Let's Meet Again, For the First Time (Eren x OC)

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Eren's POV:

His eyes met with mine, I quickly looked down and turned away.

"Eren, that you?", I shut my eyes tightly, "Fuck", I whispered then turned back to him.

Each footstep I took toward him my stomach twisted tighter and tighter.

"Well, this is awkward", he broke the tension, "Why are you getting chemotherapy", I said, knowing the answer. He stayed quiet a moment, his eyes elsewhere.

"Cancer's back", his eyes turned hopeless, my heart sank into my chest.

I clenched my jaw and shut my eyes, my entire body drenched in defeat.

"Does Spencer know?", I asked painfully, "No", I exhaled deeply, feeling so many different emotions I didn't even understand.

"Take a seat son", he said, his voice low and tired. I sat beside him in the empty chair.

"You know that I was sick before, right?", he asked, "Yeah, Spencer told me", I leaned forward.

"I don't want to put them through it again....I just- I can't do that to them", his voice began to break, my eyes began to sting with tears. "They watched their father die once, they don't need to see it again", he continued, "Bec just started college, and Spence fell in love, I-...I don't want to take that away from them".

"Their lives are just starting", he started to smile, "I wont be the one to end them again", his smile turned sad. "After a few rounds of this poison I'll be fine and I can save them from the pain", my face began to fall, "What they don't know won't hurt them, I'll get to remission again and they wont even know I was sick in the first place".

"So just don't mention anything to Spencer", he said causally, "Sir- I cant..-", "Don't call me sir", he cut me off.

I furrowed my brows, "You can't ask me to lie to Spencer", I shook my head, "I cant put her through this again, I cant consume her life again, I cant let her watch me die again", her paused for a moment, "A father is supposed to-...", he started to tear up, "A father is supposed to take care of his daughter- not the other way around".

Watching him cry made my heart ache with the worst pain there is. To see a grown man completely fall apart was something I had never seen before.

"Please-just-... please let them live in ignorant bliss, I'm not asking you to lie, I'm asking you to forget", he stopped to catch his breath, "Son, please let my girls live their happy lives, don't let me ruin it again", he begged. His eyes teary and his voice breaking just as my heart was.

I looked to the side, chocking back my tears as best I could.

"Just promise me you won't-...tell them".

I inhaled sharply and my eyes locked with his again, "Okay", I breathed, a single tear falling from my eye. "Thank you", he said, his eyes sad and dull.

I wiped my face, "I gotta go- see my mom", I couldn't understand my own emotions, "Give her my best and-...thank you, Eren", I glanced back at him and nodded.

I was sad. I was frustrated. I was mad. And most of all I felt guilty.

I couldn't lie to her. But I couldn't break his promise.

What the hell was I supposed to do?

No, that isn't the question I should be asking.

What the hell would you do?

Lie to the woman you love for the sake of her heart? Or break a promise to her father that would shatter them both?

I was conflicted, I was confused and I was fucking terrified.