The Time We Had

"This would be the last time you are seeing me Anna, shouldn't I get a goodbye kiss?" Allegra asked the woman in nurse clothing who just finished tending to her.

The middle-aged nurse rolled her eyes at the girl "I wouldn't miss you, I don't know why you can't stay here and continue taking your medication rather than going to a fvcked up college," the nurse sighed worriedly, folding her arms around her waist, staring back at the sick looking Allegra in a very thick cardigan and head warmer to protect her from the ash winter weather.

"It as being long I have been out, and I don't have a to-do-list, two months Anna, two months, and I have never seen the inside of any college, what is the essence of staying here, when the possibilities are still the same, no miracles, this place is getting me exhausted even more," Allegra whined, but her usual smile still not leaving her lips.

"I love you, my brave girl, you are the sweetest, strongest child I have ever met, other children like you are freaking out in their room, that one day they are...." The nurse Anna sighed not completing her sentence, before leaving the room with Allegra's drug cart.

Allegra's smile sank immediately after the nurse left, she stood up from where she sat walking to her desk, and she picked up her diary....

'Hi Diary, it's me again, the girl with a bit of ill luck, Allegra Fraser, remember me...Now I think I am old enough to understand that life is really a journey, which would end one day, but I am getting confused why do I have to be thrown on the bumpiest and shortest one of life, painful right? This would be the last winter, Allegra would be seeing, be happy for me...' she stopped writing for a while before a bright smile suddenly appeared on her cheek 'And tomorrow my pain would stop a little, I would be going to Hambock College here in San Francisco, nobody is happy for me, but I would do well to stay happy for myself.' she beamed, before dropping her diary, going to her bed.

MORNING.

"Ahh Baby...ahh" Allegra's elder brother Justin, urged her to open her mouth for a candy.

"Is this the surprise gift you promised for gaining admission?" Allegra chuckled taking the candy from her brother, as her mother and father helped her in packing her stuff in the hospital room.

Jasmine her younger sister of ten jumps on the bed next to her "Is college like high school Alle?" she asked and Allegra chuckled.

"It's my first time going to a college, you should ask Justin about that." Allegra directed the question at Justin who was helping her with her tea flask.

"Would you be fine at college Alle?" Jazz asked, and Allegra nodded caressing her kid sis hair.

"We are ready!!!" Mr. Fraser spreads out his arm excitedly.

"Are you sure all her hand gloves are in her suitcase?" Mrs. Fraser asked her husband.

"Yes..yes, her gloves, her head warmers, fur coats, cardigans, and hoodies, I did that." He said, and his wife gave him a thumbs up.

Allegra was about to get off her bed when Justin stopped her "Wait!!! Alle before you go, I got this for you...Ta-da" Justin held up three wigs.

"Aww Justin...I don't think I would need that."

"There are more bullies in college than high school, mature bullies," Justin said, walking up to her, his hand going to her head warmer before pulling it off, revealing a bald Allegra.

He helped her wear a blonde shoulder-length wig, before helping her with the head warmer back "Now how does she look, sweetheart?" Justin asked Jasmine, who giggled, seeing how beautiful her sister looked.

"You have always been beautiful Alle, but today you look way more stunning." Jasmine praised.

After having a sweet conversation with her family, and saying bye to her nurses and doctors, she was finally happy to feel the fresh air of San Fransico again.

Allegra chuckled pushing her head outside of the car window, as she let the gentle wind and snowflakes fall on her face.

"I know you are excited Alle, but you would catch a cold." Her dad who would be accompanying her to the school cautioned.

She listened to him, before leaning into his chest, and he hugged her to him pecking her head 'She knew how are family were hurting knowing they were going to lose her soon, and that is part of the reason she would like to stay away for a while, so the pain won't be too much on them, she wasn't scared of death taking her, but she was scared because people she loved would be the one hurting.'

"Finally!!!" Her dad's excited voice woke her up from her sleep.

Allegra yawned, her signature smile on her face again, seeing the large college building in front of her through the car window "It's so big and beautiful." Allegra mouthed.

Her father helped with the car door, and helped her in carrying down her suitcase "Call me if you need anything." Mr. Fraser said, and she nodded "Your provisions are in the second suitcase, I would send more money to buy more on Saturday, take care my love, and don't forget to use the right drug at the right time." Her dad reminded her before he pulled her into a warm drug.

