|Linoleum Roses Z.M.|

Linoleum Roses Act XI

As days, weeks and months passed more and more glass roses showed up at her door. Never with any trace or sign of who had been giving them. Serena asked the mailman, she asked neighbors but no one ever saw the mysterious person.

As days, weeks and months passed Zayn's condition had gotten increasingly worse. It became difficult for him to do simple things such as standing and sitting. Even breathing became hard. But the entire time he hoped, prayed and wished that he could get better. Not for himself but for Serena.

"I'm scared." Was the first thing she said when she entered the hospital room.

"Of what?"

"You're..you're going to die, Zayn. Your doctor told me you don't have a lot of time left. You're in stage IIIB...you have a 10% chance of survival."

"I've beat it before and I'll do it again."

"You're in pain. Breathing hurts you...I feel selfish and horrible. You're in pain and you're hurting. Euthanasia is a choice and I just want you to know I'll be fine with whatever you choose Zayn because..I love you. I love you so much and that means I have to stop being selfish."

"I'm living, okay? I'm not leaving and I'm not dying. Not now, at least. I'm going to continue chemo and see if it'll help.

"I'm required to inform you where you are..a-and suggest 'dying a respectable death'. Your cancer has grown and is causing inflammation of your entire lungs-which is why it hurts. You can either continue with your chemo therapy or decide to do radiation therapy. You-you have about a year to live if the therapy doesn't prevail." Serena says, tears engulfing her brown eyes. She sat down on the chair beside Zayn's bed, hands covering her face as low sobs escaped her lips.

Zayn winced as he moved his body closer to her, hands playing with her long dark hair.

"I like your hair like this." He says, curling the loose hair between his fingertips. "So pretty." He mumbles.

"Serena?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you so pessimistic?"

"It's called realistic...you're going to die." She cries, looking into Zayn's eyes. Her heart ached with the pain of the thought of a world without Zayn. She couldn't understand why Zayn was so happy and smiling when he was going to die. A world without Zayn seemed truly horrific for her. She couldn't believe he was actually leaving.

She just couldn't imagine a world without Zayn because Zayn was her world.

"I've seen this hundreds of times before..this is it. You're gone, Zayn."

"You have such little faith, Serena. But I look forward to when I prove you wrong."