We met more often and talked more often. But mostly him doing all the talking.
I listened since I feel nauseated whenever I talked too much.
He finally asked me out.
And I said yes.
But on that day, I had one of my worst treatments. I sobbed while my doctor finally told me what I already accepted a long time ago.
The treatment wasn't working anymore.
I'm dying .
Hours passed until I felt a bit better. I knew it was already late but I was hoping he would still be waiting.
He did.
....
I sobbed for several hours while she comforted me.
I regretted a lot of things.
I regretted in wasting a lot of time.
I regretted in acting cowardly.
But I cannot turn back time.
....
We decided to spent her remaining days in peace. I resigned from my job and we move to a small village in the mountains. I opened a small clinic and unexpectedly had plenty of patients daily.
She took care of the house whenever she got a little bit of energy, planted some vegetables and flowers around and made some food for me. My clinic is at the back of our house so it will be easier for me to check up on her.
She became more exhausted, sometimes she slept the entire day. She lost a lot of weight and sometimes doesn't eat anything at all even if I try to plead with her.
She felt cold lately and I tried my best to keep our house warm.
During her good days, I would limit my clinic hours and spent time with her on our garden.
We talked a lot and held hands while we listened to the sounds of nature.
She wanted to be cremated.
I wanted to bury her.
We compromised that she would get cremated but I would bury her ashes in the garden so I can still spend time with her.
She's fading fast and I knew her time would soon be up. I lay down with her while she slept. I sang all sorts of songs whenever she groaned in pain. Sometimes, she would suddenly woke up in tears, crying in pain.
It happened.
I was preparing myself to go to sleep when she suddenly woke up and held my hand and told me she loved me. I told her in tears that I loved her more than life itself and that like her name, will always wish upon the stars that hopefully we will be together forever.
And that was it.
....
I did it according to our agreement.
Before long, I was working again in my clinic. I kept myself busy and accepted a lot of patients. Doctors are rare at this area and not surprisingly, even people from other villages beside this village began to seek treatment from me.
Years seemed long and cruel, while the nights remained cold.
....
One day, I collapsed at my clinic and my assistant told me he can manage the clinic in my stead, that's when I finally realized that I'm old.
I feel cold more often and moved more slowly. My assistant had been a great help to me and I'm planning to give the clinic and the house to him. He's young and he has a small family to raise.
I feel a tightening around my chest.
....
I said my goodbyes and went down the road, carrying a small bag containing a few of my clothes and some photographs.
I ended up at a small beach and that's when I felt pain in my chest.
I sat on the bench and stare at the sea.
Soon it became dark. I slowly closed my eyes and sighed.
And I heard a voice saying,
"What took you so long?"