She Loved Him and He Died

4. The Golden Haired Girl

She could see the darkness swirling in his forest green eyes. Emotions that he has clearly been suppressing for far too long pooling in the rims, frustration, anger and sadness all took place.

She saw the way bits and pieces of him were breaking apart. Though she did not pity the man, but instead it felt like a part of her was being torn apart too. Why did she feel this way? She does not know him as more than just a patient of hers.

Maybe it's just her natural caring instinct, she often got sad when she had to deliver news like this to any other patient of hers. But why does this feel worse? Is it because he's been what people would call 'her celebrity crush'? Perhaps that is it.

"Of course Mr. Finnes-Tiffen, that number is if you choose not to undergo treatment," she pauses and takes a deep breath, "but with treatment you will only live a bit longer and more miserably, you probably don't want it, but here's my opinion. Don't do treatment, it'll weaken you down and make your life even more hell, live your life to the fullest, go out, forget about all of those awful people and rumors, travel and see the world with open eyes. Do it all before it's too late." She spoke softly to him.

Hero stared down at his lap, his fists balled at his sides and tears streaming down his face. His face scrunched up in anger and sadness.

After minutes of silence he speaks, "I can't," he mutters hoarsely.

"Why?" Josephine looks at him confused.

"Because, it all wouldn't be worth it if I were alone. I'd feel just as lonely as I do now, just in different places." He looks up at her, the whites of his eyes now red, making his green eyes look like they are glowing. "All I've ever wanted is something I can't even have," he adds on softly.

She knows it is none of her business to ask, but she does anyways. "What is it that you want?"

He chews on his bottom lip, "someone to love me. Spend time with me. Laugh with me. Hug me... so many things."

Josephine does not know how to answer to him. What is she supposed to say at this point?

"Come with me," he startles her from her thoughts.

"W-what?" She stutters confused.

"Come. With. Me." He stands up, "help me live the rest of my days happy, I'll pay for everything, I'll get you whatever you want. You won't ever have to do a ounce of work in your life again, just please come with me." He practically begs with wide eyes.

"You don't know me, I don't know you. We are just strangers to each other, how do you know I could make you happy?" She asks him as confused as ever.

"You've already elicited more hope for me than anyone has since I got diagnosed with this." He tells her with all of the truth in his body.

"Listen, I don't want anything from you. I don't want money or anything, so just please give me a bit of time to think about this?" She chews on her finger nails nervously.

"Alright I'll be back on Saturday, I'm going to be leaving that night, today is Wednesday. You have two days to think this over." Just with the snap of her fingers he is gone, like he was never there at all...
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"Miss Martha?" Jo asks into the phone hesitantly.

"Josephine?" The thick Spanish accent of a woman replies back.

"Si, mamá." She replies, once she realizes she dialed the right number.

"Hola, cariño!" The lady exclaims enthusiastically.

"Hola, mamá," Josephine sighs a bit sadly.

"What's wrong?" Her worried voice sounds through the phone speaker loudly. Josephine has only muttered two words and she can already tell that something is affecting her baby girl.

"Nothin, mamá, just work, ya know?" She replies after a moment.

"It's more than just that isn't it?" The smart woman retorts.

"Si, mamá. Hay un paciente que llegó hoy, no le queda mucho tiempo de vida. Tampoco tiene a nadie con quien pasar ese tiempo..." Josephine trails off. When Josephine gets into uncomfortable situations or talk about uncomfortable things, she starts to talk in Spanish. It makes her feel safer in a way. She had learned it from miss Martha, perhaps that's the reason she resorts to it is because miss Martha makes her feel safe.

(Yes mama. There is a patient who arrived today, he does not have long to live. He also has no one to spend that time with...) a/n: I do not know any Spanish, I used Google Translate for this so please let me know if there is any grammar errors!

"¿Y...?" (And...?) Miss Martha trails on knowing there's more.

"Y quiere que pase ese tiempo con él. Acompañarlo mientras viaja y vive el resto de su vida al máximo." Josephine huffs.

(And he wants me to spend that time with him. Accompany him whilst he travels and live the rest of his life to the fullest.)

Josephine hears Miss Martha sigh deeply on the other side of the phone, "Jo, what does that mean to you?"

"What do you mean, mamá?" Jo asks in confusion.

"Him asking you, out of everyone he could choose or him just deciding to spend that time alone. What does it mean to you?"

Josephine takes a few moments to think this over.

'What does this mean to me?' She asks herself.

"That he's just desperate for a companion..." she mumbles, knowing she's lying and that she doesn't actually believe herself.

"If he was desperate for a companion he could've gone to a strip club, Jo." Mamá snaps. "I think he likes you." She then whispers.

"But, Mamá, I don't know this man nor does he know me."

"Then get to know him by going with him."
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Josephine  stands behind the front desk flipping through patients paper work that was handed to her while she also awaits for the arrival of Hero.

It is Saturday and she knows he is bound to stop by sometime today as he said he would.

As if he were reading her mind, he steps trough the automatic glass doors across from the desk she stands behind. He takes long strides and he radiates confidence till he reaches the desk.

"So, have you decided?" He gets straight to the point and asks.

"Yes I have," she replies to him quietly. He nods his head as to say 'well, tell me' "I'll go with you, but I have a few conditions."