Gold Forever

Chapter 1 - Let Me Go.

Author's P.O.V.

11:30 pm.

Cameron, North Carolina.

It's a typical Sunday night for the residents in Cameron.

Many of the town's residents have settled in for the night while the rest of them, mainly the young folk are at Murphy's bar drinking, doing karaoke and having fun.

On this particular night, best friends Benjamin Williams, Cassidy Williams, Kylie Logan, Connor Gordon and Leah Marshall are drinking and having fun as they celebrate the birthday of their other best friend Thomas Logan who is currently bedridden with a terminal illness.

The gang had spent the entire day together along with their other best friend Layla who is also Tommy's wife and their two gorgeous babies four-year-old Thomas Junior and four-month-old Anastasia.

Their day had been filled with so much fun, laughter and excitement as well as great food which they purchased either from street vendors or restaurants.

The group knew that this birthday was most likely going to be the last for their dear friend Tommy, so they wanted to make it something special for him and they also wanted to make sure that he along with everyone else enjoyed themselves as much as they possibly could without worrying about his illness or thinking about the short time he's got left on this planet.

They wanted Tommy to have a day he'd always remember and one they would all cherish and hold near and dear to their hearts for the rest of their lives.

Sadly, Tommy tires and becomes weak very easily because of his illness so he and his wife Layla weren't able to join his friends at their favourite bar for a drink and a sing-song but he made sure they all knew to have several rounds on him and enjoy themselves for him in his name.

Just over a year ago, Tommy was living the dream life with his wife and son.

They had just found out they were expecting their second child, one who Tommy hoped would be a beautiful baby girl who would look exactly like her mother, his business was thriving and life couldn't get any better for the young couple but then their perfect little bubble burst when Tommy suddenly fell ill and after numerous tests, he was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer.

News of Tommy's dreadful diagnosis quickly spread around town shocking all of the residents but none more so than his tight-knit group of friends who couldn't believe that a man as young and as healthy as Tommy would be struck down with such an illness.

They had all known him ever since he was a baby and were fortunate enough to watch him grow from being a cheeky and mischievous prankster to a handsome and mature young man who had graduated from both high school and college at the tops of all of his classes before going on to own his own business as he started his beautiful family with his childhood sweetheart.

Everyone was shocked and heartbroken to hear the news of Tommy being diagnosed with such an aggressive form of cancer and they had desperately hoped and prayed that he would make a speedy recovery and live a long and healthy life before eventually dying of old age.

They had put all of their hope and faith in both Tommy being a fit and healthy young man as well as their god but everyone was left shell-shocked and deeply saddened a few months ago when they learned his illness was now terminal and he had less than six months left to live.

This diagnosis was a hard pill for everyone to swallow especially his friends who have struggled to cope and come to terms with their friend's illness even as they watch him slowly deteriorate as his mind and body slowly succumbs to this evil and disgusting disease.

Despite being told his cancer is terminal and there's nothing that can be done to help him except giving him painkillers and making him as comfortable as possible, the friends refused to admit or even accept that Tommy was going to die and they started putting their faith in modern day medicine possibly curing him.

No one had more hope and faith in this than Cassidy Williams who is the youngest of the group and is the one who is extremely close with Tommy.

Cassidy is a stubborn young woman and she downright refuses to believe that Tommy who is her best friend and someone who she considers a big brother can't be cured and every day and night, she prays to her god that he'll recover from his illness and be back to his old self but deep down in her good and kind heart she knows that the end is near, she just doesn't want to accept it.

She doesn't want to accept the fact that one day soon, she'll lose one of her oldest and closest companions forever.

Cassidy was born three days after Tommy's third birthday and the pair have been inseparable ever since.

The group of friends are really close with each other and they share a really special and unique bond but Tommy and Cassidy were the closest out of all of them, so much so that people always believed they were a couple which revolted them because they saw each other only as family.

Tommy and Cassidy have often been referred to as the Pisces twins as well as the dynamic duo because of how close they are and also because they were as thick as thieves growing up and they were always up to no good causing mischief and pranking nearly everyone in town.

They're the cheekiest and liveliest ones out of their entire friend group but they can also be serious as well when they're not being their cheeky and outspoken selves and I think it's safe to say that they've both seen one another at their highest points in life and definitely at their lowest.

