Aurora

"I'm sorry Aurora, but you have leukemia."

The reality of what she had just heard hadn't sunken in completely. She stared blankly at the sullen looking man in front of her, eyes full of sadness and pity. Her brain started fogging up drowning out the sounds around her, and everything that went on beside her.

She hadn't said a word anymore. She felt her soul slip away from her and all that was left seated on the bed was the shell of her body. Her mind became blank as she couldn't even comprehend what she had just heard a few minutes ago.

Leukemia.

She has leukemia.

Doctor Jamison's mouth was moving, but Aurora heard nothing. Even though she looked in his direction her ears refused to listen to the sounds that left his mouth. She was drowning, her head was filled with fog and her heart was squeezed to the point of a possible burst.

She has leukemia.

There was movement beside her and not even sparing the two men a glance, she saw from her peripheral vision that Matteo had stood up. The two men shared a few words with each other, Matteo looking as if he wanted Doctor Jamison to leave the room.

Doctor Jamison gave her a final look of pure pity as he was close to her. Their friendship had grown ever since her first visit to the hospital, so it must be hard for him as well to share this information or even hear it for himself. She didn't want him to worry about her, not anyone for that matter.

She kept her gaze solely focused on her hands. Were they always this pale in color? Were they always this shaky? Her fingers jerked every few seconds and had a never ending tremble to them. She wasn't cold, the room was the perfect temperature yet her body acted this way.

The bed dipped next to her, feeling him brush against the side of her leg. She didn't look at him however but she knew he was watching her. She didn't know what he was thinking about or what his facial reaction was at that moment, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"Aurora." All he did was call her name, there was a pause as if he didn't know what to say further.

Her name rolling off the tip of his tongue was always a sweet melody that caressed her eardrums. Her body would always respond to him whenever he said her name, but it did not do that. Only a small part of her loved the way he said her name, the part of her that liked his voice and yearned for more of it.

She could feel that he was awkward, not knowing what to do in a situation like this. Given his background it was clear as day that Matteo was not a man who did well with sympathy and words. He could never find the proper words suitable for the situation at hand, and it was why he remained quiet.

A broken sob escaped her lips. She felt everything crumbling down and she could care less if she looked like a wreck crying in front of Matteo. The reality of what was happening to her had registered in her head, the sickness and everything that could go wrong along with it.

She felt him enclose her with his arms. They were wrapped tightly around her shoulders, forcing her head to lean against his chest as she cried against him. They had never been this intimate with each other and she knew this might be overstepping some boundaries between the two of them.

The comfort of another person was what she needed right now. She held on tightly to his shirt, not caring if she creased it but badly needed the comfort he provided. His touch soothed the tiny bit of aching in her heart and calmed the raging storm in her mind.

Aurora blinked. "I am g-going to die. Aren't I?"

Her own voice shocked her. There was a coldness to it, the lack of emotion resembled the tone of voice suited for Matteo. It was void of any tone beside the blunt way in which she projected her voice, although still in a whisper voice it was harsh.

His hand paused at the middle of her back, stopping the movement from rubbing her back in a soothing manner.

"Auro-"

"I am going to die, right?" This time she looked up at him, the bottom of her eyes brimming with tears threatening to spill.

He looked as if he couldn't function at that moment. The look of discomfort on his face and eyes flitting every second away from her confirmed that he didn't know what to do or say. He looked a bit hurt when she said that as well.

That all soon vanished when there was surprisingly a flash of anger in his eyes. A dark glint circled those dark orbs when he looked her dead in the eye.

"You will not." he said.

"Didn't you listen to a-anything he said? I have leukemia, Matteo. T-there is no hope for me anymore and this is the fate I h-have to accept."

"You will not die. I will make sure of that."

She scoffed, tears falling down her cheeks. "How? I have no m-money for surgery and even if I did I doubt there is a possible donor out there."

"You can't be sure of that."

She watched him as he spoke. She watched him as a look of complete despair washed over his expression, mirroring the look of Doctor Jamison. There could be a possibility that she had hallucinated his expression, but deep down she knew that he was...sad.

He looked hopeless.

"I have b-been waiting for nearly two years only to be met with the reality t-that my condition could only get worse. There is no help out there, Matteo. There is no h-help."

"Please, don't say that." his voice shook.

