuffled in and climbed onto the bed, her small frame pressing against her sister’s side. “Mom says you need rest. Are you feeling better?”

“I’m okay,” Lyneora lied, wrapping an arm around Dae. She didn’t have the heart to tell her sister the truth—not in its entirety.

“You’re not sick, are you? Like, really sick?” Dae’s voice was small, her eyes searching Lyneora’s face for reassurance.

“I’m just... tired,” Lyneora replied, stroking Dae’s hair. “But I’ll be fine.”

Dae frowned, not entirely convinced. “You promised to watch me grow up. Remember? You said you’d teach me how to ride a bike, help me with my math homework, and be at my graduation.”

A lump formed in Lyneora’s throat, but she forced herself to smile. “I haven’t forgotten, Dae. I’ll do everything I can to keep my promises.”

Dae hugged her tightly, her small arms clinging to Lyneora as if she could keep her safe through sheer willpower. “I don’t want you to go anywhere, Lynnie.”

Lyneora held her sister close, her chest tightening with a mix of love and sorrow. “I don’t want to go anywhere either, Dae. I’ll always be with you, no matter what happens.”

That night, after Dae had fallen asleep curled up beside her, Lyneora stared at the ceiling, the weight of her thoughts pressing down like a physical force. Her mother’s soft murmurs drifted up from downstairs, where she and her father were likely discussing her condition again.

She didn’t want them to worry—not like this. She didn’t want her illness to define her life or their memories of her. She needed to find a way to turn this tragedy into something meaningful, something that would last beyond her limited days.

Sliding out of bed carefully so as not to wake Dae, Lyneora grabbed her notebook and sat by the window. The moonlight spilled across the page as she began to write, her pen moving with a newfound purpose.

"If I can't live long, I'll live meaningfully. I'll leave something behind—something that matters. My life may be short, but it won’t be empty."

She paused, the pen trembling in her hand. What could she leave behind? A legacy was a grand concept, too vast and intangible for someone like her. But as she thought about it, her mind drifted to the one thing she had always dreamed of—the one thing that embodied love, hope, and the future.

A child.

The idea took root in her heart, tentative but persistent. She had always imagined herself as a mother someday, raising a child who would carry her love forward. Now, that dream felt more urgent, more significant.

Her parents might think it was reckless. Society might judge her. But Lyneora knew in her soul that this was what she wanted—a way to leave her mark on the world, to ensure that her love would live on even after she was gone.

The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Her mother, Elara, stood in the doorway, her face lined with worry. “Lyneora, it’s late. You should be resting.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Lyneora admitted, closing the notebook.

Elara came to sit beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I know this is hard, sweetheart. But we’ll get through it together. You’re not alone.”

Lyneora looked into her mother’s eyes, the weight of her decision heavy in her chest. “Mom... what if I don’t have much time? What if I want to do something meaningful before it’s too late?”

Elara’s expression softened, her own tears threatening to spill. “Then you should follow your heart, Lyneora. Whatever you choose, we’ll support you. But promise me one thing—don’t let this illness take away your hope.”

Lyneora nodded, her resolve strengthening. “I won’t. I’ll live every moment like it matters. I promise.”

The next morning, Lyneora woke early, the house still quiet in the soft light of dawn. She carefully tucked Dae back under the covers before heading downstairs. As she stood in the kitchen, making tea, she caught a glimpse of herself in the window’s reflection.

She looked the same—normal, healthy, alive. But she knew better. Her time was slipping away, like sand through an hourglass. Yet, for the first time since her diagnosis, she felt a sense of purpose.

She had a plan now. A dream to chase, no matter how impossible it seemed.

As the tea steeped, she whispered to herself, a vow etched in her heart:

"I will love. I will leave something behind. I will live."

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...⚜️ AerixielDaiminse ⚜️...

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