THE WEEKEND

Emily woke up to the smell of freshly baked cookies hitting her nose and a vague recollection of yesterday's dream.

She certainly knew that she had an awful dream, but couldn't wrap her head around what it was about. Signs of tissues littering the floor reminded her about what happened yesterday.

Yawning, she kicked off her duvet, turned her face down on the bed and whispered a word of prayer before strutting out into the kitchen to see whatever it was Lauren was doing.

It was the weekend which meant that the level of noise would be double the normal.

"You are an early riser, aren't you? Taking milk and cookies by this time in the morning." Emily scoffed, "What's the time exactly?" She asked, raising her head to look at the wall clock directly opposite of her.

"It's eleven a.m in the morning and I'm just having breakfast." Lauren replied, "Do you have an issue with that?"

"Wait? It's already eleven?" Emily asked, surprisedly lazed in her tone, "I must have slept in."

"You always sleep in and need the grace of God to wake up." Lauren replied with sarcasm.

"You don't have to put it that way. The sarcasm that accompanies your words needs to be studied." Her lips quivered, "It comes with this feeling that won't leave me till the end of the following week."Emily said, dipping her hands sneakily into the bowl of cookies.

"All hail the queen of sarcasm." Lauren picked up on the joke, laughing.

"Whatever." Emily replied, throwing her hands in the air, "My problem is bigger than sarcasm."

Lauren stood up, grabbed a glass cup and poured in milk for Emily. "I saw the cookies. Here." She handed the glass over.

"Thank you." Emily replied with a split grin on both ends of her lips. "Even though what I really need right now is a glass of alcohol."

Lauren raised her brows. "That's not even considerable."

Emily sighed. "It's the weekend today. We should spend it indoors, listening to the news and doing N*****x and chill."

Lauren laughed throatily. "You? N*****x and chill?"

"Why do you sound like you'll believe anything but that?"

"Because you don't do N*****x and chill. You'd rather work and work your life off." Lauren laughed again, "Let's listen to the news. That's more like you."

Emily sighed. Lauren was right. In time past, she'd rather be at work on weekends, working her life off. But this was different. Things are different now. What she'd rather do is live what's left of her life slowly. "Okay." She agreed. "The volume should be loud enough that we're able to hear it all the way from here."

"You want to sit in the kitchen?" Lauren asked.

"Yeah. I'm having a headache." Emily replied. "Besides, I don't think there would be something new to gaze at on the screen, it would be the same old news."

Lauren nodded and wandered off to the sitting to do as Emily had asked. She was right. It was the same old news, the same plaque disturbing the people for some time now. Or maybe not? She thought, taking a closer look at the widescreen television.

"What's on the news? Anything exciting?" Emily yelled From the kitchen.

"Nothing new. Just the same old rumor with new victims popping up." Lauren sighed. " Honestly, it's getting boring and almost surreal."

"I told you!!" Emily said in a I knew it tone and came to stand by the door. "Turn on the volume. This is my favorite reporter. I believe he does have an ounce of truth in everything he says." She threw a cookie in her mouth and chewed loudly.

Lauren scoffed. "Your favorite reporter because you've had a crush on him for how long?"

"Simeon Drew isn't my crush. At Least not anymore." Emily pointed out.

"Since when? What happened?"

"Since I discovered I had cancer. Lauren I couldn't be more grateful that he didn't and still doesn't know about how I feel about him." She stared at the cup of milk Lauren held, "It would be harder to let go."

Lauren sighed again making Emily wonder what number of times she'd sighed in a short while and if or not she was getting bored by her constant complaining.

"You shouldn't give up you know?" Lauren patted her on the shoulder.

"Is there even hope?" Emily asked, sagging her shoulders. "I don't even know what to do anymore. Honestly, I've broken down countless times, more times than I can even remember."

Lauren looked thoughtful for a moment. Emily really didn't deserve what was going on in her life. Emily was the nicest person she had ever come across.

Absent-mindedly, Lauren watched Emily run her hand through her hair and pull off strands. Quickly, she hid it in her pajamas pocket.

Lauren sighed again and chewed down on her lips. Should she spill or should she not? She didn't want to give hope to Emily and watch it shatter, just like the other times.

She rolled her eyes.

"I don't want to assure you, but I've been thinking about how to help you." Lauren said thoughtfully. "I know someone."

"Yeah?" Emily turned, looking at her in a 'say the truth manner'. "You're not kidding?"

"Kidding? Why would I play about something like this? That's why I said I've been thinking." Lauren replied.

"Are you sure he can help me? You've known me for years and you've never mentioned it?"

"I wanted to be sure. I didn't want to give you false hope."

"And now?" Emily questioned, "Are you sure?"

"I don't know. I mean, I can't say." She feigned a cough, "But after seeing you last night and how forlorn you looked this morning, I thought you might as well give it a try."

"For real?" Emily teared up, "You'd do it for me?" She added, hugging Lauren from the back.

"I know." Lauren raised a finger in the air, "But I don't want you getting your hopes up, okay?"

"Sure." Emily nodded, not letting go.

Lauren pursed her lips. "Okay, now can you let go?" She smiled stiffly, trying to pry off Emily's tight but joyful grip on her waist.

"Just a little bit more." Emily pleaded.

"Fortunately, I wouldn't slump by then." Lauren grinned.

"Thank you, best friend."

"Don't thank me yet. Not just yet." Lauren flicked her in the head, after prying her hands off finally, "Come, the cookies and milk won't eat themselves."