Ruby closed the hospital door behind her. Dennis was sitting in his bed, reading On The Road that she had brought him a week before. She was wearing Brian' purple t-shirt under her jean shirt. She smiled at him and he closed the book. He put it on his knees and reached out to her. She hugged him and stroked his (very) long hair before kissing his forehead. She pulled a chair next to the bedside table and sat on it. She tapped her fingers on her knees.

"How do you feel today?"

"Oh, rather good, I'd say. How about you, Roobs?" he whispered with a hoarse voice. Ruby smiled when she heard him pronounce her nickname for the first time in the past few months.

"Oh, I'm okay I guess."

"Will mum come?"

"I don't think so, she's caught a cold yesterday and she needs to rest. I called the doctor this morning."

"Oh, I hope she's okay."

"No. We hope you're okay."

Dennis looked down and put On The Road on the bedside table.

"Anyway. How's college?"

"Oh, I think about stopping those studies and going to a Literature college instead."

"Oh, really? But being accepted to the Imperial College is just a fucking privilege! I'm sure that mum and dad would have prefered me to go there instead of my Art school. But now, I'm just the big disgrace, aren't I?"

"Stop talking nonsense. Everybody's worried about you."

"Yeah but let's face it: I won't survive."

Ruby's eyes widened. Dennis looked so peaceful whereas he'd just said something terrible. But she couldn't tell him either. Knowing him too well, she knew he would count the days, hours and minutes. "Play it cool, Roobs, play it cool" she told herself.

"Dennis! What are you telling me! Of course you'll survive!"

"Don't fake it, Roobs. I know it."

"I'm not faking it." 

"When I was in the coma, I... I heard you. You and the doctor. He told you I was condemned. And you promised you wouldn't tell mum."

Her lips began to shudder. Tears escaped from her eyes and fell down her cheeks. Dennis whistled and took her in his arms.

"Don't cry, lovely Roobs. I don't like seeing my little sister cry."

"I'm tired of all this, Den. Can you even imagine what it's like not to tell mum about her child who's about to pass away?"

"I can't imagine, but it's not you who's dying" he whispered. "You can't imagine either what I feel like."

"I'm sorry."

"Now, I count the days. My friends visited me yesterday and I knew it was the last time. I just couldn't tell them. I have that clock inside my head going backwards" he said, his finger pointing at his head. "And it's not reassuring at all. I knew when was the last time I'd ever see the sunset. I can't see anything from this bedroom. I know I'll never smell the flowers ever again. I'll never listen to any records either. I'm dying. It's over. Mum and you are witnessing all this. I never wanted that. I fucked everything up, and my stupidity kills me."

"Dennis, you're not stupid."

"Come on, Ruby, you know I am. Isn't it stupid to spend your whole days smoking and drinking? To forget your home and family?"

"It wasn't your fault."

"Whose was it, then? Ruby, it's not because I'm about to die that you must think I'm an angel. People tend to do that, but it's not a solution. It has never been one. You must recognise your faults and the others'. Don't pretend they've always been good human-beings because it's wrong. Of course it's better to remember the good moments, but you shouldn't forget about the bad ones either."

"Okay..."

"That's what my stupidity taught me. See? Don't always look on the dark side of things."

"When did you become wise?"

Dennis laughed and tickled her. She bursted out laughing and hugged her beloved brother. As they was still in each other's arms, Dennis was absently staring at the wall in front of him.

"Never forget that, Roobs. It will help you in life. But never do what I've done. By the way – I don't know why I'm thinking about that suddenly – didn't you have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah. We're still dating."

"That's great. Is he good to you? Does he treat you right?"

"Yes, Den. He does. You're doing the big brother things, now?"

"No, I only worry about you. I heard mum talking about him once. I wish I could meet him."

"I can call him if you want. He must be at home now."

"Maybe later. First, I'd like to enjoy my last time with my sister."

"Dennis, it's not the last time."

"My inner clock says so."

"Well your inner clock's wrong."

"I don't think so. It doesn't lie."

Ruby looked at him, her lips trembling again. Dennis hugged her one more time and stroked her hair. He kissed her forehead.

"Roobs, can you do me a favour?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Don't cry when they bury me."

"How can you possibly ask me something like that?" she hiccuped.

"Because I'll be happy down there. I'll be away from all that stuff. I'll look after you and whenever you feel down, I will help you."

"You can't be happy when you're buried. Happiness is a feeling. When you're... dead... you can't feel."

"And here's exactly the point of view of a scientist." he smiled. "I don't really believe in science. Well, I do, they can do miracles sometimes, and they'll improve. But... When it's about feelings and death, I don't believe in it."

"I want to stop Medicine. I'm starting to think that it's not that helpful."

"It's up to you."

He freed her from his arms and removed a lock of her hair that was falling in her eyes. He stuck it behind her ear and stroked her cheek.

"Look at this gorgeous girl! Look at my gorgeous sister! A bird like that doesn't deserve to cry and be unhappy. Smile."

Ruby smiled through her tears and kissed her brother on the cheek.

"What have you done, Dennis? What have you done?"

"I'm wondering about the same thing. I'm still trying to understand why. But I guess I should be on drugs to figure that out."

She playfully punched him in the arm and laughed.

"Let's talk about good things, okay?" he said. "I also need to be cheered up. Tell me about your boyfriend!"

"His name's Brian May, he studies Physics and Maths at the Imperial – he's the best student of the department of Physics – and he's a great guitarist."

"Brian May... Brian May... His name sounds familiar to me."

Dennis frowned and scratched his head. Then, he raised his finger and his eyes widened.

"Oh, I know! It's Freddie who told me about him!"

