Souls combined,
Words were few.
There wasn't a day when this heart didn't feel for you.
You may have forgotten me,
But I dare not,
There will come a time
When I see it again, I shall cherish that smile of yours.

- Ren, Ode to Arslan

Three weeks ago

"Arslan, please have a seat."

Grinning at my doctor, I shake my head and jest, "Are you going to give me a lecture on my hangover? I promise that since our conversation a month ago, I haven't touched any liquor. If you don't trust me, ask Ren. You know he'll never lie."

Rubbing her forehead, Doctor Afida's eyes sought mine. They weren't her usual laughing ones. The pair looking back at me were filled with concern, and somewhere I felt a heavy weight of dread taking over my heart.

I have known Afida forever. She's Ren's aunt and my physician-a family doctor, to be more precise. As a child, my sweet but overbearing parents would send my lazy ass to her clinic whenever I wasn't well.

Back then, she'd send me off with a bunch of chocolates, but now, looking at her grave emotions, maybe even sweets wouldn't suffice.

"Are your parents in town, Arslan?"

"Doc. Whatever you wish to tell me, go ahead. You know my parents are never in town. Just be out with it."

I could count the number of deep breaths she's taken in the last five minutes, and that's one of the most torturous moments a soul can experience, not knowing the unknown.

"I received your reports this morning from Dr. Perry, and the prognosis isn't good, Arslan."

Damn. A few days ago, while on tour in Milan, I felt weak and numb, so much so that I wasn't even able to get up in the morning and go about doing my usual chores. Back then, I assumed it was due to my handover and all the partying my team has been enjoying, but then that morning it was terrible.

Having made a mental calculation to stop by after the tour ended, I came here for a consultation. Dr. Perry, a neurologist, had asked me various questions about my symptoms. That's when I realised these episodes were recurring, and each one was worse than the other.

For safety precautions and to cover all bases, he suggested that I have an MRI and CT scan.

I did oblige his medical opinion but did shrug it off later, thinking that other than being extra cautious, there was nothing wrong with me.

How could there be?

I was just thirty-five. A male in his prime would never suspect that his body was about to give up, and probably all his dreams would be just that. A dream.

Handing over the reports, Doc took a seat next to me, and the moment she placed her hand gently on mine, my brain stopped malfunctioning. This was a clear indication that something was seriously wrong with me.

"Arslan... The reports that we received today, indicate that you have cancer in your brain. There is no possible suspicion that it could be something else." Showing me the chart, even my non-medical self could see there was a mass in my head and had this been a movie, I would have joked around that an alien was growing inside my brain.

The joke was on me now. There was indeed a parasite growing within me.

"I... I have heard brain tumours can be cured. Can this be cured, Doc?"

The pain in her eyes gave me answers before her lips could. "There is a huge difference between brain tumour and brain cancer.

"All brain cancers are tumors, but not all brain tumours are cancerous. Noncancerous brain tumours are called benign brain tumors.

Benign brain tumours typically grow slowly, have distinct borders, and rarely spread. Benign tumours can still be dangerous. They can damage and compress parts of the brain, causing severe dysfunction. Benign brain tumours located in a vital area of the brain can be life-threatening. Very rarely, a benign tumour can become malignant.

Malignant brain tumours are cancerous. They typically grow rapidly and invade surrounding healthy brain structures. Brain cancer can be life-threatening due to the changes it causes to the vital structures of the brain. Some examples of malignant tumours that originate in or near the brain."*

"So what are you saying, doc... that I have no chance for survival?"

At my question, Doc teared up, and I had to close my own eyes. "How long do I have?"

"A few weeks. I am sorry, Arslan; the cancer has spread, and there is no way we can perform surgery without it affecting the quality of your life, which in this case would not be advised."

"Not even chemotherapy would work?"

She shook her head, and I had to bite my lips. This was bad. At this very second, my entire life flashed before my eyes. There was so much I wished to achieve.

"Arslan... I suggest you get yourself admitted here. We'll take care of you and make sure your remaining days will be as painless as possible."

I snorted at that suggestion, though I did not mean to be rude. "Doc, if I have just the next few weeks to live, then I want to live them to the fullest. I do not wish to confine myself within these four walls.

"If medicines aren't going to help me, then why would I want to live here? I might take a trip to someplace good and live my final moments out there."

"Arslan-"

"I have an upcoming tour in three weeks. If that is going to be my final show, then so be it. I will sing once more. I'll dance for another beat. I'll live for that second. For my last act, this will be my final adieu."

"It isn't going to be easy. You'll be in a lot of pain, Arslan."

"Not as much as if I don't get to sing and perform one last time." Giving Afida a smile, I laced my words with an undertone warning, "Don't tell Ren about this."

She was about to argue when I shook my head and smiled sadly and said, "I'll tell him when the time comes. I wish to spend my last few days with him in peace, where there won't be any pain or regret. Take this as a dying man's last wish, doc. Don't tell Ren."

"As you wish." She relented, and I collected the reports from her.

"Prescribe me some medicines so as not to raise any suspicion but would get me through the next few weeks. I'll be eternally grateful."

She gave a sad smile. There wasn't much she could do.

"Where is Ren?"

"He should be at the paediatric ward."

I gave her a salute and walked away. No other words were needed. At least not for the moment.

Donning my cap so as not to be caught by any paparazzi or fans, I quickly made my way to the paediatric ward. At this hour, there weren't many people on the floor. It was way past visiting hours.

My feet came to a halt at the sight of Ren holding a baby and singing a soft soothing lullaby in its small and cute ears.

He was dressed in his blue scrubs, and by the dark shadow covering his face, I could deduce it was a long shift for him, probably covering everyone else's shift.

Dr. Ren Takahashi is a renowned paediatrician and surgeon. If he wasn't in the hospital, he'd be roaming around providing free medical aid.

Sensing someone by the door, Ren glanced up, and as our gazes met, there was warmth and happiness in there.

Watching him from afar, I realised he would make an amazing father, and I wouldn't be here to witness that.

I observed him gently place the baby inside the incubator and instruct the nurses to take over, and all the while he had a gentle smile gracing his face.

It was then that I realised my heart would never get tired of seeing Ren interact with kids. He was born with this natural talent for making everyone feel safe.

Moments later, he was in front of me, exhausted, but not once did that smile diminish.

We faced the floor-to-ceiling glass wall and observed the nurse before taking care of the baby.

"What's wrong with the kid?" I wasn't usually nosy, but that baby would not be more than five months old.

"She has a hole in her heart and is in need of a donar as soon as possible, or else it would be difficult to save her."

Something about his words hit close to home. Smiling inwardly at the irony, I couldn't help but feel a level of sympathy for the two of us. At least I got a chance to experience and live this life on my own terms, but that innocent kid not having that chance didn't sit right with me.

*Medical bibliography: hopkinsmedicine.org

Prompt No. 57:

"Unknown to everyone, you are battling a life-threatening condition. With only a couple of weeks to live, you help your friend get a partner of their dream, except they are in love with you."

Word Count: 1556