[ WP ] You just won the biggest lottery in history `` 900 million dollars '' . You lose all that money in six months .

We came to a stop and I knew what was in front of us. I helped him out of the car. It was slow. It was tough. It was painful, but we made it to the steps of the hospital. I took a deep breath and grasped his hand. 
 
 `` This is it. Are you ready?'' I asked him a look of hopelessness glazed over his eyes. He did n't reply, but I was used to it now. I forced a smile and said, `` Come on, let's go.'' It was hard not to cry, but I had to keep it inside. If I did n't look strong, he would lose all hope. 
 
 We stepped inside the hospital and saw a bored receptionist with way too much make-up on her face. I talked with her and she led us to a doctor who told me to stay outside for a few minutes. I sat on the bench, but could n't bring myself to read the magazines on the shelves or look at my phone. All I could do was think about what the doctor was telling Emory. After what seemed like an eternity, he came out and I immediately dropped to my knees and hugged him. 
 
 The doctor waited a few seconds and said, `` There's no doubt about it. His body wo n't hold up much longer. He has *hours* at most now, Zoey.'' 
 
 The truth. The cold truth. I hugged him tighter and felt a tear-drop trickle down my left cheek. I got up and thanked the doctor and told him we were going home. As I went out of the hospital, my phone started ringing. 
 
 `` Hello? Who is this?'' I asked. 
 
 `` How are you picking up? That should n't be possible.'' the voice said. The person hung up and I looked at my phone, puzzled. I did n't think much of it. 
 
 As I drove home, I got another call from an unknown number. As tempted as I was to ignore it, I picked up out of curiosity. This time, a higher-pitched female voice screamed and yelled. `` Are you okay? What's going on there?'' I asked, shocked. I stopped the car and Emory looked at me. He was scared. I glanced at him with a look that said everything was going to be okay, but he was too scared to think that. 
 
 `` This is strange... this is strange...'' the voice said. 
 
 `` What is?'' I asked, confused. 
 
 `` You have the money... I know where you live, do n't move now.'' the voice said, this time whispering. 
 
 My eyes widened and I hung up immediately. The money. I had won 900 million dollars in a lottery two days ago. 
 
 -- 
 
 To my surprise, the doctor's prediction was luckily off. Emory fought and survived for two more months, but the disease did n't kill him. It was a school trip. He and his friends died in an accident that could n't be described by anything other than a tragedy. The young lives that could have been so much in the world, beautiful healthy children, died. The day of the tragedy, I got a letter saying **I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE THE MONEY**. It was true. I never knew what to do with that much money. My brother and I lived simply, we were never rich. A series of news articles and broadcasts over a period of three weeks drove me through a wave of fear, anxiety, hopelessness, and emptiness. I spent the time going to all of his favourite places, eating his favourite foods, and most importantly of all, wishing he was still here. I would have nightmares where I'd be in the ship with him and he would be reaching his hand to grab mine, but a wave would sweep him away before I could grab him. It felt like hell to lose him. 
 
 Over a period of four months, I gave away most of the money to various charities and organisations. It was one thing to lose my brother. It was another thing to go downtown and drink his favourite bubble tea by myself and remember him every time I did so. I spent 900 million dollars to defeat one thing. I thought to myself silently. Emory, it's been a rough six months. I looked up the sky, so vast and beautiful like his eyes were. Everything I would do you were standing by my side. It's been a long day without you my friend, and I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. I closed my eyes and they never opened again.
