Until We Meet Again

40

Alex's POV

Pain. That's all I felt now, pain all over my body, nothing I did relieved it. The strongest was in my stomach, it felt like someone was constantly squeezing and twisting it.

I was relieved to come home after being in that brightly cleaned hospital for almost two months. Who needs to clean a place that much? I could swear I saw a janitor three times a day.

I don't know what time it was when I woke up, my body all sweaty and chills everywhere. My body felt sore all over and I felt like I was about to puke again. I sit up quickly which might have not been the best choice as I find myself holding myself back from puking. Searching frantically for the trashcan, I end up waking Austin. He leans over me and grabs the trashcan that I was having such a hard time getting. I thank him in my mind as I grab it from him. It felt like my insides were coming out and also looked like it considering all the blood.

I could feel Austin's hand rubbing circles on my back. I'm glad to have him beside me during this time even though I wish that he would go back and finish school. I was going to die and he didn't need to sacrifice his education for me.

"Alex," Austin's voice is full of sleepiness.

I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth, feeling better than I did even though I still felt like crap. "Yes."

"Why are you not afraid to die?"

I put down the trashcan and turn around to where I'm looking at him. It's dark so I can't tell much about what's on his face.

"Because my life is accomplished, I have done everything and have everyone that I would ever want to have," I tell him.

Even in the dark I could tell the smile on his face. "I'm afraid."

I grab his hand, "why?"

"I'm losing you," his words were full of pain.

"You're not losing me, I will always be here." I could tell that me dying was hurting him more than me. I don't know why it wasn't bothering me as much as it should be. Maybe because I felt like I had everything I was ever going to get. I have someone who truly cares for me, my family is finally accepting me even if I can tell it's forced, and even though I would love to grow old with Alex, I knew that wasn't what was for me.

"My brother he died the exact way you're going to, I don't want to lose someone else close to me."

I was shocked at his words, I had no idea about his brother.

"I'm so sorry."

It was dark so I couldn't see him but I could hear him starting to cry. That's all it took for me to pull him close to me and wrap my arms around him. I ran my hand through his hair as I tried my best to comfort him. I knew that it wasn't much considering I had no experience in comforting people, but I tried.

We stayed like that for who knows how long until I finally slid down some to where I was laying down and his head was on my chest this time. My whole body was aching so I couldn't fall asleep so I just stared at the ceiling, listening to Austins sobs turn to quiet breathing.

Next day....

"Pancakes?" My mom smiles warmly at me.

We both knew that I wouldn't be able to keep them down but that didn't stop her from trying to get me to eat something.

"Sure," I smile back at her.

She nods her head, turning to get the supplies from the cabinets. A pair of feet shuffling across the wood floor catch my attention. I look over to see Austin stumbling into the kitchen. He still had the jeans and sweatshirt from yesterday on and his hair was a mess. I held back a tiny laugh as I watch him plop himself down in the seat next to me.

"Sleep good?" I ask him, passing an extra cup of coffee to him.

He shakes his head, telling me that he doesn't drink coffee. What kind of college student doesn't drink coffee?

"About as good as I could get with you in the bed."

I don't know if he was being serious or joking. He looks at me and smiles, telling me that he was joking. He didn't need to ask me if I slept good as he noticed the bags under my eyes, they must be more noticeable today considering I hardly ever get sleep during the night.

"Pancakes Austin?"

He gives my mom a smile and nods.

"So I was thinking we could do something today, maybe go to an aquarium or something easy," she says as she places two plates full of pancakes in front of us.

"Mom we don't need to do everything just because I'm dying."

I could tell that the word dying wasn't her top choice of words.

"Do you mind if we just hang out today, I'm not feeling the best."

She nods even though I could tell that she was wanting to make these last months with me memorable.

I thank her and try to eat as much pancakes as I can.