𝐀 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.
Vivian Rae has only a year to live. Instead of spending his remaining time with the woman he swore to love until his last breath, he makes an unexpected request: he asks his doctor to be his f...
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I blinked, the world slowly coming into focus as I emerged from the darkness that had swallowed me.
Everything felt heavy-my limbs, my thoughts, even my heart. The first thing I noticed was the dull, sterile scent of the hospital room, and the quiet hum of machines keeping time with my breath.
But it wasn't until I turned my head that I saw her.
Amara was there, curled up in an armchair beside my bed, her head resting against the armrest.
Her hair was messy, strands falling over her closed eyes, and her lips were slightly parted as she slept. The sight of her brought a warmth to my chest that I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever.
She looked so peaceful, so vulnerable, and yet there was a strength in the way she held herself, even in sleep.
I couldn't help but smile, my heart swelling with something I didn't dare name. It felt wrong.
For a moment, I just watched her, taking in the delicate rise and fall of her chest, the way her lashes fluttered as if she were dreaming. She was beautiful in a way that took my breath away, if only my heart didn't belong to Vani.
But then, as if sensing my gaze, she stirred, her eyes slowly fluttering open. The moment she saw me awake, her expression lit up with relief and joy.
"Vivian," she breathed, sitting up quickly, her eyes scanning my face like she couldn't quite believe I was really there. "You're awake."
"Yeah," I croaked, my voice rough from disuse. "Seems like it."
She reached out, taking my hand in hers, her touch grounding me in reality. "You had me worried, you know," she said softly, her thumb brushing over my knuckles. "You've been out for weeks."
"Weeks?" The word felt heavy on my tongue. "What happened?"
Amara's smile faltered, a shadow passing over her face. She looked away for a moment, composing herself before she met my gaze again.
"You collapsed, Vivian," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "The cancer- it's getting worse. You have maybe six months left, at most."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me numb.
Six months.
I let the number roll around in my head, trying to make sense of it, but it felt distant, surreal. Like it was happening to someone else. I stared at the ceiling, my mind blank, until I felt Amara's hand tighten around mine.
"Hey," she said softly, trying to pull me out of the dark place my thoughts had gone to. "I've got something that might cheer you up."
I turned to look at her, trying to focus on the warmth in her eyes instead of the cold reality of my situation. She reached into her bag, pulling out a scrap book that once I made, a crumpled piece of paper, slid out.
"Remember this?" she asked, unfolding it with a small, nostalgic smile.
I glanced at the paper, then back at her, confused. "What is it?"
She held it up so I could see, and I instantly recognized the scrawled handwriting. It was my bucket list-something I'd scribbled down back in high school, back when I thought I had all the time in the world.
"How you got this?" I asked, a laugh escaping me despite everything.
"Your dad gave it to me," she admitted, her tone light but her eyes watchful, as if she was gauging my reaction.
"My dad-" I trailed off, the weight of it all pressing down on me. "So he knows."
Amara nodded, but before the guilt could take hold, she squeezed my hand again, drawing me back to her.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice firm yet soothing. "I've handled it. He's worried, but he trusts me."
I looked at her, really looked at her, and in that moment, something shifted inside me. She had been here, by my side, through it all. She'd fought for me, protected me, even when I didn't deserve it. The warmth in her eyes, the softness of her smile-it was enough to break down the walls I'd built around my heart.
"I don't know how to thank you," I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.
She smiled, shaking her head as if to brush off my words. "You don't have to. Just- be here. That's all I want."
Her words tugged at something deep inside me, and I realized just how much she meant to me. I was almost in love with her- But how could I say that when I was on borrowed time? How could I burden her with that when I didn't have a future to offer? And Vani?
"Vivian?" she asked softly, pulling me from my thoughts. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I lied, forcing a smile. "I'm just- grateful, that's all."
Her eyes softened, and she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
"Me too," she whispered, and in that moment, I knew that whatever time I had left, I wanted to spend it with her.
She was my light in the darkness, my reason to keep fighting, and I was determined to make the most of every second we had together. I want to die without any regrets.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: So Vivian was finally dying. Is he? Find out in the next chapter.
