Chapter 1: DEATH
WARNING: LATE HAREM. STARTING VOL-2.
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[Gotham City] [Location: Hospital] [Oncology department]
Evans sat nervously in the doctor's room, flanked by his worried parents. The doctor carefully reviewed his medical report, his expression growing increasingly somber. It was evident that the news he was about to deliver wasn't favorable.
Evans' palms grew sweaty, despite the coolness of the air-conditioned room. His eyes darted restlessly between the doctor and his parents, his anxiety mounting with each passing second. His cough had worsened over the past few days, and the medications and chemotherapy had failed to improve his condition. He had even experienced fainting spells, and this morning, a small amount of blood had accompanied his cough.
Closing the report with a sigh, the doctor turned his gaze towards Evans' parents. "I think it would be better for the patient to wait outside," he suggested gently.
"Oh, come on now. I know my body better than anyone else. I've been blacking out, coughing up blood, and struggling to breathe. I'm dying, and I'm fully aware of that. So, please, just lay it all on the table and tell me how much time I have left," Evans blurted out, unable to contain his emotions any longer.
His parents had already nearly depleted their assets to fund his treatments, even resorting to a substantial bank loan. Evans didn't want them to continue wasting money on him when there was little hope. He had made up his mind the previous night, deciding to cease the treatment that only prolonged his suffering and caused his parents immense anguish. The thought of the pain he had inflicted upon his family, and the suffering they would endure after his passing, weighed heavily on his heart.
"Son!" Evans' mother reached out and grabbed his trembling shoulder, her voice filled with anguish and love.
"Please, doctor, tell us if there's anything we can do..." Evans' father implored, his glasses off as he rubbed his tired, reddened eyes.
With a heavy sigh, the doctor began, "The tumors have spread throughout his lungs, and... I'm sorry to deliver such devastating news. But the cancer has reached the final stage."
"How much time do I have left?" Evans repeated his question, the weight of his impending fate pressing upon him. He yearned to know how much time remained, wanting to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams and instead focus on something meaningful that only he could achieve, given his critical condition.
"Without further treatment, it could be weeks, maybe a month. With continued chemotherapy, you might have around five to six months. I'm sorry, but that's the best estimate we can provide. Ultimately, the decision rests with you... Will you choose to continue with the treatment, or..." the doctor's voice trailed off as he met Evans' father's gaze.
Evans knew that his time was drawing near, but the realization that he had merely a month left struck him deeply. "So, it's time... Damn it! What did I do to deserve such punishment?" he questioned silently, though he knew there would be no answers forthcoming.
"Is that even a question...? Of course, we'll continue the treatment," Evans' father declared as he rose from his chair. He was unwilling to give up on his only son, even if time was scarce. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with Evans, cherishing every moment.
However, Evans reached out and firmly grasped his father's hand. "Enough, Dad... It's time to let go. I don't want to spend my remaining days consumed by pills and witnessing the suffering of both you and Mom. Please..." His eyes welled up with tears, despite his efforts to hold them back.
Evans' parents looked at him, torn between their love for their son and the anguish of letting him go. His mother's hand trembled as she wiped away her tears, trying to summon the strength to understand her son's wishes.
"But we can't just give up on you," she choked out, her voice wavering with emotion.
"I'm not asking you to give up on me," He replied, his tone gentle but resolute. "I'm asking you to support my decision to stop treatment and let nature take its course. It's been a painful journey for all of us, and I can't bear to see you both suffer any longer."
His father sat back down, holding Evans' hand tightly in his own. "We love you so much, son. It's just hard to accept that there's nothing more we can do."
"I know, Dad, and I love you both too," Evans said, his voice trembling with emotion. "But sometimes, the best thing we can do is accept reality and find peace in the time we have left. I don't want to spend my last days in a hospital bed, clinging to false hope. I want to be surrounded by love, laughter, and good memories."
His words resonated deeply with his parents. They knew that continuing aggressive treatments would only subject Evans to more pain, both physically and emotionally. They didn't want him to suffer any longer, and they didn't want to suffer themselves, watching their son endure it.
"I just wish there was another way," Evans' mother whispered, her eyes never leaving her son's face.
"There isn't, Mom, and that's okay," He said, trying to comfort her. "Life is unpredictable, and we don't always get to choose our paths. But I've made my peace with it. I want to focus on making the most of the time I have left and creating beautiful memories together."
