The Thing that Differs Us...

News

On a Tuesday, the nurse tells me the greatest news as I enter the hospital with towels and blankets for Addison. 

I hurry to Addie's room. Up the stairs, rushing down the hallways of this dreaded hospital. I turn a left, then a right, then another left until my hand is finally on the doorknob of his room. I open the door swiftly and enter.

'Addison.' I smiled at him. He's in the same bed as always. 

'Hey, Archambeault.' I love it when he calls me that. 

'Addie... You're-You're going home. We're going home.'

'Wait, you're serious?' he sat up quickly.

I nodded, then my smile grew 'You're in stage 2. You're coming home!' I cheered. 

'What why...' 

'Cancer has shrunk. It has! It has!' I burst into tears of happiness and ran over to him, dropping the towels and blankets on the end of his bed. I hugged his neck. 

'We're going home.' he whimpered.

'We are..' 

Home

We got into the apartment. Addison was very delicate. He had a bucket of medication for him to take over the time he's going to spend being at home.  

'We're home.' he gripped my hand

'We're home.' I repeated. 

That night, we lay in bed together. His chest had healed fairly quickly as I stared at it while I lay on his side. He had lost so much weight. His hair was so thin. 

'God... Look at you.' I whispered

'What?' he questioned 

'You look so unhealthy, baby.' I glided my hand down his chest.

'I know.' 

I saw the circle scarred on his chest from where the bullet had stricken him. It was pink and the skin was stretched and rubbery. I very gently traced it with my fingertip. He flinched. 

'It hurts?' 

'No.' 

'You're so lucky Addison. You've no idea.' 

'I know. But I'm luckier to have you.' 

I exhaled with a smile. 

'I love you.' I purred

'Love you too.'