My Time is Ending

By Lovely-chan

They took a bath and went to Le Deauville- the Café they end up in the night they first met. Since there were some musicians playing some French love songs, Giovanni started dancing with him almost immediately in a little corner, even when that wasn’t a place were they could dance. “This is the place when I first consider you as a couple.”

 “Really? I though of you as a couple since you threw my mother’s tart in the floor!” 

“Ha, ha! But you must consider yourself fortunate, in a past I wouldn’t even consider it.” They keep on dancing while some people looked at them harshly, but for others it was totally normal.

 After a few minutes of dancing Giovanni was touched in the back. “Mind if I cut in?” 

“You again? What’s wrong with you? Can’t you see he is MY boyfriend?” (Angry) 

“What do you say doll?” The young man asked while flirting and winking his pretty gray eyes. 

“I’m not interested, please go.” 

“Don’t be so shy precious, can’t you see there are no guys like you around?”

 “I don’t care! I’m with Giovanni and I’m happy with him. Go away.”

 “Don’t be so harsh, you say that because you haven’t taste a man like me.” 

“All I want and have searched all my life is inside this man, now leave.” (He was obviously talking about Giovanni.)

 “Not until you dance with me.” 

“I said no!” He was getting very angry. 

“Can’t you understand he is not attracted to you? Get lost!” He was furious to know he wanted to steal his man, but glad David was firm on his decision. “Don’t be so freaky!”

 “Ok, I’ll go…but I’ll be back soon.” He winked to David and sat on a near by table. 

“Let’s go Gio.”

 “No. You wanted to come and that idiot is not ruining our night. Let’s dance and forget about him.”

 “You are right, Carpe Diem. They held each other and keep on dancing happily, but the young man was staring with desire to David provoking intense jealousy over Giovanni, so he decides to bother him by kissing and touching his beloved. “Relax baby, forget about him…you are pleasing him. Can’t you see he is trying to bug you?”

 “Well, he IS bugging me!” 

“Don’t be jealous, I’m yours and no one else’s, that won’t change.”

 “Either way, I want him to have it VERY CLEAR.”

 He giggled over his lover’s jealousy. “Ok, then kiss me with all your passion.” And so did he, they kissed intensely in the little corner they were dancing until the music stopped and they return to their seat. “I feel so happy when I’m with you.” 

Giovanni smiled and rest his head on David’s shoulder when the young man from before sit on their table changing his smile to a frown. “YOU AGAIN!” His face was red with the immense anger he felt. 

“Dave…why don’t you leave this figure head and come with a real man.” 

“Who are you calling a figure head, you idiot!” This time he was really pissed off. “Get out of our table!”

 “No.” He changed his gaze to David who was looking down ashamed with the scene. “Dave, look at me. Don’t you like what you see?” The gray beauty of his eyes twinkled and his black hair looked glorious falling a little lower than his shoulders-he was indeed beautiful. “Don’t you think I’m a gorgeous specimen?”

 “You could be attractive, but you are a real ass hole! You are vain and disrespectful, and I don’t like that! I like someone noble and loving like Giovanni!” 

“He, he. You said that because he’s here and you don’t want to hurt him, I like that…but your eyes desire me. Come with me, I’ll take you to my apartment to have some fun.” He reached David’s hair and softly tangled his fingers in it. “I know you want me.” 

“NO! Leave me alone!” He pushed his hand away from him. “I live with Giovanni, you understand? I love him; I love him!”

 “Alright…don’t exaggerate. What do you see in him anyway? He’s an idiot!” 

“I had enough!” David stood up angry, like he never felt before. “You get out of here or I’ll kick your ass- you jerk! I’m sick of you already!” He grabbed the young man’s shirt while threatening him with his fist. 

“Relax Dave, it’s not worth it!” Giovanni quickly made him let go of the other man and caressed his face. “Let’s go love.”

 “No, let him. That’s the way I like him, strong and angry, not hiding behind your back.”

 “Get lost and look for another candidate…I’m not available.”

