I was hospitalized that night. An hour after you dropped me and my mom home.

It wasn't surprising anymore. We knew this day would come.

Now instead of heading to my house like the usual, you visited the hospital without amiss.

You brought flowers every time, and you know what it reminded me of?

That time when I lied to you when you visited me before. When you had no idea yet.

Time flies so fast, Taehyung.

Sometimes you'd bring your friends and they'd crack jokes, and they're really funny as always.

Well, not as funny as Seokjin's windshield laugh. That never failed to drive me off into a fit of laughter.

Namjoon almost got banned from visiting though. Reason one: for almost breaking the door. Reason two: for almost knocking my bed over.

Good thing hey hadn't caught him getting tangled up on my IV. They managed to help him before the nurse came.

Though I could never understand how he does it. It's a mystery to me.

Then one time you guys left Yoongi here, and he was so confused why he woke up in the dark, inside my room, at 3 in the morning when my nurse made her night rounds.

Well, I asked my mom to wake him up, but she told me he looked like he needed the sleep. So she didn't.

Jimin and Jungkook kept bantering like kids. The elder complaining to his dongsaeng over his 'disrespectfulness'.

But to be honest, I knew they were just being extra. I mean, they're always like that, but I could sense their effort to make me feel like nothing was wrong.

In a good way though.

They didn't make me feel like a dying person.

Even if I was.

And I'm glad you have them as your friends. They're rare finds. Much more precious than gold.

And I'm happy and assured,
that you'll still have them.

Even when I'm gone.

Being in the hospital didn't interfere with our routines. Except there wasn't any kitchen to cook in anymore. No more catching you and mom preparing breakfast on weekend mornings.

But at least there was still you. There was still my mom. Shina. Your friends, who were now also my friends. Your parents.

The people who cared remained.

So the days went by. Like they always do.

Days. Days. Days.

Days that had turned into weeks.

And it went on, ever changing. Shifting from day and night on an endless loop.

Until it had been so long.

It had been so long. My body feels like it had been so so long.

And Taehyung... I could feel it coming already.

"Taehyung," I called out, and when our eyes met, it was as if you could read my mind.

I knew you held it back. You tried so hard. So instead, you cracked a smile.

That oh so warm, comforting smile.

You held my hand, and I gave you that meaningful squeeze.

You returned it back.

"Taehyung, I'm tired," I breathed out,

and you nodded,

as if you understood what I meant.

You leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the forehead. It lasted longer than usual.

And God knows how much I wanted it to last so much longer.

Your smiling face. Your soothing voice.

Those were the last sight I saw, the last sound I heard.

Before sleep took over me.