The last words of Shawn rang in her head for days and nights. She wished she could turn back time and go back to three months ago when they first met and make things right and she wishes to go back to three days ago and take back everything that had happened. Though she feels relief that Shawn now knows the truth, the cost thereof seems to have become higher than the truth. Since he walked out of the door three days ago, she had waited for his return. Every day she would wait and pray that he gets a change of heart. She knew what he was going through was hard, but witnessing him go through it, knowing he resented her, was harder.

Their relationship had ended, which was what she had initially wanted, but now she resents ever wanting that. Shawn was one of the good things in her life and losing that felt and still felt worse than death itself. She couldn't turn her heart off and go on as though nothing happened. He was a part of her life and he brought positivity into it every day he came in and Neriah wishes she could have a little of it again.

How can you lose a battle you've never fought? How can you fail when you've never tried?

True the doctors told her she had a year to live after cancer proceeded to its current stage, seven months ago even with the drugs and medication she's on, but if there's a way to survive this, she'd take it because what she wants more than anything is to live and be with Shawn.

She hasn't unpacked her bags since she put them together three days ago, nor has she touched anything in her room since then. She hasn't even stepped out of her apartment, even though she has moved already. There was nowhere to go and death was already on its way to her. It was only a matter of time.

She picks up the card Cainan had left on the table three days ago from the floor, which is the only thing apart from her that its position has since then changed and she stares at it for a while. A part of her wants to give his number a ring, but she wonders if his act of helping is another con to ruin her life more and make the little time she has left a living hell.

It wouldn't matter, the pain won't be for long, she assures herself. She summons the courage and presses his contact on the card into her phone before calling him.

After a few rings, the line gets answered. "Hello?" Comes the deep, hoarse voice of Cainan, demanding and firm.

Saving herself the exchange of pleasantries, "In what way do you plan on helping me?"

"Neriah?" he immediately asks, his voice dropping in tempo.

"Yes, now please answer my question."

"Um," he goes silent for a while, "I could help you get immediate treatment at one of the best hospitals specialised in your case in this city. I've heard kind remarks about their treatment for a while now."

His offer seems genuinely good, but "In exchange for what?"

Surprised, he blurts out, "What?"

"What's the catch?"

"I'd prefer we meet and talk about it. Your place seems great, so I'll come over there now and we can talk better."

Neriah is about to ask if he plans on leaving work before the closing hour because of her, but she isn't supposed to care what he does with his company.

The knock on her door is much expected and Neriah opens to see Cainan still in his work clothes, which is an oxblood-coloured suit and trousers and a white inner long sleeve. His hair is parted in the middle, giving his face a defined shape and there are a few stubbles on his face, entailing that he probably hasn't shaved in a few days.

"I'm guessing you're gonna let me in when you're done, right?" He asks after a long while of awkwardly watching her check him out.

"Yeah, um-" she nods and steps aside from the door, letting him step into the room.

"You still have your bags packed," he points to the bag and then notices a few things have been untouched, too.

"Yes, they are." She trails off as she feels like he's wandering off from the reason for his presence. "I'd rather we talk outside." She suggests as she feels the air go thin around her. Not arguing, he follows her out.

The gentle breeze of the day blows and cools her up, shedding away all the negative energy she's been feeling for a while. It helps replenish her strength and empowers her a little. How she could survive staying in the room for three days she'll never know.

She doesn't stop walking and Cainan doesn't stop following until they are both under an enormous tree beside the house and when Neriah gets under it; she sits down on the grass on the ground since there was no chair there and she's a little surprised that Cainan also does the same.

Once relaxing, Cainan speaks "You call-"

"Your card-" they both stop, realising that they are speaking in unison.

"Go first," Cainan urges with a hand gesture.

"So you know, I talked to Shawn, and I told him the truth like you asked me to and he broke up with me."

"I'm sorry-"

"That said," she continues, cutting him off like he wasn't even talking. "I will accept the help you're offering and I just need to know what the catch is."

She finishes, but Cainan doesn't start speaking as he isn't so sure she's done talking.