 “I don’t give up so easily…you are the one I like. I love those blond locks of yours and your pretty blue eyes…you are a marvelous.” He lean forward sliding his hand on David’s chest but he harshly pushed him away.

 “That’s enough! Let’s go baby, I can’t stand him anymore!” Giovanni took his hand relieved with David’s decision-he was a little worried thinking the other man could took his beloved away from him. They started walking away but the man seemed to follow them. “He’s following us…he’s really starting to scare me.”

 “Me too.” They begin to walk faster trying to get away but he was right behind them so they started running again. “Are you ok Dave?!” 

“I…I can’t go on.” His face turned pale and in just a few seconds he collapsed on the floor.

 “DAVE!!” He kneeled beside him desperate to see him fainted. “David! David! Love, wake up! Baby!” His tears rolled down feeling helpless and most of all hopeless without knowing what was wrong with his lover. “Dave…”

 “What’s wrong with him?” The young man quickly kneeled beside him as well.

 “Go away! It’s your fault! He’s very weak and is hard for him to effort!” 

“But what he has?” 

“I don’t know…he won’t tell me. He said they were migraines, but I think is something else.”

 “Let’s take him to a hospital. I have my car right here, we’ll be there soon.” Giovanni wasn’t sure if he should accept. “You have no other choice, or you prefer to let him die?” 

“NO!”

 “Then let’s go, I’ll help you to carry him.”

 “Where’s your car?”

 “Right there…I wasn’t following you, I was going to my car…but since you started running I think it could be fun. I’m sorry, I didn’t know he was so weak.” They get to the hospital pretty fast and as they waited the young man bring some coffee to the Italian. “Here you go, I hope you like it.” 

“Thanks…” His face reflected sorrow and worries with the uncertainty he had, when finally he saw a nurse and quickly go ask. “Miss, how’s David?” 

“Your friend is very weak and in delicate conditions. We have to make more analysis but we think he has pneumonia. His lungs can’t hold much air…they’re very weak. I can’t say more for now.”

 “Would he get better?”

 “We hope so.” She left.

 “David…I must take better care of you. I’m such a fool…how couldn’t I notice how sick he was.”

 “You don’t take good care of him? I would’ve take very good care of him. You are so lucky…he loves you. I saw it in his eyes. I…I’m just a loner.”

 “It’s your fault, with your stupid narcissist attitude.”

“Is the way for me to protect my insecurity…but you’re not like that, that’s why he likes you.” 

“But I was jealous and even afraid to lose him…you are very attractive.”

 “I know.”

 “And also a real jerk!”

 “Ha, ha! I also know that.” They waited for long hours waiting and fell asleep on the chairs waiting for news. 

“Excuse me…” Both sit up straight looking anxious to the nurse. “You can go see him now, he’s awake.” 

They were pushing each other trying to reach in first place, but Giovanni managed to enter the room before. “LOVE!”

 “Gio!” His eyes shinned immediately with the sight of his beloved. “Come sit with me…I’m lonely and cold.”

 “I’ll take better care of you from now on, you are very sick, did you knew?”

 He freaked out thinking he already knew what he had, but just to make sure he asked. “And…what do I have?”

 “Pneumonia. You were right when you told me it was too cold and that your chest was hurting. I though you were exaggerating, I’m sorry. I promise to turn on the heater.”

 “Don’t worry, is not your fault.” He felt relieved to know he didn’t knew his real illness but hated to have another one that would keep making his life miserable. 

“Ehem!” The young man made some noise so they would notice him.

 “Oh yeah! David…Francis bring us to the hospital…so we owe him.” 

“I expect you pay me well love.” He winked an eye.

 “Don’t even dream about it, I was fainted! Go ahead and ask Giovanni-he was the one to accept your proposal, not me.” He laughed knowing both will get angry.

 “WHAT???” Both yelled amazed with David’s answer.

 “Of course, I’m innocent!”

 “But Dave…are you giving me away just like that?” 

“And who says I want something to do with you???” Both turned their faces away angry and David kept on laughing.

