Birthday Surprise

It was her eighteenth birthday and he was planning on surprising her. He lay in bed with the thought on his mind, he knew just how to do it, he had been planning this one for a month and a half, a wide smile spread across his lips as he laid next to her. Trying to keep a straight face as his time ran out. He only had five minutes before his girlfriend, Kara Baker would wake up for her day.

The time seemed to tick slowly, seconds seemed to turn into hours, he closed his eyes and tried to relax as she tossed in bed. He smiled bigger as he felt her hands on his sides.

"Morning baby" She whispered to him, kissing his cheek.

"Mmm, morning" He responded, turning to place her lips to his, she played with his hair. She seemed to wait for something and he knew what it was but purposefully, he prolonged it.

"Going to add anything?" Kara asked, he seemed to think about it.

"What is there to add?" He asked, with a new found confusion. His plans wouldn't be ruined this fast.

"Really?" Kara asked, she didn't bother to hide her disappointment as she got out of bed.

"What?" He asked as he climbed out and followed her to the bathroom.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe, having just turned eighteen and your boyfriend not showing any interest has something to do with it!" She shouted at him, he blinked then nodded.

"Oooh! It's your birthday? I'm sorry boo, happy birthday" Mike said, he opened his arms to her for a hug but she just slammed the door into her face. His plan was going smooth so far or at least, the way he expected them to do. He just smiled.

Walking towards the dresser, he opened the second drawer and pulled out a clean pair of jeans. He had a huge surprise for her and he was going to show her it today. He was nineteen with short brown hair, brown eyes, and was tall. An athletic build and worked out regularly. He paid attention well and remembered every small thing.

Including her favorite flower, the white rose.

He listened as the water in the bathroom turned on, signalling that she was in the shower, he changed his close from his boxers to his socks before spraying a small amount of cologne onto his chest. Stretching, he waited. He'd surprise her first by taking her out for breakfast.

While waiting, he felt a jolt of pain wriggle through his chest, going from his gut to his heart. He ignored it.

After a while, the shower finally turned off and shuffling could be heard. She was softly singing to herself as she did every shower, she wrapped a towel around herself before walking out.

She slowly walked over to him, the shower having seemed to wash away her anger, he placed his hands onto her hips and drew her near.

"You know I love you" He said softly to her, resting his chin on the exposed part of her flesh while looking up at her. She smiled while kissing his forehead.

"I love you too and I know it's not your fault that you can be a little slow sometimes" Kara said with a small wink, jokingly. He chuckled.

"Hey now" Mike said up to her before standing up, he stood a few inches taller than herself, her hair was still drenched.

"Dry off while I go shave" He said, with a kiss on her lips, he went towards the bathroom. She smiled watching him go, she took her towel off of her and started to dry her hair as the water ran. He closed the door, opening the medicine cabinet he took out his pain killers. Popping one into his mouth, he washed it down with water.

Leaning on the sink, he sighed, rubbing his face with one hand while the other held him up.

He left the bathroom and greeted the now dressed Kara, on the bed. Taking her hand, he smiled then kissed it, moving in closer to her. He placed such a velvety soft kiss upon her lips, biting her lower lip softly, he entered her mouth. Intensely, his passion and love for her flooded into the kiss. With this one, he showed her three years of their relationship. His tongue longed for hers and its wish was granted as hers came up to meet his.

When he pulled away, she moved slightly forward, not wanting it to end. He smiled so sweetly with his forehead to hers, softly kissing her once before before drawing back. She didn't know what to say, a comfortable silence fell down around them as she lightly dragged her fingers over her lips. Mike reached his hand out, offering to help her up, she took it before moving her arms to slip around his neck. He held her close.

"I've got something to show you" Mike whispered against the flesh of her neck, placing a random kiss where his lips fell. He drew back and took her hand, leading her down the hall and out of the house. Getting behind the wheel, he waited for her to get into the car.

