Dom's POV
"It's called frontotemporal dementia, one of the only types of dementia that can hit teens and young adults."
I still remembered the day of the diagnosis.
I remembered being sat in a white walled room, staring at the pictures on the wall. I couldn't quite focus on the conversation, my mind was too preoccupied with the thought of bad news. Bad news for my Arthur.
I remembered his reaction. The second the doctor uttered the words, I could feel my heart thumping, pressing against my chest as it tried to fight through the agony. Arthur was in shock, his eyes staying glued to his hands, and his overall posture was stiff, solid as I tried to get a reaction from him.
It was almost as if he couldn't feel anymore.
I remembered comforting him that night, rocking his body back and forth as he cried out, pleading for something else, some other disease, that wouldn't leave him fighting, fighting for his memories.
I remembered that it was the worst day of my life.
As for Arthur, it was if it had never happened.
He didn't remember that day.
{~}
It started with him forgetting his keys, forgetting to run a lab test once in a while.
To me he was just my forgetful friend, the one we would laugh at, laugh with, as he made a mistake.
I thought nothing of it.
He thought nothing of it.
At the beginning of 2015 we were out for dinner, a sushi bar next to the Brighton pier, Arthur's favourite place.
He loved the beach, a place he felt was calming, comforting when life was too much. It was his idea on this spring evening, to bring me for a late night walk . He was persistent with showing me the Brighton sights, as we had only one more day left.
One more day until we left for the wards of holby once again.
We were walking out of the restaurant, when he stopped me, and began to take my hand. It felt weird at first, as if his touch felt foreign to me, but I accepted his gesture, and he lead me to the railings at the end of the pier, looking out across the ocean.
"I have to tell you something Dom, and it's very important to me." He breathed, now gripping both of my hands, and intertwining our fingers, slowly, carefully.
"You can tell me anything Arthur." I smiled, massaging his palms. My gaze was fixed on his dark eyes, gleaming as the sun shone on them, and I wished again that we could have more than a platonic friendship.
We had talked about it before, we confessed our feelings for each other in the tense air of the on call room. It didn't seem real though, as if it not being out of the hospital, made it less special, something we both quickly 'forgot'.
I was quickly bought back to reality as Arthur cupped my face, smiling nervously, as he looked me up and down. My heart felt heavy, and as my stomach turned and twisted, I wanted to do nothing more than kiss him, passionately like never before.
"Dom, I just wanted to say it again, I wanted to say, I-I need y-you, as m-more than a friend." He was stuttering, a known trait for Arthur Digby. "I need someone close to me Dom, I told myself that I didn't, but I do, I can't fight it anymore, I just can't do-"
Before he could get another word out of his mouth I crashed my lips on to his, pulling my hands up and lacing them around his shoulder blades. I could feel him grin into the kiss, and I pulled away to see warm tear streaks on his face, his eyes now glowing with a watery film across them.
"Dom I-I think I'm ready to give 'us' a t-try." He cried, hugging me tightly, as we stood against the ocean, watching the end of the Brighton sunset.
The sky was all different shades of purple and red, and the light reflected beautifully on the water ripples, making the place picturesque, a magical setting, as I kissed him again.
"I think I'm ready too, babe." I stroked the side of his cheek, catching a single tear on my finger. He smiled through his sniffles, and persisted with holding me tightly.
"Dom I think I'm ready to give 'us' a try." Arthur whispered in my ear, beginning to whimper again, as I held him. I pulled away slightly, and nodded my head.
"Diggers, you just told me that." I stated looking confused as he shook his head. I grabbed his shoulders carefully, and looked into his eyes once again. I saw frustration, annoyance with himself as he realised he had mucked up.
"I'm sorry, I just forgot for a minute and I-" He tried to explain himself, but I cut him off, smiling reassuringly.
"It's okay." I replied, looping my arm with his, so we could take a gentle stroll back towards his car. "Everyone forgets sometimes."
"I'm sorry." He muttered again looking down at his feet. I instantly felt bad for pointing it out, and I pulled his chin up, so he was looking at me clearly.
"When you can't remember things, I'll always remember for you." I chuckled, saying it as more of a joke. He laughed, and knocked my arm.
"Promise?" He asked, smiling as I pecked his cheek.
"Would I ever break a promise?"
He shook his head and persisted with walking, an expression of accomplishment on his face. He seemed oblivious to what had just happened.
That was the first night I knew something wasn't quite right.
Something was wrong.
Why did he keep forgetting things?
{~}
I walked into the familiar building, the one I was ever so used to being accustomed with, holding a photo album today. I bought something different everyday, something that I could show him while I was visiting.
I looked at the blue painted sign, the cheery old thing that sat on the desk. I saw it all the time, but it never failed to make me smile.
"Happy days Hospice."
I practically lived here, but I didn't mind.
I promised him, and I would keep my promise.
When he couldn't remember, I would remember for him.
And that's just how it would be from now on.