The hospital room was sterile and quiet. Dan had to gown-up before he was allowed to go in and see Darren. The other occupant of the isolation room was asleep but Darren was wide awake and staring at the ceiling.

‘Hi there.’ Daniel forced his voice to sound cheerful.

‘Dan is that you?’ Darren’s hand came out from under the bedclothes and groped around for Daniel’s.

‘Of course it’s me sweetheart.’ Daniel took Darren’s hand and squeezed it gently.

‘Can you turn on the lights, it’s so dark in here I can barely see you.’

‘But honey, the lights are on.’ Daniel told him puzzled.

At that moment Dr Walker came in accompanied by another doctor. He walked to the end of Darren’s bed and examined the chart that was hanging on a clipboard there.

‘So Darren how are you feeling now?’

‘Umm…better I think. I was just asking Jonesy here to turn the lights on. Can you do it for me please doctor.’

The other doctor exchanged a worried look with Dr Walker and proceeded to take out his pencil light and shine it in Darren’s eyes.

‘What’s up, what’s wrong?’ Daniel asked, not at all liking the looks there were passing between the two physicians.

Sighing Dr Walker motioned for Daniel to sit down which he did so, perching on the bed next to Darren.

‘Darren you’ve had a seizure, it’s not uncommon in patients in your condition. Your immune system gets so weak that it can’t handle things.’

Darren gripped Daniel’s hand a little tighter.

‘And unfortunately, ‘Dr Walker continued, ‘it can sometimes be a symptom of other things.’ He looked from Darren to Daniel and back to Darren again. ‘Darren we think you may have what is known as Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML for short. It affects things like your co-ordination, your speech and your eyesight. Now you mentioned last time I saw you that you were occasionally experiencing some difficulties in doing things like fastening buttons?’

Darren nodded and held so tight onto Daniel’s hand that Dan thought he was going to draw blood any moment.

‘You will probably find that your eyesight will come and go, like your co-ordination. Some days it will be clearer than others. We’d like to keep you in for a few days, run a few more tests.’

‘I’d rather just go home thank you doctor.’ Darren said, struggling to keep his voice calm.

‘I would advise against that Darren.’

‘What good are more tests going to do? We already know what is going on. I’m dying, pure and simple. So if it’s all the same to you I’d just rather go home.’

‘Of course I can’t stop you. But I want to make it clear that it is against medical advice.’

‘Fuck medical advice.’ Darren replied evenly.

‘Daniel…?’ Dr Walker turned to Dan for support.

‘Sorry Doc, I’m with Darren on this one.’

‘Okay, I can see there is little point in arguing with the pair of you. But you stay in tonight Darren, and Daniel if you come and see me before you leave I’ll give you some literature which will help explain things further.’

The two doctors left, leaving Darren and Daniel alone once more.

‘Oh Dozer.’ Daniel leant over and embraced Darren, holding him to him as if he would never let go.

‘Hey, hey it’s ok, like he said, it’ll come and go. It’s just one more thing that we have to deal with and we’ll deal with it in the same way we have dealt with everything else this bastard disease has thrown at us. Together.’

Daniel relaxed his hold and rested his head on the pillow beside Darren’s.

‘Stay?’ Darren pleaded.

‘Try stopping me.’ Kicking off his shoes and the sterile slippers they had made him cover them with, Daniel curled up on the bed next to Darren, wrapping his arms round him protectively. ‘Is this ok?’ he enquired, not wanting to further hurt Darren’s weakened body.

‘This is fine. In fact it’s better than fine, it’s just perfect.’ Darren’s fingers came up to trace over the outline of Daniel’s face. His jawbone, his cheeks, his closed eyes, his lips. ‘Just perfect.’

They were woken several hours later by a commotion at the bed opposite. A nurse saw them looking and hastily drew the curtains around Darren’s bed.

When Daniel drew them back the following morning the bed was empty.

Darren just stared at him. He didn’t have to see to know what had happened.

Putting his lips close to his love’s ear Daniel answered his unspoken question. ‘I promise.’