She clears her throat, and he looks at her. "I can talk now? I didn't think the queen had finished speaking." He says, emphasising 'the Queen'.

Neriah rolls her eyes, "I'm done."

"Okay, first off, I know you and Shawn broke up." Neriah frowns, but he continues speaking to clear the air with what he means, "It explains him not coming to work for three days because I know I didn't fire him, so I knew the only other option was that he was heartbroken."

"Are you going to fire him for missing work?" She asks, her tone wary and her face wry.

"That's not your business," He responds, coldly shutting her down.

"But was I not the reason you gave him his job?"

He nods his head in agreement, "Yes, but honestly it isn't because of the role you played."

"What are you talking about?" She demands.

"I initially employed Shawn so I could convince him to break up with you. I saw how much you loved him and I wanted to ruin you, and that was one way of doing that. But I knew he wouldn't immediately because he loved you more than he did his job, so I was going to wait until he once again committed himself to the job and I was going to make him break up with you. Well, all that changed after I found out about your condition."

Neriah wants to feel angry, wants to get mad at him for knowing this truth, but she can't. She can't bring herself to harbour any negative feelings towards him or anyone at this moment. She feels tired of everything and she feels tired of literal life itself.

"You finally got your wishes met, right? He's finally broken up with me." Her eyes grow glassy and tears run down her face from the pain before she can get to stop herself.

"Yes, but it gave me no joy to know then, and neither does it now."

Neriah doesn't know if she believes him, or if she cares, but "how do you plan on helping me?" She asks, going straight to the point.

"Like I said over the phone, I know of a few hospitals, one of which is in the states that deals with cancer and their methods have been tested and trusted. I will take care of the cost. All you have to do is take the treatment."

"What's the catch?" She asks, and Cainan feels like he's heard this question for the hundredth time today.

He finally looks at her, and his gaze was fixed on hers. "There's no catch, Neriah. I want to help you. That doesn't change the fact that I still don't like you." He adds, matter-of-factly.

"I still don't like you either," she instantly returns unapologetically.

He smiles, "Then good."

Cainan brought her over to the Hope general hospital where she received immediate treatment. They conducted tests to determine the extent of the disease.

Cainan received debriefing about the whole procedure and although none of the previous cases was as advanced as Neriah's, they promised to do their best, which was what Cainan needed.

...

"Am I going to lose my hair again?" Neriah asks Cainan, who's looking out of the window.

Cainan is holding a rose flower in his hand at the door. Neriah doesn't notice the flower and if she did, she doesn't put her heart to it as she concentrates more on the mirror in front of her on the bed.

"Well, if you do, you can always grow them back."

Although it's meant to cheer her up, she frowns and her nose scrunches up.

It's been six days since she's been here, and the treatment has fully begun. Cainan has visited her all those days she's been here and although she felt sceptical of him, she's been able to work her way around that and find some comfortable spot in it all for herself. She'd gotten comfortable in his presence and she doesn't feel the need to pick out every one of his words anymore and she doesn't feel so tense when he's around anymore.

She gives him the eyes that said he wasn't helping, "Easily said than done! You're a biracial child. Everything must come easy to you." She says, and no one has to tell her to let her know she's stepped on a wrong wire and he is going to burn her or turn it off.

Surprising her, he moves closer to her bedside and says, "If that were true, I would have been married to Clara with three kids two of which are adopted, I'd have my father with my mother and you, cancer-free."

The last line held powerful words in it, words that make it hard for Neriah to keep her eyes on him as they blur up. She wasn't this emotional; she grew up with low tendencies to tears but something happened last year after she found out her fate and since then, she's had a hard time controlling her emotions.

"These are for you," he tells her as he hands her the flower in his hand.

She takes it from his hand and brings it to her nose, inhaling the sweet smell of the rose. "Thanks," she smiles up at him.

"Don't," He stops her. "Shawn said they were your favourite, so he should be the one you thank." He says, and before Neriah can ask what that means, he steps away from in front of her to reveal Shawn at the door.