Despite being 17 years old, Evans displayed a maturity and wisdom beyond his years. His willingness to confront the reality of his situation and make a difficult decision showed a remarkable strength of character. He understood the importance of quality over quantity of life and sought to find meaning and love in his remaining time.
As the conversation continued, Evans' parents eventually came to accept his decision, though their hearts were heavy with grief and sorrow. They understood that supporting him meant respecting his wishes, even if it meant letting go sooner than they had hoped.
However, as you know, life is unpredictable...
As they walked out of the hospital and were waiting to catch a taxi, Evans' phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw that it was his childhood friend, Sarah. He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should answer the call in his current emotional state.
"Go ahead, talk to her," his father urged, recognizing the importance of friends during such difficult times.
Evans picked up the call. "Hey, Sarah," he said, trying to sound as normal as possible.
"Hey, Evans! How are you doing?" Sarah's voice carried genuine concern.
"I'm... I'm okay," he replied, though his voice betrayed the emotions he was trying to suppress.
Sarah, perceptive as ever, sensed something was amiss. "Are you sure? You don't sound okay. Is everything alright? What did the doctor say?"
Evans hesitated for a moment before deciding to share the truth with his friend. "Actually, I.. Can we meet today?"
[Location: Park]
Evans and Sarah sat together on a bench in the peaceful park, surrounded by the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant sounds of children playing. It was a bright day, the sun casting a warm glow upon their faces. Despite the serene setting, Evans couldn't escape the weight of the conversation he was about to have with Sarah.
"I didn't want to worry you with all of this," Evans began, his gaze fixed on the ground. "But I've been getting worse, and the cancer is in its final stage. The doctor doesn't expect me to have much time left."
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Evans, I'm so sorry..." Sarah wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. He was her best friend, and he meant the world to her. She was devastated by the news and desperately wanted to help, but she knew there was little she could do.
"It's alright, I'm going to make the most of what time I have left," he replied, his voice a little stronger than before. "I just didn't want to say anything until we met."
His heart ached as a weird turbulence stirred inside him. His feelings for Sarah were much stronger than those he had felt for other girls, and the thought of being away from her caused him immense grief.
"I'm so, so sorry, Evans," Sarah repeated as she hugged him tightly. She knew he was being strong and facing his challenges head-on. However, the anguish of having to watch him die was overwhelming, and her mind struggled to process the reality of it all, "Why did it have to happen to you?"
"We all have our own time, and mine is running out," Evans replied with a somber expression. "But I want you to know that I'll always be with you. You've always been there for me, and I can never repay you for all that you've done. I know how much you care about me, and that knowledge is enough. You've given me the strength to carry on, even when I thought my life was coming to an end."
"I love you, Evans," she said, her eyes welling up with tears. She couldn't hold back her feelings for him any longer. "I've loved you for a long time."
His heart swelled with love, but it was mingled with a deep sadness. He loved Sarah, but how could he be with her when he knew he would be gone soon? How could he leave her behind? How could he accept her love and her support if he knew he would leave her behind?
"Sarah, I... I..."
"Don't say anything," she interrupted. "Just stay with me and enjoy what time we have left. Let's not worry about the future... We don't have to make decisions right now. Let's just be together and live in the moment."
Evans wanted to express his true feelings and his regrets, but he knew she was right. He couldn't bring himself to break her heart when they were so close to the end. He could see that her love for him was genuine, and he was grateful for it. He also knew that he would hurt her, but at that moment, his heart ached so much that he was willing to suffer anything if it meant making her happy.
After a moment of silence, Evans began to cough violently, and Sarah reached for her water bottle. "Here, take some water. Your cough has gotten worse. We should go home. You need to rest," she said, her voice tinged with concern.
"Rest?" He smiled, shaking his head. "Don't worry. Very soon, I will have all the time in the world to rest. Right now, I am thinking about my parents and you... I... I couldn't even do anything for my mom and dad. I dreamt of getting a big job, you know... To give my parents a good life... And now, I don't even have the strength to take care of them. What kind of a son am I?"
"You're the best son anyone could ask for, Evans... You've always been there for your family, and they know how much you care about them. But there's only so much that you can do. Don't be so hard on yourself," She replied, wiping away a tear as it rolled down her cheek.
"Hey, don't cry," he said, reaching out and gently brushing the tear away. He cupped her face in his hands and caressed her soft skin, trying to calm her down. "Everything is going to be okay. And promise me one thing... Promise that you won't waste your time on me, and you'll find someone better. Someone who'll make you happy. Promise me that you'll never cry over me."
Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight as she tried to hold back her sobs. She knew his words were coming from a place of love and tenderness, and she felt grateful for his kindness, even if it was for her. However, his words still weighed heavily on her heart. She couldn't bear to lose him, and the thought of being left behind was unbearable.
"Don't ask me to make such a promise, Evans. You're the only one I want," she replied, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "And if you're not going to be here, then who could possibly make me happy?"
"I..." He was about to tell her that she would find a way to move on and find love again, but he knew it was a lie. Sarah had always been the only one for him, and he doubted she would ever find another love like their shared one. He realized that it was cruel of him to ask her to promise such a thing and leave her behind, but he had no idea what else to do.
"I am sorry. I know it's a cruel thing to ask of you... But I don't know what else to do," He mumbled, grabbing her hand.
After a moment of silence...
"It's getting cloudy," She said, turning her gaze towards the sky.
"Yeah... I think we should head home. It's going to rain soon," he replied, glancing up at the ominous sky.
They picked up their things and headed home, arm in arm as they walked through the park. As the rain began to fall, they took refuge in a nearby building. They were both soaked by the time they reached the top floor, and their clothes stuck to their bodies.
"Wow... It's a lot heavier than I thought," Sarah said, running her hands through her wet hair. "It's going to be a mess when we get home."
"Yeah... My parents are going to kill me," he chuckled.
They sat together on a bench in the elevator, trying to catch their breath. "I haven't been to the top floor of this building in ages," she remarked, gazing at the view through the glass door.
"Me neither," Evans replied. "But I still remember the first time I was here... It was when we were kids and you took me here... It was raining then too. We watched the rain from the top floor, and we drank juice boxes..."
"Oh yeah..." She smiled, remembering their childhood memories.
"Come on," He pulled her by her hands, "Let's go watch the rain from the top floor one last time."
She followed him, her heart pounding in her chest. Soon, they arrived on the top floor.
"Let's go to the roof," He urged. "There's no one here."
"What? Are you crazy? The roof?" She hesitated, though she was intrigued.
"Yeah... The roof," He said, reaching for her hand. "It'll be nice and quiet... Like that time when we were kids."
"Oh... Okay. Sure. Why not," She replied with a smile. She remembered the times she had spent with Evans as children. They had always been together, whether it was in the park, on the phone, or at their houses. It was comforting to know that some things never changed.
As they stepped out onto the roof, the rain poured down relentlessly.
"Oh my God! It's really coming down," Sarah shouted, her hair plastered to her face.
"Yeah..." Evans stepped into the rain and started laughing. "Come on! Let's dance! Just like old times."
"What? In this weather?" She chuckled.
"Yes... Come on," He replied, holding out his hand.
Sarah grabbed his hand and ran out into the rain with him. They twirled around as they danced together.
As the rain came down even harder, she began to laugh. It was a magical moment, and she felt like a kid again.
"This is amazing!" She shouted, her voice full of joy.
"Yeah... This is what I wanted... To feel alive!" He replied, spinning her around.
"Me too!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close, her eyes full of happiness.
They remained outside for a long time, dancing and playing in the rain. They had forgotten about the world around them and only had eyes for each other.
"Do you know that the day I met you, it was raining?" Evans asked, his gaze fixed upon her beautiful face.
"What? Really?"
"Yes... I remember it well... It was that day when you were with your friends... I was just walking with my friends, and we stopped outside a bookstore... We were all laughing and talking. You were laughing too... And suddenly, my heart began pounding... I don't know why... It was like something changed inside me that day. From that moment, you have always been in my heart... My best friend... My only friend... The only one who truly knows me..."
"What are you talking about?" She whispered, her heart swelling with love.
They stopped. Both of them hugged each other. Their faces were wet with the rain, but they didn't care.
They shared a kiss in the rain and for the first time, it felt right. It was a perfect moment.
[Next Day]
Evans passed away in his sleep the following day. His death came suddenly, and there was no pain or suffering. His parents were sitting by his bedside when it happened, and they held him in their arms, whispering soothing words.
He was buried on a sunny day in a beautiful, serene graveyard. Everyone who knew him came to say their final farewell. It was a day of sadness and mourning.
Sarah was the only one who couldn't bear to attend the funeral. She stayed at home, weeping. Evans' death had hit her hard, and she found it impossible to muster the strength to say goodbye.
******[Reviews and Power stones are always welcome]*****
[NO HAREM SO far. Will let you know if I add]
MUST READ the auxiliary chapter for Harem or No Harem. If anyone still complains after that, I will just delete those comments or reviews.
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