"I'm wasting away, aren't I?" Juliet pouts, her lower lip quivering. Pauline only smiles reassuringly, reaching forward to take Juliet's hand in hers. She runs her thumb over Juliet's knuckles, prompting a contented sigh.
Juliet leans forward, but stops. "No...you might end up like this, Paul."
But with only a glance around to see if any busybody nurses are watching, Pauline softly presses her lips to Juliet's. Juliet squeezes her hand tighter as they kiss again and again.
Juliet's blue eyes glitter now, seeming to light up the entire room. "I dare say," she whispers, "this is even better than reading your letters."