The week following the loss of my virginity (may it rest in peace) I didn't hear from Nero at all.

Nothing.

Zip.

Zero.

Nada.

He wouldn't answer his phone; I ended up leaving him probably fifty voice mails.

He wouldn't reply to my texts or IM's, I probably sent him a hundred each.

And when I finally became desperate enough to go to his house and ring his door bell, not a single soul was home. News papers were piled up at their doorstop, the grass in the front yard was uncut and unruly, and there were no cars in the drive way.

Something in the pit of my stomach started coiling; I had this horrible, horrible feeling. Something wasn't right. Something definitely wasn't right.

Was it just a coincidence that right after Nero and I had had sex that he and his mom had dropped off the face of the earth?

Maybe he was ashamed of me, of what he did. Maybe they're staying at a hotel somewhere, doing all they can to avoid my very presence.

Either way, my demon went on a frenzy of self pity and self hatred while I was about ready to sit in my car and cry my eyes out like a girl when I suddenly got a text from an unknown number.

Virgil, go to Holy Cross Hospital NOW.

I suppose I should feel stupid that I was taking order from a cell phone but something in my gut told me Nero would be there. So I set my navigational system and just like the cell phone, I obeyed orders.

Once I pulled into the parking lot, I nearly ran a few people over to get the first available parking space. And once I hopped out of the car I nearly ran a few people over as well.

I ran up to the snooty front desk lady, smacking her bubble gum again and again and tapping her ridiculously long acrylics nails against her desk.

"How may I help you?" She asked in a bored monotone voice.

"I need to see Nero Alboeques."

She smacked her bubble gum once more while looking through a couple charts. "Fifth floor cancer ward."

"Can…can…c-cancer? That has to be some mistake. Are you sure you have the right person?"

"Only Nero Alboeques here." I wanted to rip each of her fake nails out as she continued to tap, tap, tap. I have seen the devil and devil is this receptionist.

"Thank you." I somehow gritted out before calmly waltzing towards the elevator.

This had to be some kind of practical joke. I bet once I reach the fifth floor Nero is going to jump out smiling while explaining that among all the trash picking up and animals he helped, he also volunteered at a hospital.

Yeah, that was definitely Nero.

"I got you so good Virgil! I bet you actually thought I was sick! I'm sorry, didn't mean to give you a heart attack. I just wanted to see your face. But don't worry, look, I'm fine. Please stop giving me that morbid pouty face, how bout we kiss and make up?"

Except…when I walked into the room…there he was, just lying there, hooked up to IV's and other technical equipment.

He was looking up at me with shock and I was looking down at him with confusion. Please god, let this be some kid of sick nightmare…

"Nero?" I whispered, approaching his bed slowly.

"Virgil? H-How did you know I was here?"

"Somebody sent me a text…"

Nero grunted. "My mother. Nosy woman." Somehow I was in too much shock to except pleasant banter.

"W-Wha….Wha…What the hell is going on?"

My boyfriend sighed. His face looked aged somehow. He was more pale then usual, not to mention he had heavy bags under his eyes and he looked skinnier then ever. "I…I have Leukemia."

The word didn't register correctly. It had to be processed in bits and pieces before I could fully comprehend the meaning.

"Lu…Leukemia! How…when...?"

"I was diagnosed a few years ago and I've been fighting ever since."

"N-No… you were fine! You were fine! I saw you!"

"I was in remission and I was doing quite well actually, the doctors thought I was actually making progress."

"Why didn't you fucking tell me? I'm your bloody boyfriend for godsakes, I think I have the fucking right to know don't-cha think?"

"Would you not curse in here? There are little kids around."

"I will fucking curse when I fucking want! Fuck you! This is fucking ridiculous!There are a few things you should bring up on a first date: I'm a Christian, I love the Beatles, oh, and I'm fucking dying."

"No I'm not!" Nero hissed. "Take that back! I'm not! I'm still here aren't I? Cancer is word, not a sentence. And I can tell you whatever I darn well please! It's my life."

I threw my fucking hands in the air like I was at a bloody rock concert.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought after last week it was our life. My bad. Apparently I don't mean a goddam bit to you."

"Look," Nero hissed. "I'm sorry, I really liked you and I panicked. I panicked because I didn't want your pity, I panicked because I had tried so dam hard to keep up this intricate façade of some cheery optimistic kid that didn't have a care in the world when on the inside I just wanted to run and hide. I'm sorry. I just…didn't know what else to do."

I looked over at the boy I loved, yes loved, and knelt down next to his bed. "Nero, I would have protected you! I would have done everything in my power to make you feel safe. You don't give me enough credit sometimes."

"I know and I'm sorry. I just…panicked."

I leant over and kissed his forehead gently. "Well you don't have to panic anymore cause I'm here to stay kid. Remember on our first date when we saw that mushy movie where the guy took the bullet for that girl and you told me he did it because he couldn't bare to see her hurting? Well this me taking a bullet for you. I can't bare to see you hurting. And Even if you don't want me around, I'm staying You're stuck with me. "

"What a punishment."

I snorted and kissed his forehead once more. "One question though before your mom pops in at the worst possible moment: What would you say if I said I was falling in love with you Nero Alboeques?"

"I-I'd say I was falling in love with you too Virgil Sparda."

I'm so sorry -crys all the manly tears-