As I knocked on Holmes' doorsteps that early Tuesday morning, I felt more confident than I had in a long time. I wished to see my dear friend once again, now that my heart was lifted of every burden. The door opened and Holmes greeted me himself with his half-sarcastic, half-genuine smile.
"My dear fellow, come in".
"Thank God. I thought you were going to continue your former tactic now that you know I am well".
"I know more than you suspect, Watson" said Holmes cryptically, a twinkle in those familiar eyes. I looked at him in some surprise as he led me into the sitting room where he waved me to a chair and seated himself with a look of complete self-content on his face.
"You seem in bright spirits, Holmes".
"Do I, my dear Watson? But not with reason, I assure you" he told me.
"What is it? Has your case been successful?"
"You know me, Watson. I experienced lethargy after a successful case, not… relief" he told me, somewhat solemnly.
"What are you relieved about?" I asked him, making myself more comfortable in the familiar chair and glancing around the room, trying to register everything in memory were I ever forced to keep out of them again.
"I am relieved your lie was not a lie" he told me quietly. I sat upright and saw that Holmes was wearing a knowing look on his face. He returned my gaze quietly.
"What do you mean?" I asked him, knowing full well that any pretension was futile. Holmes had somehow deduced everything himself.
"Once you'd left, Watson-" said Holmes, getting right to the point. I stared at him in breathless amazement, astounded at the astuteness of this man.
"I knew that something was not right. You would not have left the way you did. The reason you gave was insubstantial. I know my Watson. You would not leave without talking to me for more than ten minutes after an absence of two years. I knew you were pained at my pain-" he said, pausing and looking at me with great kindness in his eyes.
"I knew you wished to spare me pain. But you have underrated this wonderful instrument of man's ingenuity" said Holmes, adopting his light careless attitude again.
"I rung up your Doctor, Anstruther and he told me that you were not going to test until Monday. Here, I must apologize, Watson. Had I any courage in me, I would have followed you to London and remained with you till you knew the results. But I could not. I would rather not have you see me… like that. It wouldn't have helped you in any way".
"I am sorry, Holmes".
"It is I who should apologize Watson for causing you the pain you have felt for the past two years" he told me again for the third time. Holmes truly meant that, I could see it in his manner.
"For a moment Holmes, I was glad of the cancer. If it made you reveal your kind, true nature for one minute, it was well worth…"
"I beg you not to say that, Watson. I deserve much for the hurt I have caused you, but I could never have borne that" he replied.
"Will you stay with me, Watson?"
"Till you throw me out, Holmes" I said, smiling.
"Thank you, Watson" he told me.