The next day, I sat nervously in the doctor's office, my heart racing with anticipation. The doctor's words from last time still echoed in my mind - 11 months left to live.
"Good morning, Cecilia," the doctor said gently.
 "I see you're doing well. But I need to remind you, it's essential to share your diagnosis with your parents. They need to know."
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I know, doctor. I just...I don't know how to tell them."
The doctor nodded understandingly. "I know it's hard. But please, for your sake and theirs, try to find the courage to tell them soon."
I left the doctor's office, lost in thought, and began signing some documents with the receptionist, Maria. As I wrote, I sensed someone's gaze on me. I looked up, but didn't see anyone familiar.
Unbeknownst to me, Sophia was standing across the hall, watching me with a mix of shock and concern. She had been visiting a friend in the hospital and had coincidentally seen me walking into the doctor's office. She quickly hid behind a pillar, not wanting me to see him.
After I left, Sophia approached the receptionist, his eyes filled with worry. "Excuse me Miss, what was Cecilia doing here?" he asked quietly.
Maria looked up, surprised. "Oh, Sir! She was seeing the doctor. But...but I shouldn't be sharing this information with you."
Sophia's expression turned serious. "Please, Miss. I need to know. Is she...is she okay?"
Maria hesitated, then whispered, "I shouldn't say, but...it's not good, Sophia. She's been diagnosed with something serious."
Sophia's's face fell, and she felt like she had been punched in the gut. She thanked her and quickly left, her mind racing with thoughts of me and Jackson's future together.
When i got home, I received a message from Jackson inviting me to come have dinner at his place. 
Feeling excited I left early, when I got there the family welcomed me well. We got to the dinner table and started to eat when I suddenly notice Sophia staring at me, when I tried to crack a joke to make her smile, she shun me and left the table.
I felt a pang of confusion and concern as Sophia abruptly left the table. Jackson noticed my gaze and followed it to Sophia, who was now standing by the window, her back to us.
"Everything okay?" Jackson asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
I shook my head, feeling a sense of unease. "I don't know. I tried to make a joke, and she just got up and left."
Jackson's expression turned serious. "I'll go talk to her."
He got up from his seat and walked over to Sophia, who was now visibly shaken. They exchanged hushed words, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
After a few moments, Jackson returned to the table, his face somber. "Let's finish dinner, and then we'll talk about what's going on," he said quietly.
The rest of the dinner was filled with awkward silence, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
As soon as we finished eating, Jackson took my hand and led me to the living room. Sophia was already seated on the couch, her eyes red from crying.
"Cecilia, we need to talk," Jackson said gently.
I felt my heart racing as I sat down beside him. "What's going on?"
Sophia took a deep breath before speaking. "I saw you at the doctor's office yesterday. I know what's going on, Cecilia. I know about your diagnosis."
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. How did Sophia know? And why was she looking at me with such sadness and concern?
I felt a surge of panic and instinctively tried to downplay the situation. "Oh, that? I just had a little constipation issue, that's all. The doctor just gave me some meds and told me to drink more water."
Sophia looked at me skeptically, her eyes searching for the truth. "Constipation? That's all?"
I nodded vigorously, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, that's it. Nothing serious. I'm fine."
Jackson looked at me with concern, but didn't press the issue. Sophia, however, still looked uncertain.
"Okay, if you're sure you're fine..." Sophia trailed off, her voice laced with doubt.
I forced a laugh, trying to reassure her. "I'm positive. Don't worry about me, I'm just a little... backed up."
The room fell silent, and I could tell Sophia wasn't entirely convinced. But she didn't push the issue further, and we changed the subject to lighter topics.
As the evening drew to a close, I felt a mix of relief and guilt. Relief that the conversation hadn't gone further, but guilt for lying to Jackson and Sophia. I knew I couldn't keep the truth hidden forever, but for now, I just wanted to enjoy the time I had with them, without the weight of my diagnosis hanging over us.
As the days went by, I found myself growing closer to Jackson and his family. They were kind and welcoming, and I felt like I had finally found a sense of belonging. But the guilt of my lie lingered, and I knew I couldn't keep it up for much longer.
One evening, as Jackson and I were walking through the park, he turned to me with a curious expression. "Cecilia, can I ask you something?"
"Of course," I replied, my heart racing with anticipation.
"What's really going on with your health?" he asked gently. "I know you said it was just constipation, but Sophia seemed really worried. And to be honest, I am too."
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to tell him the truth, to share my fears and worries with him. But another part of me was scared of losing him, of losing the connection we had formed.
"I...I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, trying to brush it off.
Jackson stopped walking and turned to face me. "Cecilia, please. I care about you. I want to be here for you. But you have to be honest with me."
I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and concern there. And I knew I couldn't keep lying to him. But I was scared of what might happen if I told him the truth.
I took a deep breath and tried to come up with a convincing explanation. "I...I have been having some issues sleeping, that's all. The doctor prescribed some medication to help me relax, and it's just taking some time to kick in."
Jackson looked at me with a mixture of concern and relief. "Oh, I see. I was worried it was something more serious."
I forced a smile, feeling a pang of guilt for lying to him again. "No, it's nothing like that. I just need to get my sleep schedule sorted out, and I'll be fine."
Jackson nodded, seeming to accept my explanation. "Okay, well, if you need anything, I'm here for you. We can even practice some relaxation techniques together, if you'd like."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "Thanks, Jackson. That means a lot to me."
As we continued walking, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was digging myself into a deeper hole. I knew I couldn't keep lying to Jackson forever, but I was scared of losing him if I told him the truth.
Little did I know, Jackson was already starting to suspect that something was off. And it wouldn't be long before he discovered the truth.