December 28
"How are you doing?" A basket of fruits was laid down by his bedside. Added smack in the center of the arrangement were multicolored chrysanthemums, brilliant and cheery.
He stirred as soon as he felt a presence right beside him sitting by his bed.
"I---I'm fine.... thanks for the flowers. Somehow you should have been reminded by mom that sour and sweet fruits are refrained on my food list now." the patient replied with a hint of mockery.
"Oh..." the lass who visited him twirled a lock of her light brown hair around her index finger and blushed. "I'm sorry. I have no idea about that."
He laughed but then it turned into a choke.
"Hey, are you okay?" she gently patted his back as his coughs turned incessant. He twitched about like his wole body was on fire. He proceeded coughing and then felt sudden pain on his spinal cord. The girl instantly supported him on lying down once more. Her face presented a look of pity on the patient. You see, she had been his friend since they were schoolmates. She had been noticing his queer condition five months ago. It's weird, but even though he's experiencing a great deal of pain he still manages to kid around and smile a lot.
Just like he does now.
"Thanks for always being there for me." he gratefully stated as he grinned.
But no. She can't feel the same cheerful aura that he possessed months ago. It's like... whenever he smiles she's being more pained and stabbed. He is not a picture of a jolly and juvelant fellow anymore.
There's pain in his eyes.
"Oh, don't tell me you'll break down too." he blurted out which made her back to her senses. The pain reverberated even more in his tone and his eyes displayed more amount of it, too.
"No, of course not." She stood up placed her hands over his forehead, and gently shuffled his hair.
The boy then held on the girl's right hand gently, then tighter as if he doesn't want to let go.
"Listen to me..." He began, his voice faint. "Stay with me. D-don't let me go. Hold on tight. I--- I don't.... I don't want to let go."
Let go.
That phrase echoed in the patient's room. That made her stop. Even though she had no idea about what's going on with her friend, she knew that everything he's experiencing is not really well. Of course, he is her friend.... and she won't let go of their friendship. But as she thought of that, she pondered;
"What's that he really meant?"
Even though her mind's in this type of uncertainty she still replied so as not to sadden her friend.
"Yes, I would. I promise."
Then, she felt his hand grab hers tighter, the kind of tightness that when he released it, a purple welt on his now seemingly delicate skin. He smiled weakly and lifelessly.
"Thanks... very much."
She let go, even though she really don't want to, and excused herself. As soon as she went away, she felt the lad's sadness upon seeing her leave, and it bugged her. Her heart ached when she decided to leave, but then she thought she just have to learn how to let go...
... as early as now.
She opened the door and walked a few steps. Just then, she met his friend's doctor. He's heading to his room. She bowed in greeting and reverence then followed him through her green eyes. Instead of going, she managed to eavesdrop a bit just to hear --- and confirm --- what and how his condition is progressing.
And what she heard surprised her that she almost ran out of air to breathe. She ran as fast as she could like a madman of some sort. Away, away from there...
Away, away from the truth so it won't hurt anymore.
--oo--
Time is ticking down so fast, he realized it as he build concentration by listening to the heartbeats of a wall clock nearby.
A few months ago he remembered quite well how good his whole body performed while he was practising with his team. Now he's here, lying sadly on a hospital bed and watch the day devour itself.
Such great difference.
Tims runs so fast, so fast that it's so hard to catch up with it.
He looked beside his bed where the papers lay stiff. No, he doesn't want noise anymore. No more television for him now... no more sound, for it will just make it harder for him to accept the absolute reality that he's into.
Instead, he reached out for those papers. It's a long brown envelope with a resealable lid. He gently opened it and fished out those x-ray photos of his chest. His lungs...
He can't believe it; he lose half of it already.
It's due to his unending choking and coughing that's why it was wasted away. It is now replaced by horrible-looking, tumor-like cells.
Shivers were sent down his spine. He almost cried, just like he used to do when no one's around; when there's no one seeing him and no heart would break upon feeling his terrible pain.
"I just want them to be acting just like they normally do. I want to hear them laugh out loud and don't mind me... me and my disease."
He cried but no tears fell. His eyes were already dry, just like an oasis under a hot and scorching sun. His eyes hurt even more, yet no form of liquid fell. He presumed that he had cried too much already.
He looked outside. It's already night time. Probably his family's now sitting on the supper table, eating merrily and sharing stories of the day. Yes, they are happy, but the only thing that made him think so negative was the fact that they were not with them anymore.
Not with them. Not only now, but for all time.