15 years later - the first day of spring"C'mon slowpoke. You used to run on this mountain way back then." I told my wife.
"Leave me alone, I'm just trying to admire the view." she said, sticking her tongue out.
"We've been here a thousand times. Everything looks the same."
"I just don't want to forget anything." I heard her say.We climb all the way up to the top of the mountain then started setting up our picnic. I actually ended up marrying Agatha, just like she said. After the day we went to the mountains when we were 18, we kept in touch. She visited me at work every single day and we would always go to the café after my shift. There was no way I was going to live my life without her next to me. I proposed to her on Valentine's Day and now we've been married for 6 years.
"Hey, what's wrong?' I asked while grabbing her hand. She's gotten really quiet lately.
"Do you remember the day we first met? We were at the library, and I came to you and Luke to ask where I could get good coffee."
"Yeah, I remember."It was the best day of my life.
"You also asked me why I moved, and I told you I didn't really have a reason." she continued.
"Yeah." I replied. "Hey, what's going on with you? What's wrong? Tell me." I asked while holding her face between my hands. She looked like she was about to cry.
"I lied. I still am, lying. I'm really sorry." she said while looking down.
"What are you talking about?"Why is she suddenly acting like this?
"I'm sick." she said.
"Oh, well let's go home then. We can pass by the pharmacy to get-"
"No, Christopher. I have leukaemia."What?
No.
No."I've only got weeks left. I'm really, really sorry Christopher." she said. She's crying now, covering her face with her hands. I couldn't say anything.
This can't be happening.
"I moved away from my hometown because I wanted to live a peaceful life. I didn't want to be surrounded by worried people. I wanted to live. That's why I moved here. That first day of spring, the first time I met you, was the happiest day of my life. I came home smiling and laughing and for a while, I forgot about my problems. I really wanted to tell you everything, Christopher. The more I got to know you, the more I felt bad about lying. I just really wanted to live my life normally. I didn't want you to treat me any differently because if you did, we wouldn't have done a lot of things. You would have been too worried, and everything would have been the same for me. Now that I'm saying this out loud, I'm starting to notice how selfish I have been." she said. "Christopher..." she continued while grabbing my hand.
How can someone react to news like this?
What do I do?"Why are you telling me this now? Are you going to leave again?" I asked. Tears were starting to fall down my face.
"No, of course not! We've been married for 6 years now, Chris. I'm in this with you till the end of the line. I just didn't want to keep it from you any longer and besides, you'd be really worried if I just disappeared. You'd think I'd be cheating on you or something." she said with a little laugh.
"How can you make a joke in a situation like this?" I said, looking down.
She sighed. "I really, really am sorry, Christopher. I know-" I hugged her before she could even finish her sentence.
"You can't just leave me. You can't do this to me. You can't- I don't want you to go. You could have told me. Maybe I could have done something. Something that might've helped you. Through sickness and in health remember? You could have told me." I said hugging her tightly and with tears running down my face. "You mean the world to me, Agatha."
"Hey" she said while moving away from my hug. She grabbed my face and looked at me. "There was nothing you could have done, Chris. Nothing. You saved me and gave me more time just by being you. I know how you feel and I'm really sorry. I wish I could do something, but I can't. We both can't. We've had a lot of amazing years together. We've made a lot of memories. Please, let's just try to move on. Let's not think about this sickness too much, yeah? We still have time left." she said with a faint smile.
"I don't think I can."
She hugged me and said "You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Don't forget me, okay?"
"Never." I said, holding her and not wanting to let go.