Once adjusted, he started and drove off towards his destination; with a bewildered and excited Kara.

It was a late night once again, one in the morning to be exact and he aws pulling into the drive way yet again. He slammed onto the side of the wheel before taking his keys and getting out. She was yell at him again, she would be laying in bed alone, again. He'd feel bad, he'd get yelled at, he'd get accused.

He was to blame, pulling into the driveway at one in the morning. He didn't smell of another woman, he didn't have another woman's kisses all over his neck, mouth, face, or other unsaid regions. No. He had dirt underneath his finger tips, pricks along his hands and arms, with blood trickling softly out of scratches along his forearms.

"Where were you?" Kara asked groggily, anger crept not far behind, waiting for an 'excuse'. He had been doing this every other week, every day he had found ways to tell her that he had to go do something. She didn't ask, she didn't follow, though she did hound him afterwards for an explanation. In which, she never had gotten.

"I was doing something, I'm sorry" Mike explained, he had been doing this for three months. Waiting for the right time to tell her all the truth, but for now, he had to risk her accusations, her blaming him for things he wasn't doing, for thinking he was a dirty man. He loved her nonetheless and was faithful; and so, took the blames and names.

She sighed, again, the same thing he said every time she asked him. She turned on her side and pulled the blanket up to her neck; she was too tired to fight with him right now. He walked into the bathroom and turned the faucet on, wetting his hands a little before scrubbing them with soap. He winced and spoke curses underneath his breath as the soap stung the cuts on his hands and fingers. He rinsed off the soap, it cleansed his 'dirty deeds' as Kara liked to call them. If only she really knew.

In time, she would.

Mike glanced over at her, keeping his eyes on the road, but every now and again, he liked to look at his beautiful girlfriend. She smiled and slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers.

He smiled, he couldn't be any happier than he was when he was with her. Love-struck, was what many people liked to call him, some used sick puppy, crush, childhood fantasy. He was just entering college, him and his girl, both. He had graduated from high-school a football star but hadn't fulfilled it. It wasn't what he loved to do. Guitar playing, skateboarding, goofing off, doing whatever he felt like in the spur of the moment was what he had wanted to do. As for College, he'd go for a doctor license.

Squeezing her hand, he thought of the day they had met, trying to keep his mind on the road.

"He's not attracted to me" Kara whispered to her friend, Sara.

"I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking he does" Sara spoke softly, nudging her gently with her elbow. Kara wriggled at it and glanced back at the said boy, trying not to make it obvious that they were thinking about him. He was with his friends, the popular boy that wasn't oh-so-popular. Confusing, yet understandable. He was respected by all but mysterious. He was on the football team but let everyone know he disliked it. He was making his weak, old man proud. It was the only thing he asked of his son.

He had no problem doing it, he did it with all that he could, and refused to let his father down. He was sitting with his the respected guys, his skater, druggy friends. He loved them over his football brothers but was on speaking terms and understanding grounds with each sports person. None of which honestly knew how he was, just knew he was a football brother.

Kara couldn't stop glancing at him, after what her friend said, it gave her some false hope. Hope she wished she could push out of her head so she wouldn't get too hurt when she found out he didn't like her. Nobody she ever liked liked her in return. She bit the inside of her lip, wishing she could stare at him for forever.

That's when he lifted his gaze and looked right at her, she could swear he looked over her, through her, or someone told him she was staring at him, so she looked away. She blushed but was too curious, so looked back at him shyly. He was still glancing at her. Once he caught her eye, the left side of his mouth turned upward. Smiling softly at her. It was at her, no mistake. Her heart fluttered as she saw it. He was gorgeous.

He was tall, even compared to most people, with spiked up brown hair and matching brown eyes, though normal; it was really good looking to her. His face was that of a drop-dead gorgeous person. Underneath his shirt, she could tell he was toned, someone who possibly went to the gym on a regular basis.

