Red Begonias

Chapter 4: Almost Over

~Lance’s POV~

I groan, barely even able to keep my eyes open. There was no way I’d make it to training. I’ve got one week left. One week. I hoist myself into a sitting position and set up my phone so I could record a video. I take a deep breath and look into the camera.

“Hello Mami. It’s me, Lance. I-I have it Mami… I have the Hanahaki Disease… I-I thought he loved me back Mami… b-but he doesn’t… he hates me. The disease has progressed a lot faster than normal. I’m in the third month and I-I only have a week left to live Mami. I’m on the other side of the galaxy but I still miss you so much Mami. I miss you so, so much. Tell my siblings I love them. I’m sure my friends will preserve my body for burial on Earth so you’ll be able to see me again… but… I won’t be alive. That’s why I’m recording this. I don’t know when this will get to you but… I just wanted to let you know I love you. Take care Mami.” I whisper, waving goodbye to the camera before stopping that recording. I save it under the name, ‘Mom’s Eyes Only’. I then set up my phone to record one more video. I look into the camera and take a shakey breath.

“Hey guys… it’s Lance… but you knew that already. If you’re watching this it means that I have finally succumb to the disease. You’re probably wondering how I got Hanahaki Disease and why I didn’t tell anyone. Well… it’s rather simple actually. I fell in love with someone… you know who you are… and h-he rejected me. Not even a week later I was coughing up petals. I thought I had six months left. But I was wrong. Not only did the one I love not love me… he hated me… I guess that accelerated the rate the disease progressed. Red begonias… they mean, ‘beware’... that should’ve been my first sign. It should’ve alerted me to the fact I was going to die sooner than expected. I didn’t tell you guys because I knew you’d try to pressure me into getting the flowers removed. Well… I couldn’t have gotten the surgery. I didn’t want to forget that I loved him. Even if all he did was hurt me… I still loved him. It wasn’t even stupid. I just loved him so much. But I had to see him everyday which worsened the coughing fits. I was soon coughing up whole flowers. I kept one… and I hid it in my beloved’s room somewhere… Just so he could get the measure of how much he truely hurt me.” I pause my words, coughing violently. Flower petals and blood went everywhere. I cough, gripping my shirt tightly.

“I-I only have a week left… but it’s too late for me. I’m going to die. I’ve come to terms with that. Don’t let Pidge see my body… not until you manage to get back to earth. She’s too young. I know you’re watching this Pidgeon. Don’t look. You don’t need to see my body. Don’t do it… And Hunk, please take care of Mami. Allura, thank you for giving me this oppurtunity to be a paladin of Voltron. Coran, thank you especially, you treated me like a son. And I’m sorry I couldn’t be around longer. I hope you like Earth.” I cough again, more petals flying from my mouth. Tears stream down my face.

“I-I guess that’s it… I’ll see you on the other side.” I whisper, ending the video and saving it under ‘For Everybody’. I start up a new video and cough up more petals.

“See what you’ve done to me? I hope you’re happy Keith… I’ll be dead when you watch this video but I hope you realise what you have done. You hated me… it accelerated the rate at which the Hanahaki progressed. Red Begonias… I wish I had learned sooner. I wish I had figured it out before I even fucking confessed. I bet you’re jumping with joy now that I’m dead. The ‘useless and pathetic’ paladin is dead. You won’t have to worry about me losing focus during training or screwing up on missions. You won’t have to worry about me anymore. Have a nice life with Shiro. Get married on Earth. Adopt a couple kids. Or whatever.” I cough violently, coughing up a whole flower. I show it to the camera.

“See? Look at this shit. Look at this! No one realized I was sick. No one cared enough to ask how I was doing. You didn’t even bat an eye. Burn in hell Keith. I loved you and you killed me. I hope you’re happy.” I say, ending the video and saving it under ‘K’.

Once everything was done, I laid back, setting my phone on my nightstand.

The week dragged by slowly before my final day came and I was coughing up whole begonias left and right. I gathered them all, looking at the mess of blood and petals on my lap. I cry softly and look at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry Mami.” I whisper. The world around me dimmed before going completely black.

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Chapter 4! Don't worry, it'll get happy soon!

Luv y'all,
Erin Jaeger