On the day of the event, I tried to look my best. I hurriedly wrapped some presents, books actually, that I know she would love.
I can't believe I finally asked her out.
I hurriedly went to our meeting place and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
4 hours passed, and I was feeling disappointed and ashamed of myself. Still, I decided to wait for her even if it means missing the event.
Still I waited.
Until it got too dark.
By the time I decided to give up and go home, I heard small footsteps behind me.
Asta.
Good thing I waited.
....
She apologized for being too late. While I awkwardly told her that it was alright, I noticed she looked paler and exhausted. I asked her if she was okay but then, she handed me a small box. I opened it and inside is a men's watch, very fancy and with stars as its numbers. I thanked her while feeling shy. I gave her presents and she excitedly opened them and read aloud their titles.
Just then, my stomach growled.
She laughed and apologized again and we went to my car.
....
I brought her to a fancy restaurant and let her choose whatever she wanted. She smiled and apologized for being not hungry but she ended up ordering chicken soup and vegetable dip.
She used to eat much.
....
We went to the beach.
The sky was filled with stars.
We sat down on the sand.
We didn't talk but we held hands.
She gazed at the stars,
While I gazed at her.
The air seems a bit colder since it was late at night so good thing I had an extra coat in my car so I gave it to her. She gratefully accepted it and wore it .
You seemed different, I told her. You talk less, eat less and there's a certain sadness in your smile.
She nodded. Life seemed so short, she said.
Even the stars seemed to agree with her. She pointed at one and told me that since light takes time to travel, some of the stars we see are long gone.
We continued to watch the stars until it was already past midnight.
....
The drive home was silent.
She told me to drop her off at the hospital where I worked. I was surprised since I was expecting to drop her off in front of her apartment or wherever she's currently staying.
I asked her if she's working at the hospital since she's been around there more often and that's where we usually meet up.
She looked surprised at first then smiled sadly.
She told me that she wasn't working there.
She's sick.
For a long time.
I'm so dumb that I didn't see the signs.
And I'm a physician.
Now that I'm beginning to grasp the situation, I did saw signs but it didn't fully register to me.
How she looked paler than before.
How she looked sickly and lost a lot of weight. To be honest, I really thought it was stress. I want to punch myself.
How she didn't eat a lot when she used to love eating.
How she got tired easily.
How we met at the hospital almost daily.
Then with cold realization, I realized the reason she was late earlier was because she just came from treatment.
She has cancer.