How could we say Goodbye?

Chapter 26

It had been two weeks since you got the news, you were sat hand in hand with a sleeping Grant by his hospital bed. You didn’t really know what to expect, people were constantly bothering you, asking for news on Grant’s health and how the visits were going, but you never really had any answer to give – he was either sleeping or you normally sat silence.

Grant stirred slightly for the first time since your visit that day and you offered him a soft smile.

“Hey baby” you whispered, placing a gentle kiss on his wrist.

“Shit… sorry, how long was I asleep for?” He muttered.

“That doesn’t matter, how are you feeling?” You reply, biting back tears as he turned away, excusing himself so he didn’t have to answer the question. It killed you to see him like this, he had already lost a considerable amount of weight, as he wasn’t able to eat much due to the cancer.

Grant had advanced prostate cancer, and after his chemotherapy, he would have to have his prostate gland removed.

“Babe? I brought you these!” You pulled out a pad and pen, along with some movies, including a box set of ‘Prison Break’ – you knew he loved the series.

“Thanks” He squeezed your hand and you placed the pad and pen on his bedside table, Grant moved over slightly, gesturing for you to sit by him on the bed.

“Do you wanna watch an episode now?” You asked hopefully, thinking a distraction might be best for the time being.

“I’d love to” He smiled gratefully and you grinned back, glad to see him happy.

You started playing an episode, and kissed Grant’s head lovingly, wrapping your arm gently around his waist and snuggling up to him.

You got about half way through the episode, when a gentle knock at the door turned your head, Grant’s parents and siblings were here, you paused the episode and gave them a sad smile before indicating for them to come in.

“How is he?” Tyler, his younger brother asked you as soon as he entered the hospital room, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

“I'm alive” Grant snapped, you knew he hated people talking about him and not to him.

“Sorry honey… you know Tyler was only being polite…” She was cut off by Grant sighing and rolling his eyes, so she shut up after that.

“We… we brought you these” Gracie hesitantly held out flowers and Grant turned away, so you took them for him and mouthed ‘thank you’ to her, she nodded and stepped back again.

“Shall I get a vase…” His mother was cut off once again by Grant snapping at her.

“I'm capable.” He says, giving her a disgusted look. “What kind of flower is that anyway”

“Urm… theyre…”

“I'm allergic; sorry.” You turned to him and widened your eyes, frowning at him as if to question his choice in words, but he made no eye contact at you, just kept staring at his family as though they were all pieces of dirt.

“Son, please don’t be like this”

“LIKE WHAT?” Grant started shouting, tears brimming his eyes. “BEING LIKE WHAT DAD?” He screamed again. Grants dad was taken aback by shock; his eyes widened implying he couldn’t find the words to say. “You want me to stop being like this? What the fuck is that even meant to mean. Cause it sounds damn like you're asking me to stop having cancer. You think this was my fucking choice? You think I wanted this?”

Tears rolled down Grant’s cheeks and he made no attempt to move away when you wiped them from his face, he buried his sobbing face into your shoulder and you hugged his head tightly, looking at his family as they stood in a stunned silence.