She willed herself to look away, to tease him in a way, but she couldn't. She couldn't get enough of how he looked; no matter how much she wanted to just look even straight. He kept looking at her before finally dropping his eyes, talking with a friend.

"Kara?" Sara asked, she was still looking, Sara saw what she was looking at before elbowing her gently.

"Kara!" Sara exclaimed, she finally turned towards her friend.

"Y-yeah?" Kara asked, wondering how long she had been staring at him.

"Dork, were you staring at him?" Sara asked, Kara looked to the side.

"Maybe" Kara confessed.

"Oh, you were! Cute, isn't he?" Sara asked, Kara nodded.

"It's a shame though, people have been saying he's got his eye on Jenn" Hailey spoke up, sitting across from them, she was a gorgeous girl with green eyes. Having orange-red hair that was pulled up into a messy pony tail, and light tan skin.

"Really?" Kara asked, a disappointed tone. Jenn, was a cheerleader, the head. Kara sighed, annoyed that, if true, he was living the normal life of a jock.

She spent ten minutes talking with them before biting her lip and taking the chance of looking back at him. His eyes were glued to her, leaning on his arm, he seemed like he was zoning out. Not interested in what his friends were telling him. He seemed to snap back to reality once he saw her look back at him.

A barely noticeable smile on his face, she lost her breath once she saw it. He winked softly at her before getting up from his seat. She had to bite her lips to contain her excitement.

She turned back and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Hey" She heard a deep voice, she jumped and looked up, there in the flesh with less than four feet between them stood Mike.

"Hi" Kara said hesitantly, he chuckled.

"Seat taken?" He asked, she shook her head no.

"It's yours if you want it" Kara swallowed, composing herself, as to not look like a complete fool, or that she liked him.

"Thanks" Mike took a seat next to her, Sara and Hailey talking to themselves but paying attention to them.

"What's up?" Mike asked, she wanted to just scream out happily, that he was talking with her but she kept control.

"My dick" Kara said jokingly, he laughed which caused her to smile.

"Mines hiding, anyways, that's cool" Mike spoke, he had quickly gotten away from the topic of dicks, seeming to be uncomfortable.

"I'm Mike" Mike formally introduced, she smiled.

"I'm Kara" Kara said lightly, he nodded.

"That's a different name... pretty cool" Mike said, nodding. She shifted and nodded.

"Thank you" Kara said, smiling at him, he bit the inside of his lip.

"No problem" Mike said, at a loss for words, he normally knew what to say but in her presence, it was harder than he thought.

"I was bored with what my friends were talking about... you guys seemed more interesting" Mike said as he turned, looking over at Hailey, she waved like a little girl.

"Heeey, I'm Hailey. Born and raised" Hailey said mock-obnoxiously.

"Haha, I'm Mike" Mike said, glancing at Sara.

"And you are?" Mike asked without a hesitation, Sara eyed him.

"Sara" Sara said before wiggling on the grass, crawling towards Hailey and sitting next to her. Kara watched Mike, trying to learn of anything new about him. He didn't watch Sara crawl, instead, he shifted his gaze and met Kara's, smiling.

Kara sat Indian style and played with the grass beneath her legs.

After that day, they started talking more, Kara learned easily what made him tick, what he liked, what he hated, how he was protective, how he in fact couldn't stand cheerleaders and their peppy ways. He hated any prep girl for that matter. She learned, after a month of being with him, that he had a crush on her. Her suspicions her confirmed when one night, right in front of her friends. He surprised her by poking her shoulder.

"Hey, Kara?" Mike asked, she looked up at him.

"Yeah?" Kara asked, Mike leaned and softly placed his lips upon hers, accepting that she might smack him. He was okay with that but to his advantage, she kissed him back.

Breaking the kiss, he smiled widely. Hailey and Sara couldn't stop smiling themselves.

"I like you" Mike said softly, Kara couldn't keep her happiness to herself and so let it radiate off of her.

