Cancer
Gerard's POV:
I stared down at Frank. My poor little Frankie. He smiled at me
slightly, his chapped lips braking a bit. Deathly pale skin was
stretched thinly over frail bones and dark bags hung under his eyes.
His hair was long gone from the chemotherapy treatments and he looked
as if he would break at any moment, but he was still beautiful to me.
"Gee?" Frank asked. "Could you get me a drink of water, please?" I
nodded and turned to retrieve his water bottle.
"Here, Frankie." I said, handing it to him. He grasped it with bony
fingers and took a small sip.
"Thank you." he said and patted the bed next to him. I obeyed and
slipped onto the uncomfortable hospital bed, pulling Frank's tiny
frame closer to me. He rested his head on my shoulder and sighed.
"Did you get rid of my stuff yet, Gee?" he asked. I shook my head.
"Well you should, soon." I nodded and he began to play with my hair.
"Bury me in red, like your hair, alright?" he mumbled, almost to
softly for me to hear. I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes.
"Okay." I said, trying to prevent tears from falling. "Whatever you
want, Frank." We sat in silence for a few more moments before Frank
began to speak again.
"I'm sorry you have to see me like this, Gerard." he sniffled.
"Don't say that, Frankie." I said, cupping his cheek "You're still
beautiful to me." he gave another weak smile. "I mean it, Frank.
You're gorgeous." And it was true, to me, at least.
"I love you, Gee." he said, burrowing his face into the crook of my
neck. "Don't miss me too much after I'm gone."
"Don't talk like that. You're strong." I said, but we both knew it was
only a matter of days before Frank would die.
"I have less than two days" he muttered, looking down. "The doctors
told me yesterday." I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. I began to
sob.
"Don't leave me, Frankie. I love you to much." I choked out.
"You know, the hardest part of this is leaving you." he said, pressing
a kiss to my cheek. Tears were now running down his own face. I
pulled him closer to me.
"Goodnight, Frank." I whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too." he said before closing his eyes.
The next morning, Frank was proclaimed dead. The funeral was a week
later. After struggling through the heart-braking ceremony and a
painful eulogy, everyone left. I stayed behind to place a red rose on
Frank's grave. His headstone read 'Frank Anthony Iero Jr. Joined the
Black Parade on February 27th, 2014. So long, and goodnight'.