 “You see, you already look like a couple!” Suddenly his smile changed with the though. A couple? Yes…maybe I should try for him to fall in love with someone else, that way he won’t suffer my death. “It’s not a bad idea Gio, he’s very attractive.” He wink Giovanni an eye trying to encourage him and smiled trying to keep up with his game even when it was breaking his heart. “I’ll be gone soon, you know that, so maybe you should find someone new.”

 “Don’t be ridiculous! I won’t replace you with nobody, you hear me? NOBODY!” He was hurt with David’s words so he ran away crying.

 He let go of his tears feeling a gigantic wave of bitterness falling over him. “I’m sorry love, but it would be for the better.” 

“Why you say that? You don’t want it, then why you say it?” 

“Because is better that way. Why don’t you try Giovanni, he is wonderful in every way, and he can make you happier than I.”

“You are suffering. What’s wrong with you? You love your boyfriend, I know, then why you ask me to love him?”

 “Because I don’t want him to suffer. I’ll be gone and he’ll be lonely and sad- I don’t want that…he would need someone. I’ll feel better if I know someone is taking care of him.”

 “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know…no one knows.” 

“I don’t understand, will you explain?” Is he dying?

 “I understand. Would you do it?”

 “I don’t know.”

 “You don’t think he is attractive? I think he is beautiful.”

 “He is, but I like blonds.”

 “I’m leaving so…”

 “Just one night.”

 “No…I would be faithful to my love till the end. Please love Gio, make him love you more than he loves me.” 

“That would be too hard, he adores you…you are the light of his life, his all…I can’t compete with you…you complete him.”

 “How can you tell? You just met him.”

 “Only by looking in his eyes I can tell. If you have seen how he was, he was desperate.”

 “That’s what I want to avoid, his suffering!” At that moment the doctor entered the room with his analysis. “Doctor, I need to speak with you. Alone.” 

“Yes, I wanted to talk with one of your relatives, is there any?”

 “No…he is only a kind person that bring me here.” 

“And the other boy?”

 “He’s not a relative…he is…”

 “Your boyfriend, I know. Maybe I should speak to him first.”

 “NO! Please listen to me.”

 “Ok, would you please leave?” Francis left and the doctor sat on the chair. “And?”

 “Don’t tell Giovanni…he doesn’t know.”

 “He should, you are in the last state…your cancer had taken over you. You can die at any moment.”

“I know, but…I want to tell him myself.”

 “You should stay in the hospital.”

 “I don’t want to die in a hospital…could you give me something stronger for the pain? My pills are not helping me anymore.”

 “Then take a double dose…I don’t think there is something that can ease your pain anymore. I’m sorry, you are very young.”

 “You won’t tell him?” 

“It’s your decision…but you should prepare him.” 

“I will.” In the next days he returned home, but he felt he couldn’t go on anymore. I have to tell him, but how? “Love…will you bring me my medicines?”

 “It’s time?”

 “Yes.”

 “Here…I have to go. Would you be ok?”

 “Don’t worry, go.”

 “If you need me, call me ok? I’ll come immediately.”

 “No, go to your job…I’ll be fine.” Giovanni asked the owner to check on him since she was a good friend of him and left to his job. When he returned he asked her how he was doing but all she said is that he was very exhausted, and slept too much. She even though he was dead and Giovanni ran upstairs to check on him but he wasn’t in bed. He slowly walked to the bathroom and saw him trembling drinking his pills. “My time is ending…I’m dying slowly and every day I felt weaker. I don’t want to die…not yet. Giovanni…” David washed the endless tears falling down his face without knowing Giovanni was listening with tears and a broken heart. “Dam illness! If I only have met Giovanni before…oh God!” The pain was stronger every minute and he couldn’t stay on his feet anymore turning around to roll over in bed but finding Giovanni’s crying face staring at him. “Giovanni!” 

“You are dying? You knew it and you didn’t tell me? How could you hide it? Why? Why?” He couldn’t stop crying.

