| Brian sat across from Rose's doctor, Dr. Adams, and watched him shuffle through his papers. "I don't think I'll lecture you on the emotional strain of what you're getting yourself into, Brian." He said. Brian nodded greatfully. "Thanks. I've gotten enough of that already. Mostly from Rose. But I know what I'm doing." Dr. Adams smiled a little. "There are some things you should know, though, medically speaking." Brian nodded. "Rose's life has been prolonged because she chose to live in the hospital. I've already talked to her this morning, and she's very aware that as soon as she leaves here, and no longer has access to daily treatments, and completely sterile enviroment, and trained professionals at her every beck and call, her health will begin to fade." Brian nodded bravely, and the doctor continued. "Her cancer's pretty far along by now. Bluntly, there isn't any hope for her recovery, either in or out of the hospital. But if she leaves, Brian, she's shaving a good few years off her life." Brian's mouth fell. "I'm sorry to tell you this. But I wouldn't give her long. Six months, tops." Tears filled Brian's eyes. Six months- that was no time at all. And to hear her doctor say so flatly that she would be dead in half a year, that hurt. "How- how long would she have if she stayed here?" He asked, trying hard to fight against the tears. Dr. Adams shrugged. "That's harder to guess. A year, maybe two." Brian's heart fell. "So," he said, slowly, "if she's leaves, it's like she's cutting her life in half. At the least." The doctor nodded. "That's right. Now, I've talked with Rose about this, too. I'm willing to teach you how to care for her, what's to be done for her, what she'll need. But I want you to be two hundred per cent sure that this is what both of you want before we make any final decisions. So you go talk this over with her. And when you've reached a decision, you come back here, and we'll talk about caring for her." Brian thanked him, and walked back to Rose's room in a daze. There was no way she would be willing to give up half her life just to live with him. Just because he loved her more than life itself didn't mean she loved him. He knocked on her door, already bracing himself for the heartbreak he was about to face. "Come in." Rose called from the other side. Brian took a deep breath, and wiped his hand across his eyes, for the tears were still threatening to spill over. He stepped inside the room. Rose was sitting on the floor in front of her dresser, folding peices of clothing and laying them in an open suitcase. "Wh-what are you doing?" Brian asked. She turned to face him, and her eyes lit up. "Oh, Brian!" She stood, and hurled herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulling him as close to her as she could. "Please tell me you didn't change your mind! I need you! I only have six months of life left, and I won't live it anywhere but with you!" Brian's face turned up into a smile, and the tears spilled over his cheeks. Rose looked up at him in surprise. "Don't cry!" She pleaded. "Please don't! Please don't say you came here to tell me that you changed your mind!" Brian shook his head. "No, Rose. God, no. I thought you would have changed your mind. I don't care if you have six minutes left to live, I want you to spend it with me." He picked her up, and swung her around the room once, her high and beautiful laugh echoing off the walls and dancing around his ears. He loved the sound of her laugh. He could live forever, just listening to her laugh and looking into her eyes. Even if forever could only be six months, he knew that this was the way he wanted to spend it. "You make me so happy!" Rose told him. "Happier than I've ever dreamed I could be!" She looked up into his face, grinning. "You make me feel like nothing bad could ever happen to me." Brian told her. "When I'm with you, you're all that matters, and nothing hurts me." "Do you mean that?" Rose asked, shyly, and Brian nodded. "I mean that more than I've ever meant anything in my whole entire life." And then Rose's face lit up into the biggest smile he'd ever seen on her. Brian untangled his arms from hers. "I'm going back to talk to your doctor." He announced. "I'm telling him that you're going to live with me forever, and nothing he, or anyone could say is gonna change that!" "You're amazing, Brian." Rose said. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek, then disappeared out the door. |
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