"It's true."

"No."

She sniffled. "W-who knew you were this soft." she smiled weakly.

Matteo watched her with a confused look when she said that. In a serious situation Aurora always managed to create some humor, to rid herself from the actual situation at hand.

Aurora's smile disappeared, her heart feeling heavy."Matteo, I'm s-so scared." she cried.

Matteo pulled her body flush against his, the side of her face pressing against his chest. He rubbed the side of her arms, like a mother would do if her daughter cried in her arms. He was gentle and careful with everything that he has done, touching her as if she would break apart in his arms if he was a bit rough.

His stubble grazed her forehead. The sound of his heartbeat against her ear, made her confused as to why it was beating that fast. It was beating faster than it should normally do.

"Do not fret, agnellino. Whatever it may cost me, I am going to help you."

~~~

During her stay at the hospital, she felt more and more depressed. Matteo was constantly at her side, granting her wish of not bothering her but simply sitting by her side. His presence was enough to make her feel comfortable but there was something eating away at her brain for wanting to be left alone.

The only time he left her side was to shower and bring her food. However, she turned down the food whenever he told her to eat.

Her appetite diminished, not really wanting to have anything in her stomach. There was a permanent knot tied in her stomach and whenever the smell of food hit her, that knot would tighten. She refused to cooperate with the doctors whenever they offered her a meal, and during their checkups she remained silent.

She had no energy in her to smile at the friendly doctors by her side or even Doctor Jamison. She did feel bad about how she treated them all, but the depression shut down all her sense of morality. There was nothing left in her to put up a fake act and pretend everything was okay.

After two days of being under moderation, Aurora was given the go ahead to be released from the hospital. There was nothing they could do except continue to look out for any donors that could assist Aurora. The only thing the doctors did was have Matteo keep close contact with her doctors just to be sure that if there was an incident, he could contact them.

Doctor Jamison apologized profusely, blaming himself for not doing his job correctly. It shattered her heart to see him look so distressed and bothered by this situation, but her body didn't grant her that to comfort him. She felt like her usual self was being suppressed by a heavy weight of another version of herself.

This version being cold and depressing.

The drive back home was silent. The radio hasn't been turned on and neither of them uttered a single word to each other. One being too wrapped up in their mental state while the other didn't know if they should engage in a conversation at this time. The latter kept to themselves, keeping the other their space but glancing every so often to her staring out the window.

There was a change in the atmosphere and they both could feel it. It was heavy and something they both couldn't ignore, but none of them spoke about it.

Aurora felt like nothing was registering in her brain like how it used to. The beautiful colors of trees and the sky did not catch her eye anymore, everything was just there. She saw it but she didn't look at it, not peeking her interest.

When they got home, the game of silence still continued between them as none of them even looked at the other. Her sole focus was to get to her room and be alone, without anyone to bother her. She wanted to fall asleep hoping that when she wakes up it was all just a dream, just like the other times before she went to bed.

She almost reached the stairs when his voice stopped her.

"Aurora."

She turned to look at him from over her shoulder, showing that she was listening to what he has to say.

He stood a few feet away from her. He looked like he hasn't gotten proper sleep in a while from all those late nights watching over her in the hospital. He looked like she needed sleep, desperately.

He looked concerned. "Aren't you hungry?"

She shook her head, no verbal response to his question.

If she was in the right state of mind, she would have blushed at his question. Matteo still shocked her at how affectionate he had become towards her, but that flattery disappeared the moment she realized something. It was all out of pity, that he was becoming this kind and generous.

He wouldn't have been this way if she didn't have this sickness.

Matteo sighed. "You haven't eaten anything today. It isn't good for your health-"

"I'm fine." she cut him off.

He looked a bit taken aback from her witty response. The girl before him has changed to someone entirely different from the shy and easily flustered girl he once knew. All she wanted was to go to her room and be alone, she didn't want to be bothered.

"Aurora, please." he almost, almost sounded like he was begging her.

"I'm tired." she said, looking away from him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again. He inhaled a deep breath, almost like he was trying to compose himself and keep his anger at bay with the way in which his shoulders slightly shook.

He nodded. "Okay. I'll be here if you need me."

She just blinked at him, saying nothing to show appreciation for his words and walked upstairs to her room.