A Twist Of Fate

Chapter 1

Over a year later... 

Lily smiled sadly, looking over at Matt who was eating the food Lily brought up from the hospital's cafeteria.  The room only made the feeling worse, with its plain white walls and emptiness. The smell of sickness and death filled the air, and no amount of room freshener and perfume made it go away.

"Why the sad smile?" Matt asked, smirking at Lily, "I'm right here. I'm not going to run away. Well, unless you tell the police everything I've done."

Matt… was different. He was unlike anyone else Lily ever met. They spent nights talking about books, criticizing them, usually disagreeing with one another. Matt had a past. A past Lily was aware of. A past that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he was going to stay alive. And that they would be in love forever.

"I was just remembering the first time we met, at Monique's party." Lily put on a small smill, and Matt laughed lightly, recalling the events himself.

"That feels like ages ago, not more than a year. Time flies when you have no time left.’ Matt said and Lily looked at him sadly, hating when he spoke like that. Before she could reply, though, Matt’s usual nurse came in for Matt's check up.

"When was the last time you smoked?" The nurse said, looking at Matt with suspicion, then swiftly added, "Or drank alcohol?"

"I haven't smoked anything or drank alcohol ever since I first came into the hospital after my attack." Matt said, with a grumble, frustrated. That was the third time he had been asked that question that day.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure he doesn't." Lily said, slipping her hand into Matt's, and the nurse smiled at her in appreciation. The nurse knew Matt wouldn’t, but she had to ask these questions. She knew he was safe in the hands of Lily. Her and Lily had gained some sort of an understanding these past few days. They both wanted the same thing. To make sure Matt lived.

The nurse left the room after asking a couple more question, and taking a few precautions, but not before shutting the door with a sad look on her face. A sullen silence settled over them, both of their thoughts running.

A sudden burst of bravery shot through Lily.  Everyone knew their time together was running out, and fast. If she was going to ask, she was going to do it now. Before it was too late. The question had been on her mid from the start.  

"How come you didn't tell me that night?" Lily’s voice was quiet and soft, coming out as almost a whisper, and it took Matt some time to realize what she was asking.  He knew the question was coming up but he still had no idea how to answer.

"It's not something you tell someone when you meet them. Hi, I'm Matt. Oh, and I have lung cancer." Matt said and Lily closed her eyes, sighing. He knew his answer wasn’t good enough. He knew she was itching to ask from the start. He still didn’t know.

"You told me you were an orphan though. Why not when we started dating?" Lily asked, trying to dig deeper to find an answer. Did he not trust her? She just wanted some sort of closure; something, anything!

"I don't know, Lily, can you please drop it? I just…” Matt’s voice cracked, and words failed him. The question was now getting on his nerves. He knew that answer. He always did.

"Why not when you told me you loved me? Why not on our one year anniversary, why not when we were just sitting down?" Lily asked, standing up, as she started pacing angrily around the room, her frustration reaching its climax as her voice started getting louder.  

"I didn't know how to! Just let it go, Lily!" Matt yelled his harsh tone reflecting his flaring nose, but as soon as he saw Lily flinch realization dawned upon him and he regretted it. He knew Lily just wanted to know, she had broken down when he had his attack, and now she was trying to piece everything together, make it right once again.