A Promise Kept

A PROMISE KEPT

BY KRAWO

In a hospital room, 15-year-old David, a young boy who had lost interest in the world for some unknown reason. After being discharged, he strolled through the hospital lobby and noticed a girl in the same school uniform as his. The girl, Alice, approached him, and they struck up a conversation. David explained that he had missed two weeks of school due to a leg fracture and today marked his return to the new session.

Curious about each other, David and Alice's conversation led to Alice revealing a troubling truth – she had a severe medical condition, one that required surgery within the next seven months, and her chances of survival were uncertain. David, unlike most people, responded with indifference and simply said, "Okay," before walking away, leaving Alice bewildered.

Perplexed by David's lack of empathy, Alice made a decision: she would follow and observe him, even stalking him, to understand his strange behavior. When David confronted her about her actions, she disclosed her bucket list, a set of wishes she wanted to fulfill before her potential demise. After persistent requests, David reluctantly agreed to help.

One by one, they tackled her bucket list items. The first was Alice's desire to pet a dog, which David fulfilled, bringing a smile to her face. They adopted the dog together, and seeing Alice's happiness stirred something within David. The second item was traveling far from home, and they embarked on an adventure, staying at a hotel and creating lasting memories.

Five months of her remaining six were spent fulfilling many of her wishes, but as the surgery date drew closer, Alice's calls to David went unanswered. Worried, she visited his home only to discover the tragic truth: David had passed away. His mother handed Alice a letter written by David, revealing his own struggle with metastatic sarcoma, a type of cancer, and his desire for her to survive the upcoming surgery.

A year later, Alice, now a survivor, stood beside David's grave with the dog he had given her. She softly spoke, "I made it, David, and I will always cherish your memory."

The end.