The pair have never gone a single day without seeing or speaking to each other and they've spent many hours on the phone with each other just talking about anything and everything from Tommy's kids, to the day's weather to their favourite tv shows.

Tommy was also the main one who was there for Cassidy and saw her at her weakest as well as her lowest when she and her long-term boyfriend and childhood sweetheart Klayton Antonelli split up.

He comforted and consoled his brokenhearted friend from the very beginning when Klayton just up and left without so much as a goodbye or a kiss my ass and he helped restore and repair Cassidy into the woman she is today.

Like all of their friends, Klayton and Cassidy were childhood sweethearts, they loved and adored each other like no other and they absolutely idolised each other, so it came as a huge shock to everyone when out of nowhere, Klayton left everything and everyone he knew behind in North Carolina including his relationship with Cassidy.

Tommy was gobsmacked and confused when his wife informed him of what happened because he was there when Klayton and Cassidy had declared their undying love for one another and also when Klayton vowed to one day make an honest woman of his sweet Cassidy and give her the role of a lifetime as his wife and the mother of their children.

After Klayton left Cameron, Cassidy changed and became a totally different woman.

She was no longer the sweet, kind, quiet girl who was very shy and lacked confidence in herself, she also stopped trusting folk so easily, especially with important things such as her heart, mind and body.

I mean she's still a sweet and kind girl, she's just a loud-mouthed, confident girl now who loves to dress in clothes which her previous self would never wear, she loves to drink and party and is always hanging out at Murphy's bar where she and her friends are known as local legends on the karaoke but Cassidy knows her limits and she never gets intoxicated.

In fact, there have only ever been two times when she did get intoxicated, the first was when she had found out Klayton had left town and wasn't going to return and the second was when she learned Tommy's illness was terminal, other than that she's a pretty good drinker.

As for relationships, Cassidy's one and only relationship was with Klayton and now she only ever has one-night stands but this is only when she's horny or feeling lonely and just wants a little bit of affection, it's not because she's a w***e who can't go a single day without having s*x with someone.

This is a statement she'll happily tell anyone who questions her for being 'promiscuous' and she always tells them 'I may love s*x but I'm not a dumbass and I'm not dirty, I always make sure I'm one hundred percent safe and very well protected on both ends'.

Despite all of these changes, Cassidy is still the same girl everyone knows and loves who is very respectful towards her elders, she's just got more of an edge to her now.

She owns her own hairdresser and barber shop which is where she also works.

This however was never her initial career plan or choice as she had always planned to go and work for her father alongside her older brother Ben at his company but she changed her mind after splitting up with Klayton.

Everyone who knows and loves Cassidy feels proud and happy for her because she didn't allow her heartbreak to consume her and she didn't let it overrule or over-power her.

Despite her heartache from her first and only love, Cassidy was able to go to university to get her business degree before attending cosmetology school to become a licensed hairdresser and barber.

She then opened up her own shop and two years ago, she purchased her own home something which she's incredibly proud of.

Every day Cassie puts on a strong girl facade to let everyone think and believe that she's ok and is happily moving on with her life but there's one person who doesn't buy this and knows that Cassidy has been putting on this facade for the past five years and that's because he knows her better than anyone.

Tommy is the only one who knows how truly heartbroken Cassidy was after Klayton left and still to this day, he can see this heartbreak as well as her sadness and pain which she always hides behind her stoic, hard-headed and comedic exterior.

He was saddened and disappointed to see his best friend react this way to losing her soulmate and he always hoped she would one day find someone new or she and Klayton would find their way back to each other so they can settle down and get their happily ever after like everyone else but neither of these things happened.

This is something which deeply upsets Tommy and is something which will forever plague him and his thoughts.

Even now as he lies on his deathbed with his two children laying fast asleep on either side of him and his wife sitting in a chair next to their bed holding his hand as she strokes his hair with her free hand, all he can think about are his two stubborn best friends.

"What's on your mind, baby?"

Layla asks her husband who looks at her weakly with a slight smile.

"K..Klay...Klayton and C..Cass..idy"

Tommy says hoarsely before licking his dry lips.

"They should be together, Lay"

Tommy says sounding sad.

"I know honey, I absolutely agree with you but as you know, everyone's got their own paths in life and Klayton and Cassidy's paths aren't ready to cross again just yet"

"Maybe my death will bring them back together again"

Tommy says with a smile which upsets his wife but she doesn't show it.

