Broken Strings

C H A P T E R T H I R T Y - O N E

Anisha was okay. He loved her and she was going to be okay. They were going to fix their marriage. He was going to fix every single mistake he'd ever made. Anisha was going to be okay.

Sebastian placed the printed copy of Anisha's blood results in front of Andrew, ignoring every plea he'd made.

"These are her latest results from a few weeks ago. Her red blood cell count is far too low." Sebastian sucked on his lips, staring at the numbers he'd memorized. For days, he'd started at the results almost as though he magically expected the numbers to change. For the numbers to change and show that Anisha was in fact getting better.

"You know, you're right. Some people do get better. Even when you least expect them to. I see it all the time."

Sebastian shrugged as Andrew shook his head, arguing. "But not everyone does. Some people just aren't lucky."

"Anisha is going to be fine. She will get better." It was a promise. And Andrew would make sure of it.

Sebastian shook his head, leaving the topic there.

"When Anisha was diagnosed, the tests revealed that it was too late. Her case is extremely complicated and it's too late. The cancer has already spread to other parts."

"I told you a few weeks ago at your party that you had less than a few weeks to tell her that you loved her. So did you?" Sebastian leaned against his chair, trying to maintain a solid facade.

"Is she undergoing chemo?" The question tasted bitter on Andrew's lips.

His chest heaved, almost too heavy.

He was going to lose her. The seconds around him were winding down. The sun was setting. Everything slowly started to add up.

Ryan's suspicions. The bruises. The skipping breakfast and sometimes dinner. The reason why she'd stopped working. Everything.

He trembled with a sudden fear.

Everything settling in. Anisha was sick. He hadn't noticed. She was sick for months now. And she wasn't going to get better.

Andrew looked up at Sebastian, specks of hope still filling his eyes.

But Sebastian didn't offer him any hope. He just shrugged, carelessly.

"Isn't it sad? She's your wife, Andrew. How long have two been married? Seventeen years or eighteen? Yet you know nothing about her." His voice was soft, just a little accusatory. "She has a doctor's appointment every Thursday. Depending on that, I'll schedule for her to have another blood transfusion. She takes pills, three times a day. And more than anything, she's hours away from death. She's fighting to live another day, Andrew. You've never cared nor bothered enough."

Sebastian stood up as his phone pinged. Anisha was awake and the nurse had already checked her vitals.

"Today we did an Emergency Platelet Transfusion. She's awake now and you can see." Sebastian paused as Andrew stood up, his gaze soft and pleading. "But you need to start looking into Hospice and other End-of-Life Care Options."

"Anisha's near her end and it's what's best for her. I'm also going to increase her doses for the painkillers. It might seem a little high but she needs to be comfortable. I don't want her to be in pain."

Andrew stumbled a step backward. Everything around him pained. The words kept ringing in his ear, finally settling in.

His Anisha. The woman he loved more than anything. The woman who meant the world to him. The woman who hadn't given up on him. After all the hell, he'd put her through, she'd still loved him.

"No." The whisper was soft, heartbreakingly soft. "No. She will get better. Anisha, nothing is going to happen to her."

Andrew shook his head, heavy tears filled his eyes as he apart. His broken heart and misery highlighted him. "No. I won't let anything happen to her. Anisha will get better. Anisha has to get better."

Sebastian let out a sigh as he opened the door.

"Andrew-"

"Please, you have to. She's going to get better. I'll pay anything. I'll do anything. I can't live without her. Please. I...I need her. Please."

Andrew pleaded with everything he had.

"Don't you get it, Andrew?" Sebastian walked out, motioning for Andrew to follow. He didn't say anything as Andrew slowly walked behind him, a dejected look on his face.

Andrew looked around the oncology floor. It was sad, sad and quiet. And lonely. In one of the rooms, his wife was lying there, fighting, struggling, dying with cancer.

"Please Sebastian. I love her."

Andrew begged, his voice soft, broken. "I love her. I can't live without Anisha."

Sebasitan paused outside the room. The door was still closed.

"Anisha isn't going to get better, Andrew. She isn't." Sebastian reached for the door knob, pausing as he looked back at Andrew. "Don't make this too hard for her. She's suffered enough. You've hurt her more than enough. Just don't make this harder than it has to for her."

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Anisha smiled, faintly, the corners of her lips tugged upwards, slightly as the nurse continued to talk to her, mumbling something about what a beautiful day it was outside.

"Alright, Dr. Knight should be in to talk to you any second. Other than that, your vitals are good. I will check-up on you right after he's done."

Anisha nodded, closing her eyes as the door shut.

She felt tired. And numb.

She just wanted to sleep. She felt too weak.

Anisha refused to think about anything. Andrew probably hadn't even shown up at the ice cream shop. But she knew Sebastian would probably call him any second to tell him she was in the hospital. He had been trying to get her to tell Andrew for weeks now.

And Anisha didn't want to think about her children. Maybe she should've given them another kiss that morning before they went to school. Because now, the clock was ticking faster than ever.

Death couldn't be counted for.

She knew that.

In a way, it felt as if she was just waiting for things to end. That was the hard part. It seemed as though every day could be her last, every minute her final.

Maybe it was the uncertainty that she didn't like. The end was certain but the timing was uncertain.

But in all truth, she just wanted everything to stop. Once and for all. For everything to finally end for her.

She was just sick of it.

She slowly opened her eyes as the door opened. Her eyes widened as Andrew stepped into the room.

A soft whimper escaped her lips as he took a small step towards her, lips parted and hair messy. His eyes, hollow and broken, a dull blue met hers.

And she knew he knew.

He now knew. And she had always known.

This was the end.

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lol okay so now I actually have to study.