I leaned my head against the window, watching the trees blur past outside. It had been over two hours in the car now, with a few stops when I felt sick and needed a break. Nathan was so patient, never complaining.

"You doing okay over there?" he asked, glancing at me with a small smile.

I nodded, managing a tired grin back. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just resting my eyes a bit."

"We'll be there soon, I promise," he assured me. "Then you can really get some rest."

I huffed out a small laugh. "Is that code for you're taking me to an old folks home? Getting ready to ditch me already?"

Nathan threw his head back with a loud laugh that warmed my heart. "You caught me! The jig is up!"

I gave an exaggerated gasp. "I knew those bingo nights you dragged me to were just practice!"

We dissolved into another fit of giggles, the familiar back-and-forth banter lifting my spirits. Even on my worst days, Nathan made me smile and forget about everything else for a little while.

As our laughter tapered off, I regarded him curiously. "Seriously though, where are you taking me? We've been driving forever."

"Almost there, promise," he said with a wink. "And you'll love it. Have I ever steered you wrong before?"

I pretended to think it over. "Well, there was that one time in primary when you said we could jump that creek. I ended up soaked and covered in mud."

Nathan grinned at the memory. "Okay, okay. You got me there. But besides that!"

I shook my head, unable to keep myself from grinning back at him. "I guess you're mostly trustworthy."

"See? That's all I can ask for," he laughed.

Settling back against the seat, I felt some exhaustion temporarily fade away. Just being with Nathan, joking and laughing like we always did, was its own kind of revitalising energy. A reminder that even when everything else was so uncertain, he was my constant.

"Okay, tour guide extraordinaire," I said teasingly. "Let's see what grand adventure you've got planned."

We drove for a bit longer until Nathan finally started slowing down. I looked around curiously, recognising the place we were entering almost instantly.

"Wait....are we where I think we are?" I asked slowly.

Nathan just grinned as he pulled into the parking lot of the old animal shelter. We used to volunteer at the same one a few summers ago when we needed extra credits during college.

I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. You're kidding me! This is your big surprise?"

"What can I say? Thought we could relive some old memories," he said with a shrug, still smiling widely. "Plus, I know how much you love puppies."

A flood of nostalgia rushed over me as I gazed at the familiar building. I remembered countless hours spent here, playing with the dogs, bathing them, taking them for walks. It had been exhausting work but also so rewarding.

"You're absolutely right. I do love puppies," I said, looking over at Nathan. "This is...this is really nice, Nate. Thank you."

He nodded, not saying anything more as he exited the car. I followed suit, a small thrill of excitement coursing through me. Being back here brought me peace and happiness I hadn't felt in a while.

As soon as we entered the shelter, the barks greeted us. An older woman with grey curly hair and glasses was at the front desk. She smiled big when she saw us.

"Well, look who's back! Nathan and Beth!" she said happily, standing up and walking around to us. "We wondered if you'd come around again!"

"Couldn't stay away forever, Martha," Nathan laughed, hugging her. "We're here to volunteer all day. Put us to work!"

Martha grinned and looked at me with kind eyes. "It's so wonderful to have you both here again. I know the animals will love seeing their old friends."

"It's great to be here," I said, trying not to cry.

We walked down the hallway as the bars and howls got louder. They seemed so happy that we were back. My heart felt so full seeing their wagging tails greeting me.

Martha smiled at me warmly, but then her face got serious. "Beth, sweetie, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Kick cancer's ass, okay?"

I wanted to say if only I could, but I just smiled and nodded. "Of course," I said.

Think you can still handle them?" he teased with a grin.

I scoffed dramatically. "Please, puppies are my speciality. They'll be putty in my hands by the end of the day."

We were swarmed by a pack of fuzzy, yapping puppies when we opened the door. Their little tails wagged excitedly as they jumped up and tried to lick our faces.

"Oh my gosh, look at them all!" I squealed, getting down on my knees despite my tired body. Tiny tongues immediately started bathing my cheeks in slobbery kisses.

Nathan laughed as he joined me on the floor, smothered in puppy love. "Told you they'd go crazy for you."

I smiled at him, feeling so happy and energised at that moment. The puppies' boundless energy and joy was intoxicating and contagious.

We spent the next few hours doting on them, tossing toys, cuddling them, and even taking them out for potty breaks. At one point, I got knocked over when they all decided to ambush me with snuggles at once.

"Betrayed by my furry friends!" I mock-wailed from the ground as Nathan roared with laughter.

"Need a hand there?" he managed to get out between chuckles.

I opened one eye to find him grinning down at me, surrounded by puppies. "This is pretty much my dream way to go."

Shaking his head, Nathan reached down to help me back up to my feet. But no sooner had he steadied me than another puppy came barrelling at us full force. The furry little cannonball crashed into my shins, throwing me immediately off balance again.

This time, I toppled backwards, letting out a startled squeak as I fell. Nathan, still gripping my hand tightly, was pulled down with me. He landed with an "oomph" right on top of me.

For a suspended moment, I gazed up at his face, just inches from mine. I could feel the warmth of his breath fanning over me as our eyes locked with an electric charge. His eyes dropped briefly to my lips, and I wondered wildly if...

