I couldn't believe what my father was telling me.

"Dad, no... How?" I wiped my tears away as I didn't want anyone to see me cry.

"That's life son" he answered.

"But cancer? How?" I didn't want to believe it. He has cancer, after me battling cancer, he was now the one to have it.

"That's why I was at your house the other day. I've told your mother everything that day, only you and Britt didn't know yet."

"Anyway, I'll help you get through the chemotherapy" I said determined.

"There's something else son" he said and I heard him taking a break before telling me.

"Just tell me dad, what is it?" I was getting impatient, what could he have more besides cancer?

"They discovered my cancer too late, the day I left you, Britt and your mother was the day the first cancer cell appeared. I'm 3 years too late Brody, they discovered the cancer 2 weeks ago at an annual check-up. The whole year I felt sick and had to take alot of breaks from work, so I asked the doctor to check me on everything."

My tears kept rolling over my cheeks but I didn't say a word because I didn't want my father to know that I was crying this whole time.

"Brody, I didn't want to do this over the phone.. But euhm I- I only have 3 months to live" he stopped talking and I heard him sob.

Hearing that sentence and him crying broke my heart. It was quiet for a few minutes, I think my father also just realized what was going to happen.

"I wanne see you dad" I said breaking the silence.

"I'll pick you up from your schooltrip tomorrow, are you okay with that?" he asked.

"Yeah, that's fine" I responded.

We said our goodbye's and at that moment I saw Safia walking towards me. It was because of her I talked to my father, if it wasn't for her I would've blamed myself my whole life for not listening to him.

Natalie and Malik were walking in front of us, and Brody behind u-.. were is Brody? I looked behind me but he wasn't there. I looked around and saw that he was sitting on a tree.

"Hey, I'm going to ask if everything is alright. We'll catch up later." I said to Amina.

She nodded and kept walking.

I turned around again and made my way to Brody. It looked like he had been crying.

"Hey are you okay?" I asked.

I saw him looking at his phone,

"Did you talk to someone or?"

He looked at me and started talking.

"Yes, my euhm my father just called me" he hesitated.

"And? What did he say?"

He broke eyecontact and was looking at his hands again, I was really worried now.

"He has cancer Safia, he has cancer."

"What? I'm so sorry Brody", I didn't know what to say. What I did next even surprised me.

I felt my hand touching his whilst he looked at me with a confused expression. His eyes were observing my face, going from my mouth back to my eyes. He shook his head, released himself and stood up. What was going through his mind? I couldn't blame him though, he had just found out that his father is probably going to die in a few months.

"Brody,"

He turned around to face me again.

"I'm here for you if you want to talk or anything" I said.

"Thank you" he responded as we saw the others walking our direction.

"Hey babe, are you okay?", Nat asked.

Brody looked at me and told them that everything was fine.

"I just had a stone in my shoe and needed some rest" I understood what he was doing and went with his story.

"C'mon we need to keep going if we want to finish this" Malik said and he and Amina started walking again.

Nat grabbed Brody's hand and they also started walking again. Brody looked at me once again but then started talking to Nat.

I was walking on my own so I had time to figure everything out.

Subhan'Allah (you say when something surprises you or something is beautiful), his father left him when Brody had cancer and Allah punished him with the same disease.

After a few hours we finally found the camp. The teacher that was waiting on us said that we were the 3rd group to arrive at their camp.

The group that arrived first got a prize, they were allowed to explore the city one more time. My head wasn't in an 'exploring way' anyway. Natalie and Amina on the otherhand were disappointed.

I wasn't planning on doing something. I was tempted but I couldn't. It would ruin our friendship and my relationship with Nat. I was surprised that she touched me, I wasn't allowed to touch her but she was? Anyway, it was a stupid thought. The activity was over and I just wanted to be alone in my room, but Nat always followed me everywhere.

"Nat I want to be alone for a few hours" I said.

"Are you sure? Because I have other ideas" Nat said whilst she kissed me.

"Not now Nat" I said pushing her away.

"Are you serious? Fine, but don't expect me to come back when you want to."

"Nat!" I yelled but she was already gone. She'll come back, she always comes back. You'll see

*1 hour later*

*KnockKnock*

"Nat not know, I want to be alone." I yelled towards the door whilst I was laying on bed. I only had my pants on as I've just woken up from an hour long nap.

I heard her knock again and I stood up to open the door.

"Safia?"

"Hey, I just wanted to come by and ask if everything is okay?" she asked. Which was really sweet of her.

"Yeah I'm fine, do you want to come in?" I asked.

She nodded and I closed the door behind her.

"Do you mind if I'm not wearing a shirt?" normally I would do anything to annoy her, but my head wasn't in the game.

"Euhm no, I'll leave again in a few." she said.

"So? Are you okay?" she asked me again.

"Yeah, I'm fine Safia.. Really.. I was just thinking what to say to my dad tomorrow" I responded and I sat down on my bed.

"And? What are you going to say?" she sat down besides me.

"I'll start by apologizing and I'm going to let him talk this time" I said.

"Well, that's a good start. And I can't believe I'm going to say this but, I miss the annoying Brody." she looked at me and laughed.

"He'll be back really soon and then you'll be sorry you said that" I said pushing her with my shoulder.

"Aw" she laughed looking at me.

I had that same feeling as before in the forest. The temptation to do something but I.. I couldn't.

Nat swung the door open, "so Brody are you now.."

"Oh, and she's welcome anytime right?" Nat shouted.

"Nat, noo! We were just talking." I stood up trying to explain myself.

"So you choose her above me, you freaking cheater!"

"HEY! I'm not a cheater!" I yelled. I hated cheaters and I wasn't one of them, nothing happened.

"Euhm, I'm gonna go." Safia said.

Safia left the room and I tried to explain everything to Nat.

"Nat nothing ha.."

"Whatever" she huffed and also left the room.

I laid down on my bed and was alone again. Just me and my thoughts.

~~

~Edited by R3Hijabi ~