Love That Transcends Even Death

Lawso

inst my ribs. "No, just... a little unwell," I called out, my voice muf

floor, scattered around my feet, were the tiny, devastating mementos of our shared history, each one screaming his betrayal. The sight filled me

me and tell me it was all a mistake, that he still loved me. But the new Alycia, the one who was dying, th

. The house grew silent again, a heavy, suffocating silence. I sagged ag

from my phone, wiped away every trace of myself that I could. It was an act of erasure, a desperate attempt to make

clinic I' d secretly been visiting. Dr. Evans, a kin

ut direct. "You know we can manage the pain, try to slow t

deep in my bones. "No, Dr. Evans. I'

rpose. It would cover my final expenses, ensure a quiet departure, no burdens left behind. But the thought of the pain, the

"I've booked a flight to Oregon. For the... the

lycia... are you sure? There'

xed on a crack in the wall. This is

n't hear his voice, not when I was so close to making my final arrangements. His calls continued, intermitte

d wanted so badly to believe that my love, my quiet devotion, could be enough. Enough to keep him, to keep us tethered. But love, I was learning, w

, preparing to leave for the airport, my phone rang again. It was K

was ragged, frantic. "It's Carmelita! She..

she?" All thoughts of myself vanished. Carm

e stammered, his voice choked with fear. "I'm on my way

Not we need you. She needs you. He was calling me, not for hims

pain, the cancer. I only cared about her. I ripped the IV from my arm, ignoring the sharp sting, the f

ing horns, the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. My foot pressed harder on the accelerator, my heart pounding with a m

at me through the window. "Ma'am, you're speeding! And the road ahead is

through my fingers. I slammed the steering wheel in frustration, then

lashing red and blue against the stark white of the freshly fallen snow. Carmelita was huddled on the ground, h

hielding her. His own face was bruised, a cut bleeding above his ey

ith a raw, furious anger. He pulled Carmelita cl

out a hand, a desperate, maternal instinct to comfort the

He pushed me back, his strength surprising in its intensity. "You're late!

Me? The girl who had spent her entire life trying to be invisible, trying not to

es. "Kyle, no..." she whispered, her voice hoarse, a faint protest. She tried to sit up, a flicker of s

Carmelita. "She could have been seriously hurt! Where were you? What

to show him the blood, the pain, the terminal diagnosis. But the words wouldn't come. They were t

trying to find my vo

you are anymore, Alycia. Maybe we need a break. A long break. You

ate. I was absent because I was dying. I was absent be

ed to speak, to explain, to defend myself. But all that came out was a violent, hacking

gainst the pristine white snow. I quickly tried to hide it, to wipe it aw

arms still wrapped protectively around her. He gently lifted her,

gine, pulling away without a backward glance. He left me standing there, alone, bleeding

s right. I wa

ached, my head pounded, but my mind was clear. This was it. The final push. I tur

light just in time, the last passenger to board. As the plane taxied down the runway, the city lights blurred into a

I wish them happiness. I wish them a life together, free from g

as about to be. I pulled out my phone, typed

ways. Find your hap

to a life that had become too painful to bear. No goodbyes. No exp