"Are you okay Alexi?" George asked, concerned. The girl looked flushed and seemed to be less peppy than usual. She looked tired.

She nodded and said,"P-p-perfectly fine s-s-sir." Alexi cast him a small smile.

George squinted his eyes suspiciously at her and nodded. She walked back to her desk that she shared with her girlfriend Maria. Maria looked up and smiled at Alexi.

George smiled at the two. Ah, he thought, Young love.

He turned to go back to his office.

Five hours later…

"Alexi. Alexi. Alexi! Alexandra! ALEXANDRA!" George said.

The last one jolted Alexi out of her work trance. Her head popped up and she said,"Sorry sir, I didn't hear you. Sorry."

George smiled at her. He then noticed her paper. "Alexi I asked for you to write a paper that was two pages at most—this is nearly twenty five!" She choked. "I thought you said thirty two." She said, unconvincingly.

George looked at her skeptically and said,"Uh huh." She sweetly smiled at him.

He nodded and rolled his eyes. George began walking away the he heard Alexi violently coughing. He turned around and saw Maria pounding her girlfriend's back.

"What's going on here?" George asked. Alexi and Maria looked away guiltily.

Alexi stood up and tried to walk away but George grabbed her. Her skin felt like it was on fire.

"Jesus Christ!" George exclaimed. "You have a major fever Alexi! You need to go home!" She shook her head and said,"N-n-n-no I'm f-f-f-f—" Alexi's knees buckled.

George caught her before she hit the ground and gently lowered her into a chair. Maria came rushing over and had Alexi lean against her.

"Mar mar I think today's a bad day…" Maria nodded and whispered,"I know. It's okay mon cheri." Alexandra smiled weakly.

George watched the interaction with nervousness. "What's going on here?" He asked.

Alexi looked down and Maria looked at her. Alexi said,"Yeah."

Maria looked at George and said,"Alexi's…she going through chemo…" George was silent for a minute and then replied,"That would me she has…" "Cancer. Yeah." Maria said angrily.

George was speechless. "W-w-what kind?" He asked. Alexi and Maria looked at each other and once again Alexi nodded.

"Lymphoma." Maria replied. Maria knew she had to be strong, not only for Lexi but for herself too. If she started crying... God Maria knew she wouldn't stop.

George looked Alexi in the eyes. "Why didn't you tell me, lex?" She replied,"I wanted something to stay normal."

Tears filled his eyes and he pulled both girls into a hug.

From this moment on George did everything he could for the couple.

He went to Chemo sessions with Alexi.

He talked to Maria and helped her sort out her feelings.

He was there when Alexi had to be admitted to the hospital.

He was there when she had taken her final, shuddering breath.

He was there when the heart monitor flatlined.

George was there when she died.