Nine Days

1. Lily's Plan: A Countdown to Goodbye

I only have two more weeks left.

Living in hell. Lily Heaven Reyes, a 20-year-old college senior, feels trapped in a personal hell despite her ironic middle name. She has been hurting for 5840 days and sees no end to her pain. Believing death is the only escape, she has set a deadline for her life.

A goodbye book. Lily is writing a "goodbye book," a journal containing letters to significant people in her life. She intends for these letters to be delivered after her death, or for the book to be destroyed. This journal serves as her final testament and a way to process her feelings before her planned suicide.

Tired of fighting. Despite occasional moments of wanting to go out, Lily is primarily consumed by her depression. She feels drained, constantly battling her emotions and the feeling of falling apart. She believes she is not strong enough to continue living in pain and numbness.

2. An Unexpected Encounter: Colin Discovers the Secret

I stare at those two pages.

A chance meeting. At a college hockey game, Lily, feeling down, sits alone in the arena after the crowd has left. Colin Carter, the team captain, returns to the ice for extra practice and notices her crying. His concern leads him to approach her, despite her initial reluctance to interact.

The forgotten journal. After their brief, awkward conversation, Lily leaves, accidentally leaving behind her mint green notebook. Colin finds it and, despite knowing it's private, feels compelled to look inside. He is immediately shocked by the contents.

A cry for help. The first pages reveal Lily's deepest thoughts, her desire to die, and her two-week timeline. Colin is horrified by this discovery. He realizes the girl he just met is planning to end her life and grapples with what to do with this devastating information.

3. The Nine-Day Bet: A Desperate Attempt to Show Life's Beauty

Give me two weeks, Reyes.

An impossible offer. Colin confronts Lily about her journal, expressing his shock and concern. Despite her insistence that her decision is made, Colin refuses to accept it. He makes a bold proposition: give him two weeks to show her that life is worth living.

Negotiating time. Lily is resistant, arguing she needs her "down-days" and doesn't want to spend her last moments constantly going out. She points out that four days have already passed since her initial deadline. Colin counters, eventually negotiating for nine days.

A mission to save. Colin is determined to make Lily fall back in love with life, or at least make her last days bearable. He plans to take her on adventures and show her the beauty in the world, hoping to change her mind before her self-imposed deadline arrives. He sees it as his mission, despite her skepticism.

4. Unearthing the Past: Family Trauma and Deep-Seated Pain

Their children. Split in half.

A painful separation. Lily reveals the devastating truth about her childhood: her parents' divorce resulted in them splitting their twin children. Her mother took Lily, and her father took Aaron. They were forbidden contact, a rule her father secretly broke to allow Lily and Aaron to meet.

Secret Sunday meetings. Despite her mother's prohibition, Lily's father arranged for her and Aaron to meet every Sunday at the ice rink. These "skate-dates" were a cherished secret, allowing the twins to maintain a connection despite their parents' actions. Lily lied to her mother for years to keep these meetings hidden.

The cost of division. This forced separation and the need for secrecy deeply impacted Lily. She felt the pain of losing her brother and the constant tension of hiding her relationship with her father and twin. This trauma contributed significantly to her developing depression, despite her genetic predisposition.

5. A Complicated Connection: Attraction Amidst Despair

I found peace in his kisses.

Unexpected chemistry. Despite their unusual circumstances, Lily and Colin develop a strong, undeniable connection. Their initial interactions are marked by witty banter and teasing, but a deeper attraction quickly emerges. This is evident in their physical touches and lingering gazes.

The accidental kiss. A pivotal moment occurs at the arena when Colin attempts to kiss Lily's cheek, but she turns her head, resulting in their lips meeting. This accidental kiss sparks a new level of awareness and desire between them, leaving Lily flustered and Colin intrigued.

Physical intimacy. Their connection escalates to physical intimacy, starting with passionate kisses and leading to sex. Lily is surprised by her own desire and reaction to Colin, finding pleasure and a sense of connection she hadn't anticipated. This physical bond further complicates her emotional state and her plans.

6. Colin's Own Scars: Loss and the Urge to Save

I let him slip away, Lily.

A brother's suicide. Colin reveals a deeply personal tragedy: his older brother, Aiden, died by suicide two years prior. Aiden struggled with the impending death of their younger sister, Eira, who was battling leukemia at the time. Aiden couldn't bear the thought of Eira dying before him.

Guilt and regret. Colin carries immense guilt over Aiden's death, believing he could have prevented it if he had taken his brother's words more seriously or told their parents about Aiden's struggles. This unresolved trauma fuels Colin's desperate need to save Lily.

