CHAPTER ONE

I woke up by the ring of my alarm clock,I used the back of my hand to rub my eyes after I let out a short yawn

My room is covered with an ash wallpaper that has white strap on it, a black carpet, a single person bed at the left side of the room, by the side of the bed is a white night stand topped with a flower vase and a small tray containing some medicines.

By the window side is a white wooden study desk which has a small cupboard on top, containing books and a first aid box.

A small flat tv hanged across the room, an ash dressing drawer which has a heart shaped mirror hanged beside it.

I quickly got up from bed, I went into the bathroom to perform ablution.

The bathroom is a bit big, it has a black flooring which is tinged with a bit of white while the wall was just white,there is a shower closet which has many taps below it making it easy to perform ablution, a white sink by the left above it is a small mirror, by the side of the sink is a mini cupboard containing my toothbrush, tissue and other toiletries.

The main toilet is at the midst of the bathroom,beside it is a hanged toilet paper, a small bathroom wash and a toilet plunger. At the back of the bathroom door is a small waste bin.

As soon as I performed ablution I wore my hijab and prayed

Soon after I was done, I entered the bathroom to take a shower.

My name is Afraah and I'm sixteen years old,am fair in complexion,I'm 4 feet 2 inches,I'm a bit skinny and I'm a 4th stage cancer patient.

I live with my parents and younger brother Khalil, my mom is an online entrepreneur she sells and market products on different apps across the world and my dad works for the government, he is a senior agent of a secret service commission ( SSC )

As a senior agent he gets different kind of things such as the house we are living in, the cars and a free education for his children.

Been a cancer patient got me committed to different kind of things, it changed my lifestyle,eating habits and almost everything about me.

All my interest in life has left me abruptly, sometimes I would cry for long but then realize nothing will change even if I cry the oceans out of my eye.

As soon as I was done, I wore a black abaya and topped it with a white scarf to cover my hair, then I left the room

Assalaam alaykum ( Muslim greeting) Abu (father) I said while coming down the stairs. Abu was in the living room as usual sited on his favorite couch.

The living room is covered with a golden wallpaper that has white designs on it, the floor was tiled black, at the center is a large golden and milk rug on top of the rug is a large center table with a flower vase on it,at the sides of the room is a beige gothic couch which has mini coffee table beside them

A large flat tv was hanged across the room,above it is an Islamic timer that indicates the remaining time left to observe salah (prayer), a beige gothic book shelves by the edge of the room, and on the wall is a frame of the nineteen nine names of Allah.

" Wa'aliakumu salam " he responded, I knew he was going to ask me about my health

"Yes I feel good" I said coming closer to him

"And who said I am going to ask you that question" he said joking

"Abu I know you were going to ask me that"

He was about talking when umm (mother)

came into the room with a glass of water

"Assalaam alaykum umm " I quickly said

"Wa'aliakumu salam "

"How are you " she immediately asked

" I'm fine"

"Alright,before you eat anything take your medicine " she said handing it over to me

I took the medicine and then entered the dinning room for breakfast

The dining room is just a few steps from the living room,

The wallpaper of the dining room is the same with the living room, there is a milk rug which has a shade of brown at the center of the room, a golden gothic rectangle shaped table and chairs placed at the center of the room,at the side of the room is a golden polished gothic credenza, at the edges of the room is are big flower vases

At the right side is a door that leads to the kitchen.

I was about to sit when I heard Khalil coming out of his room

Khalil is 14 years old,he is a bit taller than me, fair in complexion and a bit chubby.

As he entered the room he greeted Abu and umm who followed me to the dining room and then sat on the chair

"Can't you greet your sister " Abu said

He immediately did that, as he knew what Abu would have done for his misbehavior

After having breakfast, I took my next medicine and went straight to my room

Abu left for work and Khalil went to school, ever since my parents and I found out I had seven months left, my parents decided its best for me to I drop out of school, at first I wasn't happy about the decision as I will miss my friends but to honest now I feel like they did the right thing.

I picked the remote which was on my study desk and turned on the television as it was already time for my favorite show " tournament of champions " tournament of champions may sound like a battle among fighters but it has nothing to do with fights .

It is a show that represents bakers who won at least five international baking competitions from different countries. They all come together to compete for the world baking championship.

After watching " tournament of champions" I laid down on the bed reading a novel,suddenly I felt a strange pain from my stomach, i quickly rushed to bathroom and barf out blood, I couldn't feel myself anymore I felt weak, I was unable to breathe well.

For a moment I thought it was the end, I'm reuniting with my lord, I fell on the bathroom floor, I tried hard to call out umm or the maid but unfortunately I couldn't, I tired once again but it sounded like a whisper.

I slowly closed my eyes, all I could think about right now is death.