"Freddie? You mean Freddie Bulsara, the guy who sings?" she said while Dennis was nodding. "Brian and Rog are in a band and the bass player leaves. He told them about Freddie."

"Is the band Smile?"

"It is."

"I heard about Brian, then. He's known for his skills at the Ealing Art College. Many guys saw him live when Smile played at the Royal Albert Hall."

"And how about Freddie?"

"Never have I heard such a powerful voice. But really, rock'n'roll needs this guy. However, he shouldn't sing rock'n'roll. He's made for opera or something. He would add something to Smile's music, believe me." He paused. "Yeah, I heard about Brian. I've always been told that he was a nice guy. I think I'm going to trust those who say that."

"They have no idea. Bri's adorable, really."

"But even if he is, be careful. A good person can turn into a bad one as quickly as the time it takes for someone to breathe."

Ruby nodded but this time, she couldn't listen to his advice. She knew Brian was different. He would never turn into a bad person. "Brian Harold May? A bad person? Nah!"

"How's life outside?" Dennis asked.

"Still awful."

"But colourful" he smiled. "I'd kill to see the colours of the world once again. I'm tired of those white walls."

"Do you want to go out?"

"I can't. It's forbidden for me."

"Oh, come on, Den! Don't you listen to rock'n'roll?"

"I do, but what's the matter with that?"

"Well you're used to breaking the rules!" she smirked. She opened the bedroom door and slipped her head outside. She looked on both sides and smiled. She saw an empty wheelchair in the corridor, in front of the secretary office. She went out and reached the wheelchair.

"What are you doing with that chair, young lady?" the secretary said.

"My grandmother needs it" Ruby lied "she wants to go outside for a few minutes and she can't get up."

"Okay. Take the wheelchair and help her to sit in it. But come back and show me your grandmother. Many people pretend they actually have a grandparent suffering and they use the wheelchair for playing."

Ruby sighed and took the wheelchair. An elderly lady who had heard the conversation between the secretary and Ruby went up to the young woman.

"Hey, young girl" she whispered. "What will you do with this wheelchair?"

"Oh I wanted to have a walk with my brother. He hasn't breathe fresh air since last month. And he never will."

"I can sit in the chair and pretend I'm your grandmother."

Ruby's eyes widened.

"What? You'd do that?"

"Of course! What's your name?"

"Ruby."

"Nice to meet you, Ruby. I'm Joan."

The elderly woman shook Ruby's hand and sat on the wheelchair. Ruby took her to the secretary office to show the secretary.

"Here's my grandmother, madam."

"Fine. Have a nice walk."

Then, the secretary looked back at the papers she was writing on. Ruby pushed the wheelchair into the corridor until she reached Dennis's door.

"Thank you very much for your help, Joan."

"You're Dennis Franklin's sister, aren't you?"

Ruby blinked. How could she know?

"Y... Yes."

"I talked to him a few times. Poor thing... I immediately knew it was you. He wasn't lying, you're a very good looking lady!"

"Thank you..."

"I'm free from the hospital now. I won't return. And I know that Dennis will stay here for the rest of his short life. I wanted to do him a favour as he helped me being in a good mood."

Ruby smiled. "That's so Dennis!"

"Now I have to go. Stay with him until the end. You don't realise how much he's proud of his sister!"

"Is he?"

"Oh yes. He couldn't stop talking about you. He isn't a bad person. He made terrible mistakes, for sure, but he's good."

Ruby nodded and greeted the elderly woman who walked to the exit door. She pushed the wheelchair inside Dennis's room. He was resting his chin on his palms and was tapping his fingers on his cheekbones. When he saw her with the wheelchair, he smiled.

"Forbidden."

"Not now. A nice woman helped me to get the wheelchair."

"Was it Joan?"

"Indeed."

Dennis smiled even more and his eyes shone. He let Ruby help him standing up and sitting down on the wheelchair. She pushed him through the door, the corridor and then they were free. The hospital owned a huge garden so the patients wouldn't feel like they were in jail. There were benches surrounding a whole pathway, nailed to the ground through the grass. As it was summer, many colours were brought by grown flowers. Ruby pushed Dennis in the middle of the grass and they sat there, facing the whole garden.

"I had forgotten what life was like" Dennis whispered with his hoarse voice. "It's beautiful. I can't believe I'm going to leave this."

"You're going to leave this for a world that'll be even more colourful."

"I'd love that!" he smiled.

Ruby was looking at the people walking by, some were smoking, some weren't. Some were surrounded by people, some were alone. Some smiled, some cried. An ill father was celebrating his birthday with his children and his wife; she could tell she had cried, her makeup was a bit flowing. An elderly man was sitting on a bench, his hands clenched on his walking stick; his eyes were raised to the sky and he was smiling. As though he was remembering funny times, he laughed from time to time. Ruby turned around and saw how Dennis was watching the scene. It was like he'd seen the world for the first time. His eyes were wide open, his mouth was shyly smiling, and a teardrop was rolling down his cheek. How beautiful the world was, and he was going to leave all this.

"Dennis? Are you okay?"

"Yes. I've never felt that good."

His eyes wandered once again in the garden, and he was amazed by everything he saw. It was like he had been blind the whole time. He thought he had seen all the colours of the world thanks to the drugs, but he hadn't. He hadn't even seen the world in black and white. The shiny colours of the flowers had given him his eyesight back.

"Now I don't know if I'm ready to leave."

Ruby abruptly turned to him.

"It's up to you."

"I think I am now." He turned his head, his eyes were full of tears but his smiled hadn't faded away. "Thanks, Roobs."

He deeply inhaled, welcoming the oxygen with open arms. He looked up to the sky and smiled from ear to ear. Without looking away, he cleared his throat.

"Can you take me back to my room, now, Roobs? I'm ready."