Chapter 16
665 Words
"Happy anniversary!" Lorrie May greeted her boyfriend who was lying on a bed. She brought him three colorful balloons where the words "I Love You." were printed.
"I thought you've forgotten.. It's almost late." Rodney's voice fainted.
"I will never ever forget this day, Darling. And I will never forgive myself if I did." She came near him and gave her the balloons. She kissed his forehead and embraced him lightly. She didn't want his fragile body to get hurt.
"You know what took me so long to get here? I prepared a surprise for you, for us." She whispered softly to his ears.
Leonie signaled the male nurse to bring her the wheel chair and asked him to gently carry Rodney to it. She held his hands, never wanted to take it away. When he was already on the wheel chair, she pushed it until they reached the garden where her surprise was waiting.
Blue balloons tied around the corner, their favorite bench pacing the serene heaven, a coffee table, a white cake and two cups of coffee she ordered from Star Bucks Café. They were all set there to give a little happiness to a dying man.
Rodney saw everything perfectly. He smiled at her and held her hands securely. He instructed the male nurse to put him to the bench. When he was already seated, Lorrie May sat beside him.
"I thought God will only give me six months to live. I'm thankful for he extended it." He tenderly caressed her hand.
"You know, there's an expression from social media which caught my attention while I was preparing this." She wanted to change the topic so as not spoil the night.
"What is it?" he said, still fainting.
"YOLO.... You only live once... I'm happy I met you." She could not control the sadness in the sound of her voice.
"Y-YOLO...Y-You only live once. And In meeting you I have lived more than once because you showed me how to live each day meaningfully." Rodney said while remembering the moments they painted into his memory.
From the moment Lorrie May accepted his proposal, she had become a part of all his plans. Though at first, Lorrie May could not understand how she felt for him, she learned to give him more time by taking care of him without accepting any centavo.
All through her stay on his side, her eyes witnessed the health condition of Rodney. Each day that passed, he became more vulnerable when the pain had becoming worst. He could not eat, he could not sleep well. She couldn't do anything but to keep on embracing him and praying to lessen the pain he was going through.
Each moment that passed, they made sure to spend it fully especially when he was not attacked by the worst pain in his head. As always, they spent it under the quiet moonlight, sipping their favorite coffee. There were times, he was not accepting visitor and even Lorrie May was not allowed to talk to him. Those times really broke her heart as she promised him she will never leave his side.
"L-Lorrie May...W- when was the first time you thought that you already fell in-love with a dying man?" His expressive eyes were half closed and only little spark could be found there.
"Pssst... The moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew then that I love you." She said tenderly.
"Darling, if ever I die now, when I have the chance to live again, I want to spend it hundred times with you." His voice was panting, and his eyes were slowly shutting.
"You sleep now, my dear. I'm just here for you. Wait for me in heaven... I love You." She said, weeping quietly.
She hugged him tightly, put his head to her shoulder and stayed there for a long time. Once again, the stars, the moon and only the cool breeze of air were the witnesses to the love they promised to remain forever, though not in the present world, but there in the realm of heaven.
- Writer
