Lifetime

Notes

I freshened up in the bathroom before heading back to the treatment center, feeling a bit dissociated from everything as I rode the elevator to the seventh floor again. I ran warm water over my hands, the transition from the harsh winter weather that I hadn't anticipated brutal. Everything felt so real that nothing felt real at all.

The curtain was still opened halfway from when I left and as I approached I saw that my dad's seat was empty. Seokjin spotted me before I could turn away to avoid being alone with him, explaining the absence.

"He went to the bathroom and mentioned that you probably hadn't eaten since your flight. It was my day to bring snacks for us but he said they have your favorite chips and candy in one of the vending machines." He clarified.

I remained standing, already turning back around as I replied. "I should go help him."

"He's fine. Mrs.Taylor's kid is here today and likes putting money in the machines so he walked with him." Seokjin noted, gesturing toward my seat.

"You take turns bringing snacks?" I asked as I sank back into the soft cushioned recliner.

He noticed that I was shivering, leaning away from me to retreive a blanket from the other side of his chair. He offered it to me and even though I was freezing I shook my head, holding up my hand to refuse. "I'll just wear my coat." I grabbed the quilted jacket that was still too thin for the current weather to drape over myself. For some reason I didn't want to breathe in his scent if it were carried in the blanket.

"He takes Monday and I do Tuesday for snacks since we both come on those days. I'm here by myself on Wednesday but sometimes he comes to sit with me if he feels up to it." Seokjin didn't seem phased by my behavior, moving on to answering my previous inquiry.

"So you've known each other long enough to coordinate snack schedules?" I fired seemingly mundane questions at him since there was nowhere else to aim, giving me answers that built toward slight understandings.

"It's been around three months since we officially met. I've been here for a while so everyone around here knows me at some point. We ended up beside each other during his last cycle of the first course of chemo for him and he told me he was making the move permanently when he found out he needed another course." He talked as if it were the most normal conversation in the world.

When I didn't reply, staring at him blankly, he looked up at me. As soon as he met my eye I turned toward the large tote bag I'd become used to lugging around, reaching so far in that half of my arm disappeared.

"I should be writing this down." I fiddled through the pile of junk inside, searching for a pen and paper.

"I'm sure he has all the information back at his apartment." He seemed concerned about the frantic way I slapped the small notebook I always kept with me on the table by my chair, continuing with my hunt for a pen.

I sounded exasperated but honestly, I just needed something to do. I hadn't been settled for more than an hour and was already wired, understanding why everyone in the center brought things to occupy their time. "Just tell me again."

"Here." He interruped my digging, holding out the pen he'd been using for his puzzles. I grabbed it by the edge, tucking a flyaway piece of hair behind my ear as he repeated my dad's treatment schedule. "He's on his first cycle of treatment, so he comes twice a week for four weeks and then has a week off. It's the second week of the cycle. That'll repeat for four cycles and he'll be done with this course of treatment."

I scribbled nearly every word, following up for more information. "And we bring snacks on Monday's?" I confirmed.

"Monday's." He repeated with a chuckle. The sound made me look up from my paper. Seokjin watched me intently, pressing his chin into his palm with a smirk.