JACKSON POINT OF VIEW 
I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off after Sophia's strange behavior in front of Cecilia. She had been acting so weird, so secretive. And Cecilia's reaction had only added to my concerns.
I decided to take matters into my own hands and go to the hospital to find out what was really going on. I snuck into the records room, my heart racing with anticipation and worry.
As I scrolled through the files on the computer, my eyes widened in shock. Cecilia's name was on the screen, and next to it was a diagnosis that made my blood run cold.
Terminal illness. Inoperable tumor. Limited time left.
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. How could this be? Cecilia was so young, so full of life. It couldn't be true.
But as I kept reading, I realized that it was all too true. Cecilia was dying, and she had been keeping it a secret from me.
I felt a wave of anger and sadness wash over me. Why had she lied to me? Why had she kept this from me?
But as I thought back to our conversations, I realized that she had been dropping hints all along. I had just been too blind to see them.
I left the hospital in a daze, my mind reeling with thoughts and emotions. I didn't know what to do or how to process this information.
But one thing was for sure - I couldn't let Cecilia push me away. I had to be with her, to support her, to love her for as much time as we had left.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the darkness closed in around me. My mind raced with thoughts of Cecilia, my heart heavy with the weight of the secret I now carried. I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that had settled in my chest.
Should I tell her I know? Or should I just play along? The questions swirled in my head like a vortex, each one pulling me in different directions.
If I told her, would she be relieved that I knew the truth? Or would she feel betrayed that I had discovered her secret?
But if I didn't tell her, could I really just pretend like everything was fine? Could I watch her slip away from me, bit by bit, without doing anything to stop it?
And then there was the biggest question of all: how much time did we have left? Was it even a year? The thought sent a chill down my spine.
I tossed and turned, my sheets tangled around my legs. I couldn't sleep, couldn't escape the thoughts that haunted me.
I felt like I was living in a nightmare, trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear and uncertainty.
As the hours ticked by, I felt my emotions raw and exposed. I was scared, I was angry, I was helpless. But most of all, I was sad. Sad that our time together was limited, sad that I might lose her soon.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I thought about all the things we would never get to do together. All the memories we would never make.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I knew I had to be strong for Cecilia, had to be there for her no matter what.
But as I lay there in the darkness, I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. And I didn't know how to stop it.
I finally worked up the courage to ask Cecilia out for dinner, trying my best to act cool and casual. But as we sat down at the restaurant, I could feel my emotions simmering just below the surface.
I tried to make small talk, to ask her about her day and her interests. But my mind kept wandering back to the diagnosis, to the limited time we had left.
Cecilia seemed to sense that something was off, and she kept looking at me with a concerned expression. "Jackson, is everything okay?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
I forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just...I really like spending time with you, that's all."
But my words sounded hollow, even to my own ears. I could feel my fear and anxiety seeping into my voice, betraying my attempts to hide them.
Cecilia reached out and took my hand, her touch sending a jolt of electricity through my body. "Jackson, you can tell me what's wrong. I can see it in your eyes."
I looked at her, feeling my resolve crumble. Maybe I should just tell her, I thought. Maybe I should just be honest about what I know.
But something held me back. Maybe it was fear of her reaction, or maybe it was fear of facing the truth myself.
Whatever it was, I just shook my head and squeezed her hand. "I'm just...really happy to be with you, Cecilia. That's all."
She smiled, but her eyes still looked uncertain. And as we finished our dinner and parted ways, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was running out of time.