A Little Too Soon for Goodbye

25 -Je T'aime

As the next few days pass, it's almost as if the energy is drained out of me. I barely have energy to walk half a mile every day. Even with my doses of food being the same, my body is still losing weight. I've become skin and bones. The cancer is sucking the life out of me, and for the first time I actually can feel it.

I spend most of the day alone. My friends all have school, and my parents work until 6:30 pm, so they visit after that, but visiting hours end at 9:00. After school, Adrien is here most days unless he has a photoshoot, and it has been leaked online that Adrien has been seen entering the hospital multiple times, so the security is even higher than it used to be so random fan girls can't get in.

Tikki and Plagg come into my room occasionally, just to chat or check on me. Tikki or another nurse usually walk with me for a few laps around the floor every couple of hours, but besides that that's all of the contact I get during the day.

I sit in my bed and sketch, waiting until school gets out and Adrien comes over. I hear a knock on my door, and look over. I'm surprised to see Emilie Agreste standing there, a giant bouquet of wild flowers in her arm.

"Hey," I say, smiling at her and sitting up more.

"How's my girl?" She asks, walking over and giving me a hug and setting the flowers down on a chair.

"I've been better," I say, hugging her back just as tight. I constantly have to be on oxygen now along with the feeding tube, and when I see myself all I see is someone sick.

"I'm sorry darling. Adrien told me how lonely you've been lately, so I decided to spend the afternoon with you. Gabriel would be here if he could, but he's swamped with work lately." She goes to sit down, but then realizes that the flowers are still on the chair. "I'm going to go find a vase for these. I'll be right back."

She leaves, and I'm alone again. I continue to sketch, but suddenly get an idea. I wait for Emilie to get back, and she places the flowers in an empty vase that the hospital must have had. "There," she says, happy with her work.

"Emilie?" I ask, and she turns towards me. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor." She nods, waiting for me to continue. "I want to do something with my life. Obviously I've never had the chance. There's so much I want to do, but I can't. I've barely lived. But the main thing is make an impact. I was wondering if you could convince Gabriel to feature some of my designs in his upcoming clothing release. I'd be willing to do whatever he wants me to, and I can send some home with you, they just need to be executed."

She just looks at me, and her eyes fill with tears. "Of course, Darling."

—————

Emilie spends the next few hours with me, and Adrien comes over. I can tell he is exhausted, and I scoot over, letting him collapse on the bed. He lays on my torso and falls asleep faster than I thought was humanly possible.

As I'm talking to my boyfriend's mom, the topic turns more serious. "Make sure he's happy again eventually." I say, and she nods.

"Of course."

"I'm being serious. I don't want to leave him, but I don't have a choice. You have to make sure that he eventually moves on. You deserve grandkids. A daughter in law. He deserves someone that loves him as much as I do."

"You love him?" She asks, and I nod.

"So much it hurts."

——Four days later——

Today is Valentine's Day. I know Adrien has something planned, but he refuses to tell me. But at three pm, Alya comes bursting in my room. Her arms are full of bags, including a long one with a dress inside. Tikki is behind her, and they both have a determined look in their eyes.

"Bathroom, now."

—————

A few hours later, the little hair that I have on my body (besides my head) has been plucked, shaved, or waxed off. I have a full face of makeup on, and my old wig is on my head. My nails are done, and I'm in a long dress. The neckline mimics a heart, and the dress is a light pink. My favorite color. It's not sheer, but close. There are thin straps holding it on my shoulders, and a slit that goes from the bottom of the dress to the middle of my thigh. The shoes are heels, so thick that they're almost wedges.

I feel so pretty.

Even with a tube coming out of my nose and another one wrapped around my face, letting me breathe.

When I walk back into my room, it's beautiful. Adrien is standing there, in a suit and tie. The tie matches the color of my dress. I barely notice Alya and Tikki sneaking out. His hair is somewhat tamed and I smile at him. He's holding a single, red rose, and steps forward.

"Hello, M'lady." He tucks the rose behind my ear, and I kiss him.

I pull away, and take a second to look at the room. There are rose petals scattering the floor, and fake, battery powered candles on almost every surface. There's a basket on one of the chairs -another was brought in due to all of the guests that I was getting- and a speaker sits on the table by the bed.

"You didn't have to do all of this." I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. He wraps his around my waist, and smiles.

"Dance with me?" He asks, and I nod. He presses play on his phone, and a song starts to play.

I resume our previous position, and ask, "Nat King Cole?"

"Only the classics for you."

We sway, and the music fills the room. A more upbeat song of his begins to play, and I smile.

L, is for the way you look at me.

Adrien spins me, and I laugh.

O, is for the only one I see.

We continue to sway, just at a faster pace. I ignore the physical exhaustion I feel.

V, is very very, extraordinary.

I bring Adrien down for a kiss.

E, is even more than anyone that you adore.

"Je t'aime." I say when we pull away from our kiss. His eyes are wide, and the swaying stops.

"Say it again." He whispers, his eyes still as wide as possible.

"Je t'aime, Adrien. I love you so much." He smiles and laughs, pulling me into a hug.

"I love you too," he continues to hug me, and somehow we end up kissing. Somehow we end up on the bed, and I'm happy that the curtains are closed to the windows that go into the hall.

The kissing gets more heated, and somehow I ended up straddling his hips, and his jacket, tie, and shirt are on the floor. Another song is playing, but I'm not paying attention. All I see is him. All I hear is his breathing, the breathy sound of him saying my name in between kisses.

I've never needed someone more.

I reach behind me, undoing the zipper on my dress. He grabs my arm, stopping me. "Are you sure?" I nod, and have the best night of my life.