"Don't talk like that sweetie, you've got a lot of life left in you"

Layla says barely above a whisper as she clutches Tommy's hand encasing it with both of hers.

"I'm dying, baby...my time is coming to an end and I want you all to be happy and settled before I go"

"How can we ever be happy when we're losing you, Tommy? even if Klayton and Cassidy did get back together, you know Cass would never fully heal after losing you and neither will I or the rest of us"

"You're not losing me, angel, I'll still be here, you just won't be able to see or talk to me, that's all"

"Or hug and kiss you"

Layla says with a shaky voice as a few tears stream down her face.

"I know, baby...I'm really gonna miss snuggling up with Benji, Klay and Connor"

Tommy says causing Layla to laugh.

He loved seeing her beautiful smile and hearing her hearty, angelic laugh because she'd barely done either of these things ever since he was first diagnosed with cancer, so this was a rare treat for him.

"I love you, Layla Logan...I love you so much and I've loved you ever since I can remember"

Tommy declares his undying love for his wife.

"We've had a great life together and we've created some amazing memories, not to mention we've created two beautiful children"

Tommy says whilst looking down at his two babies with a huge smile on his face but his eyes are filled with nothing but sadness and pain.

He then looked up at his wife who was silently crying her eyes out even though she was trying really hard not to.

"Please don't cry, baby, I'll always be with you and the kids even when you've moved on and have found love and happiness again"

He said with a smile even though his heart broke knowing his woman would eventually be with someone else but he knew deep in his heart that he'd rather she was happy with someone new instead of moping around and being sad for the rest of her life as she grieved for him.

She's way too beautiful and young and he loves her way too much to see her waste her precious life like that.

Layla scoffed and rolled her eyes at his words.

"As if Thomas, you're the only man for me"

"Never say never, baby...just please don't forget me"

"I won't"

Layla says before placing a gentle kiss on the back of Tommy's hand.

"Not that you'll have any choice in the matter"

"What do you mean?"

Layla asks confused and Tommy tries to smirk at her but he only manages half a smirk.

"Do you really think I'll stop pranking you all after I take my final breath? hell no, it's going to be so much more fun now especially since you won't be able to see me doing it"

He says and Layla laughs.

"Oh Tommy"

"There's your beautiful smile"

Tommy said as he lifts his hand up to Layla's face and gently strokes her tear-stained cheek.

Layla closes her eyes and enjoys the feel of his touch knowing it could possibly be one of the last touches they'll share together.

Layla places her hand on top of Tommy's and kisses his palm.

"God Tommy I love you, I love you so, so, so freaking much"

"I love you too, baby and I always will...now do me a favour and wipe those tears away and read me my favourite poem again one last time"

Layla takes a deep breath in and slowly releases it ignoring the last thing Tommy said as she wipes away her tears with her hands.

She then grabs hold of the book of poems from the nightstand and opens it to Tommy's favourite poem by Christina Rosetti which he's heard numerous times and never gets bored of hearing it.

"When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom-filled room, why cry for a soul set free? miss me a little, but not for long and not with your head bowed low, remember the love that once we shared, miss me, but let me go, for this is a journey we all must take and each must go alone, It's all part of the master plan, a step on the road to home, when you are lonely and sick at heart, go to the friends we know, laugh at all the things we used to do, miss me, but let me go"

Layla reads the beautiful poem out loud and her heart breaks as she reads it because she knows her husband's time is coming to an end but like any spouse, she's always hoped a miracle would appear and cure her beloved man.

Little did Layla know that as she was reading this poem for the umpteenth time, Tommy was looking at his beloved wife with a huge smile on his face as he took his final breath and he was now laying motionless in his bed.

"It's a beautiful poem, Tommy but how many more times are you gonna insist on me reading it to you before you eventually get bored of it?"

Layla asks her husband as she looks down at the book.

When she doesn't get a response, she slowly looks up at her husband and her broken heart starts to beat in an abnormal way as her teary eyes widen and panic fills her when she sees her husband laying with his eyes closed and something was telling her he wasn't sleeping.

"Tommy...Tommy...Thomas...T..Tom"

Layla tries to rouse her husband but to no avail, he was gone.

Thomas Logan had succumbed to cancer on his twenty-eighth birthday.