The days following Léa's revelation were marked by a strange mix of calm and tension. Dylan found himself in a constant state of waiting. He knew that everything could change in an instant, that the test results could shift everything, and with them, their entire life. But he was there, by her side, every minute, ready to support Léa, no matter what.
Léa, on the other hand, lived in a kind of suspension. The weeks stretching ahead of her were filled with a heavy uncertainty that offered no relief. Every little change in her body, every new sensation, became a source of questions and anxiety. The visits to the doctor kept piling up, with their series of tests and results that never came fast enough. But there was, in Léa's eyes, a determination not to let herself be overwhelmed. She was fighting, in her own way, against the fear that threatened to consume her.
One evening, as they were returning to her apartment after a particularly grueling medical exam, Léa stopped in the building's hallway. She seemed distant, lost in her thoughts. Dylan stopped beside her, watching the tension etched on her face. She hadn't talked to him about the results in the past few days, as though the weight of the situation was forcing her to lock herself in silence.
"Are you okay?" Dylan asked softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Léa slowly turned her head toward him. Her eyes held a melancholy he had never seen before, as if a part of her was slowly fading away as the days passed. "I don't know, Dylan. I can't tell anymore. I feel like everything I do, everything I try, means nothing in the face of what's coming. Maybe I've done all of this for nothing."
Dylan frowned, his heart tightening at the thought that Léa could be so close to despair. He knew she was strong, but he could also see how much this ordeal was pushing her to her limits. "Don't say that. Don't believe that everything you're doing is useless. You're fighting, and that's all that matters. No matter what the results say, you're a fighter."
Léa closed her eyes, as if she wanted Dylan's words to sink into her mind, but a sigh escaped her lips. "What if I'm not ready? What if I don't have the strength to face whatever might come?"
She turned toward him, and Dylan felt a deep pain in her eyes. "I'm terrified, Dylan. And I have no idea what's going to happen to me."
The words hit Dylan like a wave. He had always known that fear was present in her, but he had never imagined how much it could overwhelm her. He gently took her in his arms, as if to offer her a lifeline, even though he knew he couldn't save her from this inner storm.
"You're not alone, Léa," he whispered. "You've never been alone. And even if you're scared, even if you have doubts, I'll be here. I'll be here, no matter what it takes. I won't leave you."
She nestled against him, and for a moment, he felt her body relax in his arms. But he also knew that this was only an illusion of peace. The reality of what she was going through was much more complex, and despite his support, he could only imagine the depth of the fear engulfing her. They stayed there for a long moment, simply holding each other, letting time stretch around them.
The next morning, after a restless night's sleep, Léa received a call from the doctor. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the phone, Dylan by her side, waiting with an almost palpable patience. The doctor's words, though kind, were heavy with meaning. The results were in, and they confirmed part of what she had feared.
Léa gently hung up, her head bowed, and without a word, she turned toward Dylan. He saw in her eyes what he had dreaded, that silent certainty that hit with full force. He approached her, taking her in his arms once more. "What did he say?"
Léa slowly nodded, her eyes filled with tears she couldn't hold back. "There are treatments to start, but he said I have to be ready to live with this illness. He's talking about... reassessments, changes. Everything I thought I knew about my future is crumbling, Dylan."
Dylan felt powerless in the face of this pain he couldn't fix. He felt lost too, not knowing how to help her any further. He knew the road ahead would be full of obstacles, but he didn't want this ordeal to break Léa, or their relationship. So, he focused on what mattered: supporting her, every single day.
"You're going to fight, Léa. And I'll be by your side every step of the way. No matter what that involves, I will love you, I'll be here."
She looked up at him, a faint smile on her lips. "I know. It's just... all of this feels so heavy, Dylan. And I can't see the end of the tunnel."
Dylan cupped her face in his hands, looking straight into her eyes. "You don't need to see the end right now. Just keep moving forward, one step at a time. And every day you get up, every day you fight, you're stronger. Never forget that."
Léa looked at him for a long moment, and in her eyes, there was a small spark of hope. Maybe, despite the fear, despite the uncertainties, they could still make it through together. Maybe the future wouldn't be as dark as she imagined. But for now, she had one certainty: she was not alone in this struggle. And with Dylan by her side, she felt like she still had a chance.
For now, they could only live one day at a time.