 “I’m sorry…I already told you why…I didn’t wanted you to treat me differently- like a useless sick man. I only wanted to be with you all I could without thinking about my illness.”

 “How could you be so cruel? You wouldn’t tell me? I would find you dead one day, just like that?! How could you?!!” 

“I’m sorry…don’t you think I feel terrible already? I wanted to live happy moments without thinking I was about to die and I couldn’t, only you made me forget and feel alive…until the pain reminded me destroying my happiness with every twinge.” 

“LOVE!” Giovanni hugged him crying hopeless with bitterness in his heart and feeling the most amazing sorrow he could ever experience. “I don’t want you to die! I don’t want you to!”

 “Me neither, but there’s no cure love…no cure.” 

“What you got?”

 “Cancer…on my lungs, but it’s spread all over now. I owe that to cigarettes. I begin to smoke very young and I didn’t control it- I smoked too much. Now…I’m paying the price of my ignorance. I though this could never happen to me.” 

“That’s why you hate cigarettes…love, I’ll take care of you till your last breath.”

 “You forgive me?”

 “I already did, remember?”

 “Thanks…I didn’t mean…” 

“Shh. Let’s get you to bed- you are shaking.” He took him to bed and sat beside him caressing his hair lovingly. “I love you. …Baby?” 

“Yes.”

 “What I told you before…is true.” 

“What?” 

“Even if I knew…I would have loved you. I don’t regret loving you, you are the best thing that ever happen to me.”

 “Giovanni…thank you for loving me. You were right, I couldn’t die without knowing love and you know what? Your god grant my wish, I found real love before I die. I last this much because of you…I was supposed to be dead already, but…it finally won over me…I wish this could last a little longer.” 

“At least you found love, and I found you.”

 “I owe you my happy memories…I didn’t have many…now I do. Love?”

 “Yes?” 

“I need a favor.” 

“Just ask.”

 “Call my mother and my brother…I want to see them and ask for their forgiveness for running away without telling them. They must know I’m dying…probably think I’m already dead. Please call them.”

 “Just give me the number.” Giovanni called them and they were there the next day. “Come on in, he is waiting for you.”

 “David!” His mother cried when she saw how peaked he was and ran to his side. “How could you leave like that?”

 “I’m sorry mother…I didn’t wanted to bother and I didn’t wanted to live the rest of my days in a hospital. I wanted to keep on living and find some happiness till my time came. Now God is calling me.” 

“David…”

 “How about you Steve, won’t you scold me too?’

 “I understand David, but why you go so far away? Why Paris?”

 “I always wanted to travel and see the world, especially Europe…but I stopped my trip here because I found someone to brightens my days and fill me with what I was missing the most…love.” Both his mother and brother looked to where Giovanni was standing a little confused. “Don’t look at him like that, he is the most wonderful being I’ve ever met. Noble, gentle, happy and full of life…thanks to him I’m still alive.”

 “David, don’t say that…you were the one who filled my life with happiness.” They were staring with emotion and deep love, they wanted to be together, but it was impossible with David’s weakness. “I love you.” 

“I love you too Giovanni…forgive me, forgive me.”

 “Don’t say it again, I already told you I have nothing to forgive. You should forgive me…I never noticed you were dying.”

 “I did all I could to hide it, it’s not your fault. Mother, Steve, I want you to be kind to him when I die.”

 “Don’t say it! Don’t say you’ll die anymore…don’t say it again!” He covered his ears and shook his head heavily shutting his eyes tightly trying to lie to himself and deny the truth.

 “Love…don’t do that, you should get used to the fact that I won’t be with you anymore.”

 “No…I will never get used to that. NEVER!” 

Steve stood up and pats his back gently. “Calm down…that’s not good for any of you.” He looked to David. “We are taking you home tomorrow, and if you want Giovanni with you, he’ll be there.”

 “Thanks.” Giovanni was still crying.

