203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr5Lp6ajcS
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I can't let dying, keep me from living. Even weeks after meeting the older teen, Glenn's words kept replaying in Noah's head over and over again. At first, he had thought it was the dumbest thing he had ever heard. Of course dying would keep a person from living. That was the definition of dying, right? But now, Noah wasn't so sure. Maybe he'd meant, dying didn't mean his life was over quite yet.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhs25d3QPf
Was that what Noah was doing, allowing his impending death to keep him from living? If he was completely honest with himself, that was exactly what he had been doing. In the past two weeks since he had learned of what he was now calling his 'expiration date,' Noah had sat at home and done nothing but feel sorry for himself and re-read some of his favorite comic books.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeTtoNXSLA
He couldn't help but wish his life was like those graphic novels. That maybe he could be bitten by a radioactive insect or have the power to heal from any wound just like his favorite heroes. But it was not meant to be, and no amount of wishful thinking was going to change that. With a deep sigh, Noah got ready to head to the hospital for yet another lethal dose of radiation. He didn't see the point anymore, but it seemed to make his mother happy to see him putting up a fight. So he did exactly that.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63CeqEYqsh
"Noah, hey," Glenn greeted the younger boy with another painfully enthusiastic smile. Feeling sick to his stomach and weak from the treatment, Noah responded with a merger nod of his head. Afraid that if he opened his mouth, he might empty the contents of his stomach all over the hospital rec room."I didn't think I'd see you here again anytime soon. Last time we talked you seemed to be throwing in the towel."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSzTUF7YvW
Noah took a deep breath trying to settle the torrential storm happening within his stomach.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQb6jATgtE
"I have, but putting me through this torture seems to make my mom happy. So here I am," he said once he felt confident that he wouldn't throw up. "What has you here again?"copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzIuN98MzA
"Never left," Glenn replied with a shrug. Noah stared at him wide eyed.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41tDUoi1mO
"Never? So you've been here for the last two weeks?" He asked shocked.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAEaGYKAed
"Technically, I've been here for the last four months. I'm what you might call a lifer," Glenn explained.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6NXAA7InG
"A what?"copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrHN5CboEy
"A lifer. You know someone who lives the remainder of their life at the hospital."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD8RNPPxp4
Noah knew Glenn was sick, but he hadn't thought he was that sick. After he had met him, Noah had googled Cystic Fibrosis out of curiosity. And though it was considered a fatal disease, the average life expectancy was thirty-one years old. Glenn couldn't be older than eighteen, twenty at most.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEaxCK8Jsv
"Oh, I didn't realize. Sorry," Noah apologized, feeling horrible for prying. Now that he was paying more attention, he couldn't help but notice the definite wheezing coming from Glenn, and the smoker's cough that made an appearance every ten to fifteen minutes. Glenn chuckled.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMX7z2JLqo
"There's nothing to be sorry for, I chose to stay here. It's better than my parents having to watch another of their children slowly whither away. Plus, I get to meet all kinds of people here, and they give me jello with every meal. What's not to love?"copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD1suOijlH
Noah couldn't contain his laughter. He had had the displeasure of eating the gelatinous goo this place passed off as jello, and it was most definitely not a perk.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6mxDZhLIK
"How do you do that?" He questioned before he could stop himself.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8wfg6h0RI
"Do what?"copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡoblqEPeW8A
"Have such a positive outlook on everything? I mean, we got the short end of the fricken stick. We're going to die before we even get a chance to live," Noah said becoming angry all over again.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvG03jZk5I
"Have you gone out at all since you got the news?" Glenn asked ignoring Noah's question and his outburst.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nRCC7JU7A
"No, but what's that have to do with anything?" Even though he knew his irritation was misplaced, he couldn't seem to stop himself from taking it out on Glenn. Walking closer, Glenn put out his hand.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwMXWqMamV
"Come on, get up," he said, nodding toward the door. Getting up was the last thing Noah wanted to do right now. He still felt sick not to mention completely exhausted, but out of curiosity, he found himself grabbing onto Glenn's hand and pulling himself off of the uncomfortable sofa.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0qr1tK1OQ
"Where are we going?" He asked, having a hard time keeping up with Glenn as they walked down one of the hospital corridors.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUdAwQHfKP
"You'll see, but first, we need to make a quick pit-stop," Glenn replied not slowing down. "Wait here." He slipped into one of the rooms before reemerging carrying a large, very old camera. "Okay, got it. Let's go."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmlCki36sp
"Don't you need to ask before you leave?" Noah questioned eyeing the nurses' station.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dqsErWptL
"Nope," Glenn answered shaking his head. "I'm eighteen. So, legally I can pretty much come and go as I please, sort of. Why do you need to get permission from your mom or something?" He stopped to wait for the younger boy's reply.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcFuNckvs5
"Nah, She'll be tied up with the doctors for hours. I usually just hang out in the rec room until get done. She won't even notice I'm gone."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjrGVLYYSr
And with that, they both continued toward the hospital exit.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUFPmkhjKK
Noah followed Glenn to a nearby bus stop, still unsure of where the older boy was taking him. But it's not like he had anything better to do. One of the perks of dying was that Noah didn't have to attend school anymore or worry about getting in trouble. If he worried his mom, then he might be in for a stern talking to which almost always ended with her in tears. If she cried this much while he was still alive, how many tears would she shed once he was dead?copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40WJuKWPfo
"This is our stop," Glenn said pulling the yellow cord to notify the driver. Noah was happy for the distraction from his current thoughts. He looked around the small neighborhood a little unsure of what they were doing in such a derelict looking area. The houses were all in different states of disrepair and police sirens could be heard off in the distance. Not exactly somewhere he would go even if he was in the best of health.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAHlgD7fCZ
"Umm...what exactly are we doing here?" he asked worriedly walking a little closer to Glenn.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0TmQgH7zr
"Enjoying life," he replied inserting a cartridge into the prehistoric camera. Noah couldn't understand how hanging around such a depressing place could qualify as enjoying life, but he certainly wasn't going to say that, in case Glenn lived there or something. The older boy was the closest thing that he had to a friend since first learning of his disease, well unless he counted his mother, which he didn't.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDrOnWyjLN
Glenn raised the camera to his eye, pointing it in the direction of a small brick house. Crabgrass filled the front lawn which had not seen the underside of a lawnmower in some time, and more than a few discarded beer cans. Noah tried to see what Glenn might be focusing on, but nothing stood out as picture worthy. It was more of a scene that people refused to notice.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFnp0E28TF
"Got it," Glenn said moments after the flash went off. "Come on, we have one more stop before we have to head back," he announced handing Noah the photo. Noah watched as the picture slowly appeared before his eyes. It was a little boy. He hadn't noticed him, standing just behind the screen door. The boy, who was in a stained white t-shirt two sizes too big, was waving at them with a huge smile. Looking up now, he realized the boy was still there staring at him with a big goofy grin plastered on his tiny face. Noah gave a quick, awkward wave before following Glenn down the street.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BG1XwiEDS
copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vvxjTtSce
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoePzso6Vmq
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"Do you know him?" He asked once he caught up to Glenn.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bdIdbewQS
"Nope."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWnTuGNXyZ
The boys stopped, Glenn resting against a large maple tree while coughs racked his body. Noah watched helplessly as his friend struggled to get his breathing under control.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡceU6ie10B5
"But then why did you take a picture of him?"copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEgQnu1B0S
Glenn straightened himself, his face still red from coughing.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoORiiy5g7
"Because that right there, is the perfect example of enjoying life," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tlZzEeBFQ
"How do you figure that? The boy's family is clearly poverty stricken, and he lives in a dump. How on earth is that happy in the slightest?" He held the photo in question up to Glenn's face as if it proved his point.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiuX8Rsats
"Look at him, though. He doesn't care what clothes he wears or the size of his home. He's just happy seeing friendly faces pass by his window."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XRQP99nfp
Looking at the picture again, Noah couldn't deny that the boy did indeed look happy in spite of everything.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡukSQjsuy49
The boys continued walking along the empty street until they reached an open field surrounded by towering apartment buildings, which were not in any better condition than the houses a few blocks away. This time instead of merely taking a picture of the field, Glenn reached into his back pocket and pulled out an already developed polaroid picture, held it out in front of him, and snapped another photo capturing the older picture within the new one.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLrTJALbKe
"And what does this picture show?" Noah asked, now sincerely interested. Glenn fanned the picture in his hand before handing it over.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡENcvE1ENoT
"What do you think?"copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTe5Jxyd6D
Noah analyzed the photograph. The original was of a snowman, the background matching the surrounds of the newer picture flawlessly, but what could it possibly symbolize?copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuoPn7p9ja
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203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EfFzgb1BR
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"I don't know. The difference a season can make?" he guessed. Glenn smiled his green eyes shining.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeoh4MptVI
"I didn't even think of that," he admitted. "Not bad, but I was thinking more along the lines of potential. As-is it's just an empty field, but with a little snow, it becomes a winter wonderland with endless possibilities." His voice was full of excitement.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjFBT8cvgB
"Man, how old are you, like fifty?" Noah asked laughing. Glenn joined in the laughter nudging him with his shoulder.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhdrwV4kbW
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm wise beyond my years," he said putting Noah in a headlock and playfully mussing the younger boy's hair, before releasing him and running towards the bus stop. Noah, still laughing, chased after his friend.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5bCnfoMIj
As they arrived back at the hospital, both were in high spirits. Noah was barely feeling the effects of the radiation he received earlier that day.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmDbXxja2z
"So, same time tomorrow?" Glenn asked. Noah didn't need to be back for another week, but today had been the most fun he had had in weeks and the closest to ordinary he had felt in forever.copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzRY1oT6I5
"Sure."copyright protection199ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WadzxtXjb
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvjBhJHr2T
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