Brownsville Tales, Jayden & Cade, Epilogue

[Okay - here it is. Coward's way out maybe, but all i could see. Sorry about the delay - been away for a weekend with very good friends - in a batch (holiday home) in the middle of nowhere - no internet, no cellphones, no TV. Not even electricity and no fish either! But it was good. Came home to find the amiable-idiot house-sitter had stuffed the 'puter up, but i think it's fixed now. Hope so.]

Dear Cade,

It's funny to be writing to you like this. I haven't written a letter on paper for a long time. I think the last time was when I wrote to you in Aus, and that was years ago.

Granddad says that I'm chicken. Maybe he's right, I dunno, but I really hate goodbyes and that's why I'm writing, because I can't do it to your face. I couldn't even do it on-line, you might reply too fast, so here it is on paper. This way seems better anyway, like because it's important, and it is – way important! (to me anyway).

Remember when you were on your way to Aus and you came around to say goodbye when you were leaving? I do, I remember it like it was yesterday. Worst day of my life! We're older now and I don't think it'll hit you the same way as it did to me. But now it's my turn to say the same thing. Dammit.

I've spent most of the last week in my room, bawling my eyes out. I don't want to do this, but I have to. You don't always get what you want and sometimes what you get is not what you want at all. Nobody knows that better than me.

We've already gone, me and my granddad. Mum and Dad are going to sell up and they'll be following us soon. My brothers are not coming, they're going to board in town. Lucky them.

I'm sitting writing this in the airport, so by the time you see it we'll be there. We are going much further than you did, we're going to Germany! Don't know if I'll ever be back. I hope so, but who knows?

The thing is, I'm sick. Really sick. Ask your mum, she can tell you all about it. I wanted to tell you but I couldn't because it was too hard, so I told her instead. What I've got is a chronic condition. That means it doesn't go away and, one day, it's going to kill me. We hope that won't be for a long, long time, but it could happen anyday.

There's this doctor at a clinic there and he says that there's a chance, a slim chance, that they might be able to cure me. That's why we're going now. The sooner they start the better the chances of success.

I hope you won't forget me. I know that I'll never forget you. You're the bestest friend I've ever had and I can honestly say that I've enjoyed every minute with you. Except for when you said goodbye – that was stink!

So, Cade, thanks for being my friend. I really hope that I'll see you again someday, but for now – goodbye. Sorry.

Love you lots, Jayden XXX