 David’s mother was still shocked with the news. “Oh sweetie, I never though you…” 

“Yeah, I know…but love is wonderful and I finally get to know it, so don’t saying anything at this moment, it’s not worth wasting your time…I almost dead. You’ll see Giovanni is divine.”

 “I can see that, it’s obvious you two love each other dearly. I’m glad you lived happy at the end…I would never forget that young man.” She smiled to Giovanni and he felt a little better - he was afraid David’s family wouldn’t accept him. He slowly sat beside her and she began touching his hair softly trying to give him some comfort. 

“LOVE! I don’t want to lose you!” He started crying once again and slump to his arms. “I don’t want you to die…I want to go with you.”

 “Gio…I’ll always be with you.” He slowly reached for his hair and laid his hand on his beloved’s head. “Listen to me, I want you to stay here. I don’t want you to see me die. I want you to remember me the way I used to be, not like this. Do you understand?”

 “NO! I won’t leave you, no, no, no! If you are going, I’m going with you, but I won’t leave you when you need me the most.”

 “I don’t want you to see me die, I don’t want.”

 “I won’t please you, I’m sorry.” 

“Is my last wish, please.” 

“Don’t do this to me…don’t…I beg you.”  His heart broke even more than before knowing he didn’t want him near him. “I want to be with you till the end. I…I wouldn’t stand to leave you.”

 Seeing how hard it was for Giovanni, David could only accept his desire. “Ok, but promise me you’ll only remember our happy moments.”

 “I promise.” That night Francis visited them and Giovanni told him the news. “I don’t want him to die Francis, I need him.”

 “I know…you have to be strong, he didn’t wanted to tell you because he knew you’ll suffer. Make him believe you are strong, so he won’t suffer your pain.”

 “I can’t. I can’t make him believe I don’t care he’s dying…that would kill him faster! I can’t stand looking at him so helpless…it breaks my heart.” 

“You’ll see with time you’ll feel better and he would only be a beautiful memory.”

 “No…he is and will always be my one true love.”

 “If you close your heart to love…you’ll live in bitterness for the rest of your life and you are very young. You know…David asked me to make you fall in love with me so you’ll forget about him. Now I know why he said it…I said no because I liked him, but now I can see why he loves you so much. I know it’s soon, but…I want at least be beside you.”

 “I can only be your friend…I would never love again.” He stood up and curled beside his lover. “He is my life and until I die and go back to him…I won’t love again.” 

“Then I’ll wait for your wounds to heal, but I’ll come back for you.” Francis say goodbye to David at one moment he opened his eyes and promised to look after Giovanni. And left sadly after listening to Giovanni’s words. I’ll be back Giovanni. I’ll be back.

Two weeks later Giovanni was before the same onyx god he last visited along with David and kneeled before him to ask for a new miracle. “Let me return to him soon.” He kissed the statue’s feet and spilled David’s ashes around. “I believe you will grant my wish soon.” He slowly walked back to his apartment and opening the door brings back all the memories in less than a blink. His heart broke once again knowing he wouldn’t be waiting for him this time, and no matter how much he calls, David won’t reply. “I can see you sleeping in our bed…my love, I miss you so much, so much it tears me apart.” He clean up the room and no matter what he looks at it reminds him of his beloved David. “I’m loosing my sanity.” Tiredness won over him and he decides to go to bed, but drank some sleeping pills so he could rest. “Good night my love.” He looked at David’s side of the bed. “Are you asleep already?” His tears fell down knowing he won’t answer at all, but felt he should be there waiting from him to join. “I’ll see you soon.”

 The next morning Francis went to his apartment but he didn’t answer, so he asked for the keys and enter finding his dead body. “Giovanni! Wake up Giovanni! He’s dead…you couldn’t take it. I’m sorry David; I wasn’t able to keep my promise. He should be with you now.” He called an ambulance to take his body away and cried as he waited. There was no sign of suicide or any other cause for his dead- he just died in his sleep and Francis though he died out of depression for the loss of David.

“Love…I wasn’t waiting for you, you came earlier than expected. Why are you here?”

 “I couldn’t wait anymore. I missed you.”