Butterfly

Twenty Six

"Hi Mina!"

Hobi came in smiling.

But his eyes were tired.

"Hi, Hobi."

"Are you okay? Do you need food? Water? You look tired."

"I'm fine."

He sat down quickly.

"Mina..."

I gulped.

"Hobi, I think-"

My stomach turned, unsure if what I was about to say was right.

"I think you should stop coming."

"What?"

I couldn't help it.

Tears started streaming down my cheeks.

"I- I think it would be best, if, if you didn't come to see me anymore."

"Mina that's-"

"I'm going to die, Hobi."

I saw something flash in his eyes.

Something I had never seen before.

"So you think I'm going to just give up?"

At this point I was covered in hot tears, gasping and sputtering.

I didn't want to lose him.

But I didn't want him to lose me.

My fingers found their way to the silver chain around my neck.

He stiffened and turned a slight shade of red.

"Hobi, please, please don't come back. You make me want to live, you make me want to never leave you. But I'm dying, Hobi. And when I do, you'll-"

Suddenly his hand was clasped over the back of my neck, his lips harshly pressed against mine.

The heat from his skin radiated off, and I realized that tears were steadily streaming down his face as well.

He took my hand away from the necklace and placed it on his own cheek.

He had his hands cupped around my face.

It lasted forever.

He wouldn't let go.

And that's how I wanted it to be.

His kiss was deep and intense, and he held me like I was everything in the world.

"I love you."

He whispered that right onto my lips.

Soft and quiet with still strength.

I grasped the back of his shirt as he kissed me again.

I felt my heart pound fiercely in my chest.

I wanted this to last forever.

But the pain in my heart reminded me that this could be the end.

Despite that dull and distant pain, I didn't let go.

He finally leaned back slightly.

With my jaw still cupped in his hand, he ran his thumb across my cheeks, wiping away the tears.

"Don't do that again."

He whispered that through his own tears.

"Hobi-"

He moved his thumb over to cover my lips, preventing me from speaking.

I took hold of his hand and put it down.

"I love you too."