365 days



Adaliyah Boyd

"I thought Chemo was supposed to help me get better not make me so weak to the point where I couldn't move my arms." I complained. I tried to lift my arms up but I was too weak and it felt like noodles.

"Sometimes that'll happen but it is gonna help you get better." My grandma said as she drove me home. She was a firm believer in that but I know it's not true.

One year.

That's how long the doctors say I have to live.

So far all I did was chemo. Sitting in a hospital with nothing to stare at but four walls and a phone screen.

"They're trying everything. You're not gonna have this for long Adaliyah." My grandma reminded me.

"If I have a year left—don't talk like that." She cut me off.

"As I was saying, if I have a year left, can you take me on a beach date?" I asked.

"How many times are you gonna ask that. My answers not changing." She said and I got out of the car.

Even though I feel horrible and I feel like I'm gonna collapse second. I'm still gone walk away.

"How was—Cool." I cut my mom off before she can finish the question and walked to my room.

Everyday I do the same 4 things. Chemo, eat, stare at nothing, and sleep. Sometimes I'll go out back. That's if I have enough energy.

I have a phone but it's like everything on there makes me think of shit I can't do.

I just wanna live like a normal teenager.

Amare Mathews

"You think they'll let her come outside with us?" I asked my cousin as we walked up to Adaliyah's door.

We didn't know her personally but everyday we'd see her walk into that house and never walk back out.

"Hopefully nigga I don't know." He said before knocking on the door.

A beautiful black lady opened the door.

"How can I help you?" She asked nicely.

"Your daughter here? Is it okay if she come outside with us? No funny stuff. We just gone go to the park." He said.

Looking into the house some more I seen her on the steps.

The lady looked back and Adaliyah looked at her with pleading eyes.

"No. Not today. Maybe next time." She said before shutting the door.

"You think we looked too dangerous or something?" I asked.

"I mean yea you look dangerous. You got face tats and a large ass neck tattoo." He said and I rubbed my neck tat.

"Damn." I sighed.

"We could try again later." He said and I nodded.

Hopefully she change her mind.

Adaliyah Boyd

"You are sick, Adaliyah. I'm not letting you outside unattended. Especially not with no boys."

"This ain't right. I'm dying. I don't wanna spend the last moments of my sad ass life in the house. I've been doing that for the past 17 years." I said.

"I know you already made your mind but please reconsider." I said.

This is the first time someone came to my door and asked for me to come outside. I already knew what my mom was gonna say but it didn't hurt to have a little hope.

"I'll start cooking." She sighed.

"Y'all treat that girl like a damn prisoner." My uncle said.

"Don't start Zane." My mom said.

"I'm just saying. She 18. Okay so what she got cancer, let her live. Send her outside with a mask on or something." He said.

(This book was prewritten before COVID and wow😭)

"If your that worried, even though she don't need all of that. The girl will be okay outside, Iris. She is grown, I'm sure she can go out just for a little bit. Ain't nothing gone happen." He continued.

"I don't want anything to happen to her. She's already sick and I'm already losing her."

"You rather keep her locked in her, draining her mentally or let her spend the last of her moments happy?" He said and that was all I heard.

I took a shower then went straight back to my room.

I should really get a hobby.

Amare Mathews

"Bro who is Adaliyah and why do this nigga keep talking to you about her?" This dumb ass nigga Piper gone ask.

He need to mind his fucking business and worry about why his mom names his weak ass piper. Fuck typa name is that. Ole wack ass nigga.

"Mind yours." Bakari said before turning towards me.

"I told you we could try again later. You giving stalker vibes nigga chill." He said.

"I'm going home."

"Cause I called you a stalker." Bakari said.

"No cause I been out with you all day. I'm tired of hearing your voice." I mumbled.

"You gone hear it tomorrow." He shouted as I got in my car.

"Yea yea whatever nigga." I chuckled.

——————— Siegfried by Frank ocean.