The Absence of You

Chapter Three

"The bad news... is that it's on the cusp of stage two." As the words hit their ears, Majima and Makoto glanced sidelong at each other. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"What're my treatment options?" Majima asked, resisting the urge to scratch at the nicotine patch he was wearing; Makoto had said that it would help curb his craving for cigarettes, and he figured that it was worth a shot. The doctor scratched his beard, sighing deeply. Majima glanced at him, then at Makoto once again as he spoke. He was fearing the worst, even though he had just been given some good news.

"Your treatment options are either chemotherapy or surgery. The choice is yours."

"No." The word left his lips so quickly that neither the doctor nor Makoto had realized what he had said.

"I'm sorry, what?" the doctor asked after a moment. "Did you say... no?"

"Did I stutter?"

"I... You really want to refuse treatment?"

"I do."

"But... why?" Makoto butted in. "What are you thinking?"

He turned to face her before answering. "I wanna make sure that the good memories outweigh the bad. If that means refusin' treatment just to spend time with you, then goddammit, that's how it's gonna be."

She pouted slightly as she stared at him. "Fool. You're lucky I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her cheek, smiling as best he could, given the situation.

After a few more moments, the doctor allowed them to go, telling Majima to call if he changed his mind about the treatment.

As they walked out of the clinic, Majima turned to Makoto and said, "I know you're gonna say that I'm being stupid or selfish or something, but I really think it'd be better if I didn't undergo the treatment. I hear that's what really kills ya, not the cancer."

"But what about me?" Makoto snapped, not meaning to. "What about my feelings?"

Majima recoiled in shock at the outburst. "I... You're right. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry for shouting. I just... I don't want to lose you."

"I can't say that you'll never lose me, but I'll try to stay alive as long as I can."

"Good. Because..." She smiled, looking up at him. "The stress isn't good for the baby."

Majima froze in his tracks, blinking slowly. Had he heard her correctly? "I'm sorry, did you say... Baby?"

"That's right." She nodded, beaming. "I'm pregnant."

"I... Wow. But wait... we never... Did we?"

"We did, actually. Remember? That first night in our apartment. You... wanted to celebrate us moving in together. Of course, I wanted it as well. I just... never imagined that I would ever be..." She sniffled, still grinning up at him.

As he stared down at her, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "This is the happiest day of my life. We're gonna be parents."

"Yeah. In just nine months' time." She sighed happily, laying her head on his shoulder. "But... There's something... missing. Something important."

"Like what?" Majima tilted his head.

"Like... marriage. We aren't married, so having a child would..." Before she could continue her thought, she found herself staring down at Majima, who had dropped down to one knee. "I... What are you doing?"

"What's it look like?" he replied, digging into his pocket and pulling out a ring box.

"No... You aren't. Not here..."