'If only those drugs are ready to save her from what is coming to hit her next.'

In the next minute, she dragged both suitcases into the compound of the large school, it wasn't like other universities, this one you rarely see students loitering around the school premises.

"Are you new here miss?" One of the staff who had seen her outside asked, and she nodded, praying she wouldn't have to go through another stress 'Why not just direct her to her dorm.' her fatigue was already hitting in again.

"Yes."

"Come with me," he said and led her to a supporting staff.

*****

"Yes, found it Allegra Fraser, welcome to Hambock Allgera...uhm let's see if you were provided a dorm," the middle-aged woman continued her search again on the laptop, with Allegra sitting in the seat in front of the lady's desk.

Her hand was in her suitcase, stylishly searching for her drugs "Uhnn Miss Allegra, I don't think you were provided with a hostel, but you can still get it, very affordable." The lady passed her a paper.

"Affordable." Allegra's scoff came out in a cough and more coughs.

"Are you fine?" the lady asked her, quickly passing her a glass of water, which she downed immediately.

"One Thousand Dollars every month, I only have a hundred and fifty with me," And that was part of Justin's savings he had helped her with that morning.

"Oh, there are affordable houses outside, not around the school but in the slums, suit yourself, Ms. Allegra, fill out this form after class, I will ask someone to direct you to your dept." The lady's look changed to a look of umbrage.

Allegra swallowed, contemplating if she should call her father again or not, but she chose the latter, discarding the thought, immediately.

*****

"Young master, please, don't do this to us, come with us or your father will be angry..." Guards in black knelt in front of a guy who sat on one of the fences of a black market, leaning his back on a wall, a cigar playing between his lips.

"Young master please, the boss would kill us if we go back without you." A pitiful-looking man, not wearing the same color of clothing the other guards wore pleaded, as he suffered the wrath of the harsh snow, constant white air, puffing out of his lips, as if he was smoking a cigar like his young master.

"I would be humble by providing you with an expensive coffin." The voice of the guy sitting on the fence came out devilishly cool, tapping his boots softly on the edge of the fence.

"You don't want me doing this the hard way." the guard's voice below suddenly turned stern standing up from his kneeling position "Get him down the fence with all it takes." the man ordered the other guards behind him, who were quick to find a ladder.

In no minute, a guard had mounted the ladder "Young Master, I wouldn't like to force you down with me, please, use the ladder before I have no choice left."

"Then force me down, what are you waiting for?" the guy's voice, sitting on the edge of the fence still remained cool.

Immediately the guard's hand made to touch him, he sent the guards back to the snow, by burying his fist in the guard's face.

"Young master!!!" the other frustrated guy yelled but was surprised when he saw the guy he had just referred to as his 'young master' and began climbing down the ladder.

After getting down Cruz let the cigar butt fall from his hand as it sizzles off in the snow, he walked past the guard and got into the Ferrari, the man with different clothing was surprised that his young master had entered the car willingly "Drive, drive to the villa.." the man ordered the chauffeur in the Ferrari, scared that the young master would run away again, as the guards took the jeep behind, trailing behind the Ferrari.

HAYES VILLA..

"You fvcking son of a b!tch." A heavy punch met with Cruz's chin even before he could walk into the foyer.

Another one came on his lips, making Cruz scoff, as he rubbed the blood on his cut lips "Is this another way of welcoming me father?" he asked the man who was raging in front of him.

The guards who had come to pick him up from the black market, stood behind him, hands at their back, heads, facing the floor.

"What did you do to Thana?" his father asked raging.

"I told her the truth, I don't want a fiancee but a fvck mate." He pouted, his brow raised, expecting another punch from his father, which came a second after the thought, bruising his cheek.

"You bastard!! if I lose the partnership deal with her father, be ready to lose everything you have." His father raged "I want all his credit cards, master cards, all fvcking money cards of his blocked, no allowances for him until he gets back to his senses." Mr. Hayes said, before walking away.

"I think you should go back to Ms. Thana in college, and tell her you are sorry." The guard behind Cruz pleaded.

"And that is what I would do." A naughty grin appeared on his face, walking to a bar in the house and taking a bottle of vodka with him, before leaving the villa.