"I like you too" Kara announced, Mike smiled.

"Will you be mine?" Mike asked, looking up into her eye, her eyes widened as if he had asked her to marry him.

"Yes, of course" Kara said excitedly.

He smiled at the memory, biting his lip before turning into a parking lot, turning the car off, he got out and helped Kara get out.

"Where are we?" Kara asked, Mike chuckled.

"It's a surprise, close your eyes and no peeking!" Mike instructed her, she nodded then covered her eyes happily. Mike opened the car door and pulled out a small box, slipping it into his pocket before pulling out a white, dyed rose and gently holding it in his hand. He started to direct her towards the garden, making sure she wouldn't trip or hit anything.

"Not peeking, right?" Mike asked jokingly, she giggled and nodded.

"I'm not peeking, I promise" Kara reassured him, he smiled.

"Good" Mike said before opening the door to a green house, leading her in and towards the back, she could feel mist falling down around her, she was confused.

"That's cold but enjoyable" She said with a smile, he chuckled.

"It's pretty to see but keep your eyes closed still" Mike instructed before holding her still in front of a bush. He smiled before taking his hands off of her.

"Open your eyes, now" Mike said, Kara took her hands away from her face and opened her eyes, inhaling sharply.

"Oh my gosh" Kara said, reaching out to feel the roses.

"This is your bush" Mike explained, Kara looked up at him.

"Mine?" Kara asked, Mike nodded, she squealed in excitement and hugged him tight.

"This is the greatest, thank you so much!" Kara said happily, she was a grateful person, but she loved roses.

"Like it?" Mike asked, she nodded before he held his hand out, holding in front of her eyes, a white rose.

Kara's eyes watered as she took it, smelling it deeply.

"Aw baby" Kara said with a smile, kissing him softly, she turned and started playing around with the bush. She hadn't noticed him pull a small box out of his pocket, nor did she notice him kneel down on his right knee.

"Kara?" Mike asked, she turned and as she did, her eyes welled up.

"Will you marry me?" Mike asked, tears streamed down her face, falling. She nodded, that is all she could do was nod.

"Yes" She whispered as he jumped up and hugged her tight, lifting her off the ground.

The Truth of Reality

After his proposal, he sat with her explaining how he would spend hours after the sun had fallen, taking care of her roses. She cried when she realized all the names she had called him, what she had accused him of; when all he was really doing was giving her the best surprise she could ever ask for. He laughed it off, saying he would have done the same thing and that it was alright.

A month later, he started to collapse at work, needing to hold onto tables and walls to keep him supported as dizziness washed over him. He was scared, he knew he was sick, but as for how sick... that was unanswered.

Late into a Thursday in August, laughing with his coworkers, the smile from his lips quickly faded as he held his head.

"You okay?" A coworker asked, he went to answer but before he could, he quickly collapsed to the floor, blacking out completely.

An hour later, he came through, laying on softened, sky blue sheets on a moveable bed. The bed had him in a half-laying, half-sitting position. An I.V. tube slipped into his arm, tape holding it in place, he groaned and rubbing his face with his free hand.

"Ahh, there he is" His doctor said from the foot of his bed, his clipboard in hand as he scribbled something onto the paper. The man had a gentle way of speaking as he moved to left side of the bed; examining Mike.

"What happened?" Mike asked, he was watching the doctor. He had graying hair, combed over to the right with an old face, one to show that time had taken its toll on him but his demeanor showed he wasn't ready to settle down and take the beating from time.

"You collapsed at work, my friend" The doctor said with a happy but realistic tone, showing him this was serious.

"Why?" Mike asked, the doctor stroked his bearded chin, the whiskers were as white as show.

"Well... we did tests, your files show that your cancer has grown, to your bones" The doctor explained, Mike looked down at his hands, which were rested on his stomach.

"What can I do?" Mike asked, hopelessly. The doctor took a deep breath.

