The Day to Remember Read Online Free PDF

eyes. She pulled me into her arms and hugged me, and I felt myself relax in the security of her embrace—in the security of her pure love, a place where sadness did not exist. “What happened?” There was no pity in her voice, just unadulterated concern and sadness, and I felt my feelings for this beautiful woman deepen.
    “She died from breast cancer. ” I felt a surge of emotions surface inside me. “The doctors discovered the lump the year before she passed away, but at that point, it was too late. The cancer had spread to other parts of her body, and the doctors said it was terminal and that she only had up to a year to live.”
    “That’s awful.” Tears welled up in Emma’s eyes, and it pained me to cause her more tears.
    “Yeah, it was,” I whispered as I thought about my mother. “My mom was one of the most amazing women I’ve ever known. Everything good about who I am today was because of her and how she raised me. I wish she knew how much she meant to me.”
    “Brandon, I’m s ure she knew,” Emma said softly as her hand rubbed my back.
    “ She had convinced my dad not to tell me right away about the cancer. She didn’t want death to be what our family thought about during her last days with us. She wanted us to think only about love. She gave me so much love during the last year of her life while she was in pain, and I didn’t even know. I didn’t know until they rushed her into the hospital due to internal bleeding. I didn’t know until the last week of her life that she was dying. I didn’t even get the chance to show her how much I loved her.” Tears blinded my vision as I relived the darkest days of my life. I felt Emma’s gentle hands brushed against my cheeks as she pulled me into her embrace. I buried my face into the contours of her neck and hair and inhaled her comforting scent.
    “I’m so sorry, Brandon. I’m sure she knew you loved her very much. She sounds like an amazing person.”
    “She was. Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve gone through. My dad tried to be there for me, but he was going through his own grief over my mom. I went into a deep depression and shut the world out for a very long time.”
    We remained silent for awhile as I relived those memories in my mind.
    “So, was that when you met Desiree?” Emma asked tentatively. I could hear the discomfort in her voice when she said Des’s name.
    “ We had just started dating a few months before my mom passed away. She had refused to let me shut her out and was there for me. For the longest time, she was the only one I really spoke to outside of school. In a way, she saved my life.”
    “I see,” Emma said softly. I saw the anguish in her face.
    “Emma, this is why I didn’t want to tell you about this so soon. Des was there for me and I will always be indebted to her for not giving up on me when I was at my lowest. Recently, she was going through some tough times of her own, and I wanted to be there for her. I do still love her and care about her, but as a friend .” I emphasized the last word, hoping that Emma could understand and accept this. “Emma, there’s nothing you need to worry about between Des and me.”
    I leaned down and kissed her lips. “She may be an important part of my world, but I want you to be in the center of my world. ”
    “I’m not sure what to say. This is a lot to take in.” Her face was a mixture of emotions that I couldn’t quite understand.
    “I know,” I said with a nod. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this sooner, but we haven’t known each other for that long and I wanted you to get to know me for me, and not me with my past.”
    “I understand. And I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain things sooner and ran out. I was just so hurt when I saw her. She’s gorgeous, she showed up unannounced at your place on a Saturday morning, and she said she was your girlfriend. There was no reason for me to doubt the truth of her words.”
    I felt a wave of anger for Des