June 2004


Six months had passed since the surgery and his treatments had resumed. The recovery was arduous. Schemer was hospital bound for a few weeks before being deemed strong enough to leave again. It killed him to be away from Stacy because she wasn't allowed to be with him after visiting hours. But she was there most of the time when he was allowed visitors. As usual she was happy to see him, and her smiled warmed his core. He was just glad to be out of the hospital and back at his own place.

"I promise that I'll make it all up to you one day." He told her one night over dinner.

"You don't need to do anything more than you've already done for me." She said with a smile.

"I haven't done anything nearly as important than what you've done for me." He was confused at her statement.

"You brought me happiness when I was at a low point in my life." She confessed and squeezed his hand.

To his shame realized that he never knew she was at a low point when they reunited. This was new to him, and he felt guilty for not ever asking. Although she had never made any indication that she ever wanted to talk about it. In fact, anytime she was asked about her recent past before reuniting with him, she seemed very uncomfortable. Perhaps one day he'd know.

"Don't forget about your appointment tomorrow." She reminded him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

He frowned. Or perhaps he wouldn't.


As he sat in his doctor's office, he was reminded of the time that the doctor had first told him about the seriousness of his cancer. The doctor sat across from him with a slight frown, looking at the latest test results. Schemer sat preparing for the worst, he had been waiting for the other foot to fall for the better part of the last year. Finally his doctor looked up and Schemer braced himself. However, Schemer was surprised when the doctor smiled.


"Complete remission." He told Stacy when he got home.

Happy tears formed in her eyes and she embraced him hard. It hadn't sunk in fully until that moment and he felt the weight of the last two years roll off his back. He kissed her full on the mouth and when they broke apart, forehead's resting together, he asked her the question that cancer had held back.

"Marry me?"


I Need You - The Beatles