It was already five minutes past midnight. The moon was shining brightly onto Zhou Mi's lonely figure. Henry had told him to be here now. So why wasn't he?

The Chinaman sighed. Why was he even here? He barely knew the other. But somehow... was it crazy if he said that he didn't like seeing Henry sad? Most likely it was... The seemingly younger had looked so happy with that dog, Hope, as he had called the golden retriever.

"You're here."

Zhou Mi jumped at the sudden interruption of his thoughts, then he turned around, standing face to face with Henry. "Y-yeah, it seems like that." he answered, feeling a little insecure.

"I'm sorry that I'm a little late."

"It's okay."

Henry looked down and Zhou Mi carefully glanced at the other. He seemed to be serious and a little insecure himself. "So... what is it that you wanted to talk about with me?"

Henry looked up, seeming a little alarmed. "Ermm... can we... you know... first talk about something else? Like, getting to know one another a little better. As in - how old are you?"

Zhou Mi almost had to chuckle seeing Henry's slight panic. The topic he had been called out in the middle of the night had to be really important for that boy if he first concentrated on something else. Only - he was right. They first should clarify some other stuff. "I'm 23 years old. What about you?"

"Three years younger." Only three? He looked like maybe 19.... "What are your hobbies?"

"Hobbies? I like reading but.. I don't have a lot of free time left with work and everything..." Zhou Mi trailed off seeing a sad expression on Henry's face. "Is everything okay?"

The younger shook his head. "It's nothing. It's just... let's say, I have a lot of free time."

Zhou Mi wondered what else there was behind that part because he had the feeling it wasn't just that the boy had a lot of free time. There had to be something else... "And what do you like to do in your free time?"

Henry looked up, then walked around him and sat down on the bench he usually sat on. "I like going here, to the river. The water just fascinates me, I guess. And then I also enjoy playing the violin."

"Really?" He had heard that violin was a difficult instrument to learn. Henry nodded. "Can you play something for me someday?" He asked. Henry just shrugged. Was that a yes? Could he take it as one? "That's great. Then... what about your favorite music?"

Henry looked at him a little strangely before he had to smile. It was a beautiful smile. "I don't know. I like it when there are violines playing. Like in MBLAQ's "This Is War", you know?"

Zhou Mi tried to think about a song that was called "This Is War" but couldn't remember having heard about it. "No, I don't. But I somehow can imagine it. I don't like hard-sounding songs either. I'm more on the softer side," he explained and sat down next to the younger. "Then... what about your favorite... I don't know.... I don't only want to ask all those things that everyone would ask, that you would even be asked in magazines!" He pouted and Henry chuckled softly. "It's okay. I just have one more question. And you must know, everything depends on what you answer, okay?"

Zhou Mi gulped, feeling like a lot of responsibility was suddenly in his hands and he didn't know if he could carry it. But he nodded.

"Then... let's start with something kind of easy. What if someone you know suddenly became sick. In a way that couldn't be healed anymore. And the doctors would tell you that they didn't have a lot of time to live left. What if it was a friend of yours, not a family member. What would you do?"

That question was weird. Zhou Mi frowned and tried to think about what he would do. "I guess it would depned on what disease it would be and how close I am with that person."

When he looked at Henry, the other didn't seem to feel comfortable but more like looked as if he wanted to jump up and run away as fast as possible. But he took a deep breath and continued. "What if that person wouldn't even come to... come to..." The younger sounded as if he was about to cry but he also did everything to keep himself from doing so. "What if you knew they wouldn't even get one year older?"

Was it that? That Henry had to die this year because of some disease? But what could be so bad that it wasn't really visible now? Shouldn't one at least see it? Well, he had vomited blood while coughing. Had that been a sign for him having that disease? "I guess I would stay with that friend, no matter what happens. Because... he or she should be able to enjoy their time with us instead of just seeing people turn away because they're afraid of that disease. This time I don't care whether I'm close to that frien or not. It wouldn't make a difference. Not to me."

He looked at Henry and noticed how the boy seemed to get a little calmed down by his answer but seemed to be about to hyperventilate at the same time. Was that even possible?

"Zhou Mi-sshi."

"Hyung. At least if you don't mind."

Henry nodded. "Hyung. Can I tell you something that really is very personal and... well... everyone else has turned away when I told them. Everyone. So this is really about something only you can tell me - can I tell you something that actually is kind of bad and even makes me cry a lot? Something you would have to know if you keep on spending time with me?"

Zhou Mi looked at the younger, then nodded. He assumed he had already figured out at least one part of what was expecting him. So why not hear the rest as well?

"I... you know, I...." Henry swallowed hard, then lowered his head. "I have esophageal cancer. That means, I can't really swallow hard things to eat anymore. I will die soon. Probably still this year and... and..." He started to sob and Zhou Mi moved closer to the younger and hugged him tightly, caressed his back.

"It's okay, Henry-ah. It's okay. I'm here with you. You can tell me anything," he whispered. He knew that this was really important for the other and even though he barely knew him, he felt like he wanted to take care of him, be there for him. He wanted to make his fears and worries go away until there was only joy left in his life. He wished life was so simple and kind to make wishes come true.

They sat like that for minutes. At some point Henry stopped crying but they still didn't move. Nor did they talk. They just sat there in comfortable silence.

"You know, I didn't even tell my parents I will... only get one year older. I mean, when you count like we did before we moved here. And I made a promise - if I can't go her