"We can do more chemotherapy, like we did when you first found out but we're not sure that'll even help." The doctor spoke, he knew how Mike was.

"I refuse to live like that" Mike said, just like he did them years ago.

"I know... it's tough, my beautiful late wife had cancer, bless her soul" The doctor said, he took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"How long do I have?" Mike asked, the doctor looked at him. Mike was to attend his own wedding in three months, now he didn't even know if he was going to live to see one month.

"I don't know... these kinds of things aren't definite. You can have a few weeks, a few months, even some years. It could take you out tomorrow for all we know but don't live like that, wondering whether or not you'll go to sleep and wake the next day. Your body will tell you and show you when it has had enough. Just keep fighting" The doctor instructed, Mike nodded, it was harsh but it was the truth. Nothing was going to change the fact that he indeed had only some time left to do what he had to do.

And he knew exactly what he had to do.

"May I go home?" Mike asked, the doctor nodded.

"Go, live it up while you can" The doctor said with a smile, Mike nodded.

"I have a wedding to reschedule!" Mike exclaimed, he dressed himself in his normal clothes and rushed out of the hospital, talking to nobody and thinking of nothing but his soon-to-be-bride. He had to do this all before his clock struck.

Once home, he went to where his wife sat at the table, yanking her up gently, he crashed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately.

She was shocked but kissed back, leading her to the bedroom, he threw her onto the bed and climbed in above her.

Without hesitation or a second thought, he made love to her so passionately and loving, like nothing else mattered.

"I love you" Mike whispered to his love, she smiled and nuzzled him gently on the chest.

"I love you too" Kara said softly, running fingers down his side.

"We need to get married, soon" Mike said, lifting her chin, she gave him a questioning look.

"Why?" Kara asked, Mike looked away from her.

"I'll explain it when everyone is around" Mike said, biting his lip, fighting tears. He wasn't known for crying but within them few minutes, he kept thinking of how she was going to be when he left, how she was going to be left all alone in the big ol' world.

"Oh, okay" Kara said before kissing him and getting out of bed.

A 'family meeting' was held, his parents and siblings, her parents and siblings were all there. Only the closest friends to him and those he cared enough about were there as well.

Mike looked up at his mom, everyone was talking, he stifled a yawn and looked up at her.

"What's all this about, sweetie?" His mother asked, he looked down, he was so lost.

"It's about the cancer, mom" Mike's voice broke, she softened and rubbed his arm.

"Oh hun, it's progressed?" She asked sadly, he nodded.

"I only have a few months left to live, if that" Mike looked up at her, she hugged him tightly to her, broken.

Kara walked up, seeing her mother-in-laws saddened expression.

"What is it?" Kara asked, Mike turned to her.

"I..." Mike started, Kara looked straight at him.

"Yeah?" She asked, everyone hushed up.

"I have cancer, Kara. I have since I was young. I wanted to tell you but I wanted to live regularly. I know you had a right to know but I just wanted to make you happy and I did, at least I think and pray I did" Mike explained, Kara's world came crumbling around her.

"I want to marry you, as soon as I can and be a married man so you can wear that ring with pride. Not go around saying 'yeah, I was to be married but he passed away'" Mike explained, she looked up at him with widened eyes.

"The wedding is only in three months, you don't think you have that long at least?" Kara asked, he shook his head.

"I only have so long left here, I want to spend the rest of that time loving you, even after I'm gone I wanna love you but I only have so long left to show you it" Mike explained, she threw herself at his chest and cried, he held her tightly for a long time.

Later that month, her father walked her down the isle, handing her over to him, smiling as she said 'I do'... a kiss later and they were now husband and wife.

No longer than two months, he passed away in his sleep, the funeral was huge with more than a hundred people or more. All who had loved and respected Mike for who he was.

Looking at her mother, she bit her lip.

"Mom?" She asked.

"Yeah, hun?" Her mother asked.

"I'm pregnant" Kara said softly.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 21.10.2011

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