OCTOBER 22, 2018
"Roman!" A voice called out to him.
He turned around in the parking lot to see Ilene running towards him. Sweet, precious Ilene who he had dreamed about for so long. They had been so close, and their flirting had been heavy. When he started feeling something was wrong with him, he had pulled away from her. Deep inside he knew it was back before the doctor told him, and he wouldn't put his problems on her.
And yet there she was, running towards him as he was about to leave. He had just told the world on live tv that he had to go and battle leukemia. Her wavy, dark blonde hair bounced up and down as she ran. Before he knew what was happening, she jumped up in his arms.
"Hi," he smiled.
"Hi," she smiled back. "And... Ehm... Sorry for jumping on you like that."
"I don't mind," he said.
He looked in her eyes. The same blue eyes he had looked into so many times before. Now he couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever look into them again. Weeks ago he thought he had all the time in the world. That he was on top of his game. Now he feared he might have to say goodbye. There was many things he wanted to tell her, and only little time to do it.
"I'm in love with you," he blurted out. "And I'm sorry for pulling away from you. I wanted to ask you out, and then I started feeling sick. I knew it was back, and I couldn't deal with anything in that moment."
"Ssh," she shushed him. "I'm in love with you too."
"Fucking shitty timing for us," he sighed. "Look, Ilene, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want you contacting me while I'm gone. Go on with your life. Have fun, date, fall in love. I can't promise you anything, and I sure as hell won't burden you."
She took him by surprise when she kissed him. He didn't stop her. He kissed her back, enjoying every second of it as long as it lasted. She broke the kiss, and looked into his eyes again.
"When you come back, I'll be here waiting," she said.
FEBRUARY 25, 2019
She had known like everyone else that he would be back today. It hadn't been that long, and yet it felt like a lifetime ago. She felt nervous. A lot of things could have changed in that short period of time.
She didn't go to him during the show, and he didn't go to her either. It was his night. He had to do his thing. When the show finally ended, he looked around, but he couldn't see her anywhere. He sighed and walked towards the entrance of the arena. He had told her to live her life and not keep in contact with him. Maybe she had moved on and found someone else. He pushed the door open, and walked out in the parking lot.
"Roman!" A voice called out to him.
He turned around in the parking lot, smiling at her running towards him. Still his sweet, precious Ilene. Her wavy hair bounced up and down like the last time. She jumped up in his arms, and locked her blue eyes with his brown.
"Hi," he said.
"I waited for you," she said.
He ran his fingers through her wavy hair. His smile grew wider. She had stayed true to her word and waited. It had seemed like too much to ask, and she had still done it. He pulled her down for a kiss, once again enjoying every second of it. It was different this time. When they broke apart, it wouldn't be a matter of if they would ever see each other again. It would be a matter of how few seconds he would allow to pass before kissing those lips again.
"Welcome back," she said.
"Thanks," he smiled. "I like the welcome committee."