The days after their dinner had passed in a blur of soft laughter and stolen glances, the kind of moments that made Mia feel as though she was walking on air. She found herself longingly anticipating each encounter with Alex, whether it was at the café, in his bookshop, or over casual phone calls in the evenings. Their connection deepened, like the pages of a book turning faster with every chapter.
But there was a shadow that seemed to linger at the edges of their time together, something Mia couldn't quite place a finger on it. Alex was always present, kind and attentive, but there were moments when his smile faltered, his eyes distant, or his laugh a little too soft. Mia noticed these fleeting changes, but she pushed them aside, unwilling to admit that something was wrong.
One Evening, Mia had stopped by the bookshop after work, excited to spend time with Alex. He was arranging a new stack of books on the counter, the shop mostly empty except for the low hum of a record playing in the background. She greeted him with a smile and a quick kiss on the cheek, a routine that had become so natural between them.
"Hey, you're looking good today," she complemented, playfully nudging him.
He returned her smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You, too," he said, though the words felt somehow heavier than usual.
They spent a few moments chatting about the new inventory, but Mia couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Alex was more distant, less engaged. She watched him quietly for a moment, trying to decide whether to say something. Finally, she spoke, her voice gentle but concerned.
"Alex, what's wrong?"
He froze, the book in his hand paused mid-air. His expression shifted, the warmth in his eyes replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. "uhm", he said his voice stumbling, "I've been meaning to tell you something," he said quietly, placing the book down and turning to face her fully.
Mia's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't heard that tone in his voice before, so soft, so serious. She took a step closer, her curiosity piqued but her instincts bracing for something she couldn't yet name. "What exactly was wrong, did she do something wrong? does he not want this friendship anymore?" All these thoughts flashed through her head, not knowing what to expect.
"I don't know how to say this," Alex continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "But… I have a terminal disease."
Mia blinked, as if the words hadn't fully registered. "What? What do you mean?" she asked trying to process what she just heard.
Alex closed his eyes for a moment, as though gathering strength. When he opened them again, his gaze was steady and intense.
"I've been living with salivary cancer for the past year," he said, his voice low. "It's rare, aggressive, and… there's no cure. The doctors are doing what they can, but…" His words trailed off, and for what felt like eternity, there was nothing but the quiet sound of Mia's breathing.
Mia's mind raced, unable to fully grasp what he was saying. She took a step back, her heart beating erratically. "How long?" she managed to ask, her throat tight.
Alex swallowed hard, the tension in his jaw betraying the effort it took to speak. "They told me six months ago. His voice faltered, and he looked down at his hands. "I don't want pity, Mia. I didn't wanted to tell you. But I realized that I couldn't keep hiding this from you. I care about you too much to keep pretending everything's fine."
Mia was speechless. Her thoughts collided with one another, and she struggled to make sense of the wave of emotions crashing over her. Shock. Fear. Deep sadness. The weight of his words felt like a heavy stone pressing against her chest. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but at the same time, she felt paralyzed by the magnitude of what he had just revealed.
Slowly, she took a deep breath and stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Alex's eyes met hers, his expression one of vulnerability she had never seen before. "I was afraid. Afraid of how you'd look at me, afraid of pushing you away. You deserve someone who can be there for you, for all the things you want. I didn't want to drag you into this…"
"But you're not dragging me into anything," Mia said, her voice more certain than she felt. "I… I care about you, Alex. I don't care what's happening. I'm not going anywhere."
Alex shook his head slightly, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You deserve more than what I can give you right Mia"
"Alex," she whispered, taking his hands in hers. "What we have—it's not about what we can give or not give. It's about being here, right now, together. Whatever happens, we face it together."
He looked at her, his expression a mixture of relief and uncertainty, as if he was still trying to convince himself that this was real.
"You mean that?"
Mia nodded, her eyes steady. "I do."
They stood there in the quiet of the bookshop, the weight of the moment settling between them like an unspoken promise. It wasn't the future they had imagined, not by a long shot, but in that moment, it didn't matter. They had today, and that was enough.
Mia leaned forward, her lips brushing his gently, as though anchoring them both to the present.
"I'm not going anywhere," she repeated softly, her voice filled with quiet resolve.
For a moment, the world outside the bookshop seemed to fade away. The chaos, the fears, the uncertainty—all of it could wait. They had each other. And for now, that was enough.