Enzo stares at him.
Stares and stares and stares.
"I," he starts, "I - "
"You don't have to say yes," Dan says, quickly. "I was just, you know - I was just wondering. It's stupid. I'm stupid. Sorry. I'll - "
"No," Enzo says, "no, Dan, it's not that. It's just - it's - "
"That you're not well enough to come? Cos I understand, Enzo, I can just - "
"No, Dan - listen to me. Listen to me." Enzo sits forward a little. Tugs at the cannula. "Actually - actually, I - I was going to ask you the same question."
"You...were?" Dan looks so surprised, Enzo smiles. "So...it's a yes, then? You'll come? With - me?"
"Yes," Enzo says, "yes, I'll come to prom. With you."
Dan grins. It's a good grin. A proper grin.
Takes Enzo's hand.
And that's when Enzo sees it. Sees it and - and -
The mark on Enzo's arm. The mark of the IV.
There is a mark on Dan's arm, too. A similar mark. The same mark.
The mark of an IV.
Enzo goes hot. Then cold. Then hot again.
"Dan," he says. "Dan - "
Dan looks down at his arm, too. Looks down at the mark.
Something inside him deflates.
He takes a deep breath. "Enzo," he starts, "there's - there's something that I think I should've told you. Something that I think I should've told you - from the beginning."
"Dan..." Enzo moves closer to him. Moves closer and takes his hand. Squeezes it. Hard.
The pills.
The cannula.
The mark.
The mark.
"Enzo." Dan's eyes hold his, so full of meaning. So full of Dan. "Enzo - I've got cancer."
Enzo feels like something cold and painful has formed in his gut. He chokes. Chokes.
"But - you're perfect."
Dan just stares at him. Stares and stares and stares.
Stupid. Ocean. Eyes.
"I'm not perfect, Enzo," he says.
"I'm human."
YOU ARE READING
The Anatomy of a Parody Heart
Genç Kurgu|| Highest rankings: #1 in notfittingin (30/03/19) #9 in antibullying (25/05/18) || - COMPLETED - Enzo knows that he is different. He knows it in the way that people look at him. Talk about him. Bu...