Eira's ongoing battle. While Eira is now in remission from leukemia, she still faces significant health challenges and is physically fragile. Colin is fiercely protective of her and dedicates time to visiting her daily. Eira's own positive outlook on death, viewing it as a new adventure, contrasts sharply with Lily's despair.

7. Moments of Light: Finding Joy Despite the Darkness

Laughing feels good.

Finding beauty. Despite her pervasive sadness, Lily experiences moments of genuine joy and lightness when she is with Colin. He manages to make her laugh, distract her from her pain, and show her beauty in unexpected places. These moments offer glimpses of a life she thought was lost to her.

Shared experiences. Colin takes Lily on various outings, including watching a sunrise, visiting his family, coffee tasting, and plate smashing. These shared experiences create new, positive memories that challenge her negative mindset. Even simple activities become enjoyable in his presence.

Rediscovering passion. Colin encourages Lily to step back onto the ice, reminding her of her childhood love for figure skating. Despite her fear of feeling too much or too little, she does, experiencing a profound sense of freedom and realizing how much she missed it. This moment highlights the possibility of reconnecting with lost passions.

8. The Weight of Caring: Impact on Aaron and Friends

If she dies, I don’t think I could get through this.

Aaron's protective instincts. Aaron is fiercely protective of Lily, especially concerning her relationships with his friends. He initially warns Colin to stay away, but eventually gives his hesitant approval, trusting Colin to treat her well. However, seeing their physical intimacy deeply unsettles him.

Discovering the truth. Aaron eventually learns about Lily's suicidal intentions, not from Colin, but by reading her journal after she leaves it behind again. He is devastated and filled with regret for not recognizing the depth of her pain sooner. He confesses his fear of losing her, revealing how much she means to him as his twin and the last link to their mother.

Friends' reactions. Colin's friends, particularly Grey and Miles, are initially amused by his sudden focus on Lily. However, they become concerned as they witness the intensity of his feelings and Lily's vulnerability. Grey, a psychology major, recognizes the seriousness of Lily's condition and urges Colin to seek professional help for her, even if it means betraying her trust.

9. A Mother's Cruelty: The Deepest Wound

You shouldn’t have been born, Lily!

A strained relationship. Lily's relationship with her mother is deeply fractured. Despite her mother being her primary caregiver after the divorce, their bond deteriorated over the years. Lily felt her mother's resentment and perceived her as neglectful and critical.

The painful confrontation. On Lily's birthday, Colin accompanies her to visit her mother. The visit quickly devolves into a brutal confrontation. Her mother expresses open disdain for Lily, criticizes her choices, and reveals a long-held resentment, even bringing up Aaron in a negative light.

The ultimate rejection. The most devastating blow comes when her mother screams that Lily shouldn't have been born. This cruel rejection shatters Lily, confirming her deepest fears about her mother's feelings. Colin witnesses the entire painful exchange, understanding the source of some of Lily's profound pain.

10. Love's Confession: A Final Plea to Stay

I fell in love with you, Lily.

Deepening feelings. Over their few days together, Colin's feelings for Lily intensify rapidly. He finds himself completely captivated by her, drawn to her vulnerability, resilience, and unexpected moments of joy. He realizes she has become everything to him.

A permanent declaration. Colin gets a tattoo of a lily over his heart, symbolizing his devotion to her. He tells her it represents his commitment to remembering her and carrying her with him, even if she chooses to die. This act is a powerful, permanent declaration of his feelings.

The confession. In a moment of raw emotion, triggered by Lily's despair and a difficult message he receives, Colin confesses his love. He tells her he is selfishly trying to make her fall in love with him too, hoping it will be enough reason for her to stay alive. He lays bare his heart, offering her everything he has.

11. Facing the Decision: Life or Death

I want to leave, but I want to stay for you.

Internal conflict. Despite the moments of happiness and connection with Colin, Lily remains deeply conflicted. Her desire to escape her pain and numbness clashes with the unexpected feelings and hope Colin has ignited. She is torn between her plan to die and the possibility of a different future with him.

The weight of impact. Lily becomes increasingly aware of the pain her death will cause, particularly to Aaron and Colin. She sees Aaron's devastation upon reading her journal and Colin's desperate efforts and emotional vulnerability. This awareness adds another layer of complexity to her decision.

The final days. As her self-imposed deadline approaches, the pressure mounts. The love and care shown by Colin and Aaron create a powerful pull towards life, but the deep-seated pain and the feeling of being a burden linger. Lily must ultimately decide whether the light Colin has shown her is enough to overcome the darkness that has consumed her for so long.

Last updated: May 20, 2025