ONE YEAR LEFT TO LIVE

ner table, only to find that Priya, the maid, had

iya?" I ask

ly emergency," my fathe

, taking

and Emily, noticed something was off. "Cecilia, what

oyfriend," I said, t

t's going on? You're not exactly

on with Jackson. They listened,

u?" Rachel asked, giggling. "That's lik

an. We'll make you so irresisti

ore lipstick!" "Bat your eyelashes like cr

laugh. Maybe, just m

glimmer of hope. Maybe I w

, Jackson had a surpr

about Jackson. Maybe my friends' advice wo

s car parked outside. My heart skip

itting in the living room, lo

lk to you about yesterda

ace heat up

ave to admit, I'm intrigued. Why di

y it cool. "Just thought

ebrow. "Fun? You wan

But Jackson just smiled and said, "I thi

ked closer to me, his

Oh, Cecilia, you're a riot. I thought

appointment. He didn

trying to convince him. "I

a, you're 18 years old. I'm 25. And I'm

ejection. "So, you're say

ng...I don't want to take advantage of you. You're going t

just a joke to him. Maybe I would neve

isappointment. "Yeah, you're

with a curious gaze. "No, Cecilia. You're not bein

a beat. Did he re

continued, his voice firm. "I'm too old fo

wn, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. M

ion between us grew thicker

understand," I sai

his voice behin

d back.

sk you s

ur

ant a boyfrie

"Because...I don't know how much time I have left. And

nd for a moment, I saw a glimmer