But then the puppy responsible for our situation barked and bounded over, sloppy tongue lapping at our faces.

The spell was broken as we dissolved into uncontrolled laughter, melting away any lingering tension. Nathan rolled off me as we found ourselves flat on our backs, surrounded by the swarming puppy pile.

We must have looked like some idiots rolling around on the ground. But I didn't care one bit.

At that moment, my diagnosis was the furthest thing from my mind. All that mattered was the utter joy and freedom that filled my soul—just two best friends enjoying what life had to offer.

As I looked over at Nathan, tears of happiness blurring my vision, I silently thanked him again. This allowed me to feel wholly alive and present. No matter what lay ahead, days like this were worth cherishing with every fibre of my being.

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯

After the entire morning and the start of the afternoon cuddling with the puppies, Nathan and I were utterly knackered. My cheeks ached from smiling and laughing so hard.

"Alright, I don't know about you, but I'm starving," Nathan declared as we finally peeled ourselves away. "Good thing I came prepared."

He grabbed a cooler bag I hadn't noticed before, pulling it over with a proud grin.

"You packed us a picnic?" I asked in surprise.

Nathan shrugged. "Well, I couldn't exactly take you out without bringing lunch, now could I?"

Shaking my head with an endeared smile, I settled onto the bench as Nathan unpacked our picnic - just some sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a big bag of crisps.

"It's not a five-star restaurant or anything, but..." he said with a lopsided grin as he laid everything out.

I playfully swatted his arm. "Oh, stop it, you goof," I chuckled. But then I placed my hand on his, stilling his movements. Our eyes met and held for a weighted pause. "It's perfect, Nate. So perfect."

A soft smile curved his lips as he turned his hand over, giving mine a gentle squeeze. "I love it when you smile like that."

I felt my cheeks warming. "Why? I smile all the time," I deflected with an awkward laugh.

But Nathan's expression turned serious, almost pained. "Not recently," he murmured. "Not since your diagnosis. You looked...broken. Like you'd given up."

My breath caught at his honest words, the truth I'd been trying so hard to ignore. He was right - since being told I was dying, I'd felt like a ghost of my former self, hollowed out by fear.

Nathan reached out, cupping my face tenderly. "But when you smile, really smile..." His thumb brushed my cheekbone softly. "It's like the old you is still in there, fighting."

Tears pricked my eyes as I held his gaze, stunned by the depth of understanding reflected back at me. This man, my best friend for as long as I could remember, saw me more clearly than anyone.

At that moment, I made a silent vow: For Nathan, I would keep fighting, smiling, and cherish every second we had together. He deserved to see that light in me again, that spark of hope he desperately wanted to reignite.

Covering his hand with mine, I leaned my cheek into his palm and mustered up the brightest smile I could manage. "Then I'll keep smiling," I said thickly. "For you."

The look of pure affection and relief that washed over Nathan's features made my breath hitch. He stared at me like I'd just handed him the most precious gift.

"Good," he murmured.

In a dizzying rush, I was overwhelmed by how much he meant to me and how utterly lost I would be without his support and friendship holding me up through this nightmare—an impulsive need to be closer gripped at me.

Before I could overthink it, I launched myself at Nathan, burying my face against his chest. I felt his strong arms instantly wrap around me, holding me tightly.

We sat there for what felt like ages, simply enjoying one another. I focused on the steadying thump of his heartbeat against my ear, his comforting scent and warmth enveloping me completely.

I pulled back and opened my mouth to thank him, but he cut me off.

"Remember when old Bobby broke out of his kennel, and we had to chase him down for four hours?" Nathan chuckled, grabbing a sandwich. "Pretty sure we terrorised the whole neighbourhood looking for him."

I burst out laughing at the memory. "Oh my gosh, yes! And then when we finally found him, he just trotted right up and basically said, 'What's the big deal?'"

"Like he hadn't just put us through utter chaos," Nathan agreed. "Those were the days."

A comfortable silence fell between us as we ate, both of us getting lost in our own recollections. There were so many hilarious moments centred around these sweet animals.

Eventually, after a while, I found myself on the grass, lying on my back, completely content as I looked up at the sky. A gentle weight pressed against my side, and I looked over to find one of the puppies had walked over to snuggle up to me. With a smile, I reached over to gently stroke the soft fur.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Nathan watching me. When he noticed me looking back, his features softened into a warm, if somewhat melancholy, smile.

"This was a good idea, Nate," I said quietly.

He nodded slowly. "I'm happy you're enjoying it. That's all I want, you know? For you to have experiences and make memories like this."

The underlying message hung unspoken between us - memories to remember be from, to help carry me through the journey ahead, whichever path it took.

"Well, you succeeded. This whole day has been..." I trailed off, searching for the right word as I looked around at the puppies, remnants of our picnic, and my oldest friend beside me. "It's been perfect."

Nathan's eyes shone with happiness, tinged with sadness. Scooting closer, he gently bumped my other shoulder with his.

"Then I'll just keep working on making more perfect days for us," he murmured. "As many as I possibly can."

