The Bucket List (Write Affair Finalist)

Chapter 31: See whales, hitchhike and skydive.

~ Chapter 31: See whales, hitchhike and skydive. ~

"Oh my god! Look!"

I turned my head and saw a giant whale in the water swimming before disappearing in the deep ocean. It was the most fascinating thing. We'd been in Reunion Island for two days already and had decided to spend the first day in the beach. We actually saw a ray and lots of colorful beautiful fishes. We were having once again a great trip and were now observing whales. Damon was so excited, it was too cute to handle.

The boat stopped at one point and we waited for something to appear. Then I heard a shout. But it wasn't the kind we were waiting for. Damon was on the ground, holding his stomach, grimacing.

"Oh my god, Damon, are you ok?" I asked, bending down, already worried to hell.

"It... Hurts... So bad." Damon said between breaths, his jaw thight.

A lot of people were already crowding around us, whispering but I didn't care about them. I just wanted Damon to stop hurting. I took his hand and told him to tighten mine as hard as he was hurting but he shook his head, tearing up with pain. I was already almost crying too. I hated seeing him suffer. If there had been a way for me to take his pain away from him, God I would have sacrificed myself. If there's something worse than hurting like hell, it's to see someone you love do.

"Breath. Calm down. It'll be alright. I'm here, ok? Look at me, I'm here for you Damon."

It seemed to last forever until finally his jaw relaxed and he caught his breath again. I hugged him, crying. Then he got up and bent over the barrier of the boat before vomiting. I handed him a tissue that he took without looking at me directly in the eyes and I put my hand on his.

"Damon, you don't have to be ashamed with me. I love you and I can handle it. Ok? There's no shame in being sick. Alright?"

"I just... It's so..."

"It's alright. I promise."

"I'd kiss you but my breath must be awful right now."

I laughed and hugged him. Then someone shouted "There's a whale! Look!" so we did look, trying to put this behind us.

We spent the next day in the beach, tanning and relaxing in the sea. Damon's condition was getting worse and he was swallowing pill after pill to try and make it better. He had lost a lot of weight and was throwing up at least once a day, which caused him to carry his toothbrush with him at all times cause he didn't want to kiss me otherwise. I could tell he was ashamed, which was totally stupid cause it's not like he had a choice! I wanted to support him but he sometimes wouldn't let me see him when he was at his worst and would lock himself in the hotel room or in the bathroom.

Then there would be the good moments when he would be back to normal and would be able to completely enjoy what we were doing. Some other time, the pills made him tired and moody and he would just take a nap on the sand or go back to the hotel to sleep it off.

Seeing him suffer was the worst pain that could exist. I couldn't do anything besides hold him and whisper that it would pass and that he was ok, even though he clearly wasn't.

On the fifth day of our week in the Reunion Island, Damon took the notebook and looked at the list with attention, sitting on the unmade bed at the hotel. I was still getting ready and zipped my beach dress on.

"What do we got for today?" I asked, joining him.

"You're going to love this one." Damon smiled, pointing at the bottom of the page.

Skydive.

"You can't possibly be serious." I said.

"Of course I am. I checked with my doctors and they're ok with it. Nothing they can do anyway."