Blinking back, the tears suddenly stinging my eyes, I could only nod. Because I knew, at that moment, he truly meant it with every fibre of his being. This was my wonderful, loyal best friend - stubbornly determined to fill my uncertain future with as much life and love as possible.

We stayed cuddling the puppies for a little while after our picnic lunch. I felt so happy and relaxed like all my worries had melted away for those few hours.

But eventually, Martha came to find us. "Alright, you two, as much as I hate to interrupt," she said with a kind smile, "We've got some more furry friends who need some love and attention."

Nathan sat up, stretching. "You heard the boss. Up and at 'em!"

He helped pull me to my feet, though I definitely felt more tired than earlier. The long morning of running around was starting to catch up with me.

We spent the next few hours going kennel to kennel, filling food and water bowls, cleaning, and, most importantly, playing with as many dogs as possible. There were so many sweet fur babies here looking for their forever homes; my heart ached for each one.

At one point, an older golden retriever walked over and immediately plopped his head in my lap, gazing up at me with soulful brown eyes.

"Well, hello there," I said, scratching behind his ears. "Aren't you just the sweetest thing?"

Nathan joined us, chuckling as the big dog happily accepted all the petting and belly rubs we lavished him with. "I think you've got a new best friend."

"I can't help it; I'm just so loveable!" I joked, ruffling the retriever's fur.

As the hours ticked by, the kennel slowly emptied as the evening crew came in to take over. Before I knew it, it was already starting to get dark outside.

Martha found us again, making the rounds for extra cuddles and treats before leaving. "You two have been such troopers today," she said warmly. "But I think that's enough for now. We're closing up soon."

I tried not to let my drooping energy show as I gave one last lab mix a farewell pat on the head. "Thanks for having us back, Martha. This was...really special."

The older woman's eyes crinkled kindly as she pulled me into a gentle hug. "It was our pleasure, dear. You come back any time, you hear?"

I could only nod. As she turned to Nathan, I suddenly felt a wave of bone-deep fatigue crash over me. My legs trembled slightly as I tried to stay upright.

Nathan must have sensed it because he was at my side instantly, slinging a supportive arm around my waist. "Okay, I think that's our cue to head out," he murmured.

I smiled wearily at him, silently grateful for his steadying presence. As much as I hated feeling so drained, I also felt content in a way I hadn't in a long time. Today had been perfect, filled with simple joys that I realised I'd been missing so much lately.

We said our final goodbyes and headed for the car. As soon as I sank into the passenger seat, I let out an involuntary groan, feeling the total weight of my tiredness pressing down on me.

Nathan shot me a worried look as he started the engine. "You hanging in there? We can stop somewhere if you need a breather."

I waved him off, forcing my eyes to stay open. "I'm okay, I promise. Just...really freaking tired all of a sudden."

"Well, you did just put in a full day's work entertaining and caring for a bunch of dogs," he said with a small smile. "I'd be shocked if you weren't exhausted."

I huffed out a quiet laugh at that. "Yeah, I get you've got a point there."

A comfortable silence fell over the car as we pulled out onto the road. I stared absently out the window, watching the world pass by in a blur of light.

After a few minutes, I heard Nathan clear his throat. "So, I was thinking we could grab dinner before I take you home?" He glanced over at me hesitantly. "Unless you're ready to call it a night, which is totally fine too-"

"Dinner sounds good," I cut him off. As drained as I felt, I didn't quite want this day to end yet.

Relief seemed to wash over Nathan's features. "You got it. Do you have any requests, or should I surprise you again?"

I considered for a moment, chewing my lip. Finally, I exhaled slowly. "Can...can we actually talk about something for a sec?"

His easy-going expression sobered at my serious tone. "Of course, anything. What's up?"

I watched the streetlights flicking past for a few beats, gathering my thoughts. When I finally spoke, it was in a smaller voice than I intended. "I have my first round of chemo on Monday."

There was a weighted pause as my words hung in the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nathan's knuckles tighten on the steering wheel.

"Ah, Beth...I'm so sorry," he said. "That's...that's got to be terrifying."

I could only nod mutely, blinking back the hot sting of tears that suddenly pricked my eyes. Because he was right - I was utterly petrified, no matter how I tried to play it off.

His hand found mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Look, I know nothing I say can make it better," Nathan said softly. "But I'll be there, okay? If you need me, even if it's to sit with you during the treatments, I'm not going anywhere."

I squeezed his hand back and then let it go so he could focus on driving. He was right; nothing could make any of this easier. But at least I wouldn't be facing it alone.

"Thank you," I finally managed to whisper past the lump in my throat. "Just...thank you for today and for being you, Nate. I couldn't ask for a better friend by my side."

Silence fell over us again, but this time, it was a heavy, emotionally charged quiet that didn't need any more words. We rode the rest of the way in that same reverent stillness, each of us caught up in our own thoughts and fears about the future.

But no matter what lay ahead, I knew one thing—today had been the perfect escape and reset—a wonderful memory to keep me centred and strong for the journey still to come.

And if today was any indication, I had a feeling Nathan would ensure we collected a lifetime's worth of those cherished moments before my hourglass finally ran out of sand.

Chapter Eight

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