My main goal today is to make Aden’s wish happen. I need to move fast because time is ticking and there’s not much left.

Last night, I researched about Charlotte and found out that she’s working at a hotel around our area. I’m truly lucky because I found her right away.

With the kids left in the care of Cara, I went to the hotel, eager to convince Charlotte to pay Aden a visit. The two almost has the same story as Jiyong and I, and just like us, they didn’t end well. Aden tried really hard to move on from her, which he succeeded for some time and even fell in love with somebody (Yep. Me), but by the end of it all, it’s still her his heart wants. If he’s not ill, I’m pretty sure that he’ll do everything to get her back again.

Entering the hotel, my heart started racing. I haven’t thought of what to say nor do I have a clue on how to approach her. From Aden’s stories, she seemed kind. “She’s got a big heart” he’ll always say. “Her kindness is what attracted me to her” he will finish with a sweet smile on his face.

“Just….tell her everything” I told myself as I draw near the reception area. “You can do it!”

“Hi Ma’am! How may I help you?” one of the receptionists asked.

I smiled at her as my nerves shoot up. “Hello! Uhmm…I’m Elle Yoon”. My mind’s going blank. “Is Ms. Charlotte Adams around?”

“Yes Ma’am. Ms. Adams is on duty” she said in soft tone. “Do you want to speak with her?”

Still unsure of what I’m doing, I nodded. “If she has time”

“All right Ma’am. Kindly wait for a minute. I’ll see if she’s available”

I’m a step closer to my goal and I have no intentions of screwing it up. Actually, I have a strong feeling that this will end well. After all, this is a dying man’s wish. Only heartless people will turn it down.

A minute has passed and I saw a blonde woman walking towards me. I’ve seen Charlotte in pictures and she’s more beautiful in person. Her blue eyes are sparkling.

“Good Day, Ma’am!” she greeted, extending her hand to me. “I’m Ms. Adams. How may I help you?”

Aden is right. She looks kind.

I shook her hand. “Hi!” Here we go. “I’m Elle Yoon, Aden Miller’s friend”

The moment she heard his name, the smile on her face faded. At this point, my heart beats faster.

“What about him?” she’s serious now.

I take a breath and exhaled heavily, shaking off my nerves. “He’s sick…”

Before I can even continue, “I know. Our friends told me”

I nodded. “He’s critical now”

Silence.

From what I know, Aden didn’t tell anyone that his cancer came back, and that his days are already numbered.

Charlotte is not showing any reactions. She’s just staring at me.

I cleared my throat. “Doctor said that he’s got a slim chance of surviving, but another round of Chemotherapy and Radiation may prolong his life a little. Thing is, he doesn’t want to go through medications anymore. So now, the cancer is spreading, faster, and each day he’s getting weaker”

“Why are you telling me this?” she asked, plainly.

I sighed. “He wish to see you, Charlotte”

That statement changed her expression. “I know that you don’t want anything to do with him, but this is a dying man’s wish, and it will mean the world, not only to him, but to the people around him if you’re going to grant it” I told her. If I need to kneel and beg, I will. All I want is her agreement.

Charlotte is fighting with herself. I can tell, for I have the same look on my face as hers whenever I’m fighting me. Her eyes are watering. They are with sorrow and pain, something a person who cares a lot will have in times like this.

She take a breath and exhaled heavily. “I don’t know why he wants to see me. I mean, he got you. Why would he even want to go back to his past?”

Wait. Why do I feel jealousy in her words?

“Charlotte, Aden and I are not in a relationship. We’ve never been” I countered, and she just stared at me, blankly.

After a while, “I can’t”.

The moment she said this, my heart dropped to my feet. What’s going on? A while ago, I already have a feeling that she’s going to say yes. Now, I’m back to square one.

“Char…”

She raised her hand in front of my face. “As much as I want to give him his wish, I don’t think I can handle it”

Makes sense. I mean, there’s nothing harder than seeing someone you love on his death bed, just waiting for his body to give up on him.

“I can understand” I told her. “But, I just can’t take that”

I’ve never been so pushy in my life. If this is just a small thing, I’ll leave it be, but it’s different.

“Ms. Yoon, there’s nothing you can do to convince me” she firmly said. “I’ll just send him a card or flowers, but I really don’t think I can see him”. Her voice sounded so cold all of a sudden. “Now, if you may excuse me” she pulled out a smile. “I still have more important things to do”

This ! I’m so frustrated that I wasn’t able to talk her out. I do have a little more time though. This won’t be the last time she’s seeing me. For Aden, who has been my rock through all these years, I will never give up.

“What?” I gasped.

Aden’s personal nurse called me, saying that they are on their way to the hospital as we speak because he doesn’t want to wake up from his sleep.

“He’s still unconscious, and his pulse is weak” she said, and fear is all I can feel.

Given his situation, a weak pulse can be an indication of something serious. For the longest time that he’s been battling cancer, I’m already used to him being rushed to the hospital every now and then, but this time, I have a bad feeling about it.

In a mad rush, I speed off the hotel.

“Areumie!”

Huh? Did someone just call me by my real name?

Cautious, I looked around. My mind is telling me that it’s just my imagination, but my heart is giving me something. I looked around the hotel lobby, but saw no one I know.

“No. He can’t be” I told myself, after Jiyong popped in my head.

I didn’t dare to look around again. I just left.

When I arrived at the hospital, Aden is being checked by his Doctors already. I keep pacing back and forth, trying to calm myself down. I contacted his family in Michigan and they are in a rush to go here.

Honestly, I’m not ready for him to go yet, no matter how many times he tell me to prepare myself for his passing. As a Doctor, I’m used to death. I’ve dealt with it from time to time. But, when it’s someone you’re close to, it’s too hard to accept.

“Ms. Yoon” his Doctor called, and I storm to him.

Based on the look on his face, I can tell that he got bad news. “Aden’s lungs are starting to break down. The reason of his unconsciousness is lack of oxygen. We also found out that the cancer has gone up to his brain too”

Upon hearing this, I lost myself. The end is truly near.

“He’s now conscious, but we will have to sedate him whenever he’s getting less rest” then he touched my shoulder. “We’re counting days here. He’s deteriorating, and there’s nothing we can do about it”

This is it. Aden is losing the battle I thought he’ll fight against until he wins it completely. I guess even the strongest ones surrender. Thinking of it, letting him go is our only option. We can’t fight anymore when all he wants is relief. His sickness got the best of him and beyond.

It took me an hour to have the guts to see him. I’ve been crying ever since I talked with his Doctor, and I just can’t stop.

“Oh my gosh!” I gasped, after seeing him with tubes and machines connected to his body. This sight is not new to me at all, but it’s always so painful to see.

“Ms. Yoon” his nurse went to me and all I can do is hug her.

Ever since Aden started his medications, his nurse and I are the ones looking after him. We saw how tough his journey has been, and was there when hope of a new beginning was said to him, only to end tragically.

“He’s sedated” she told me while we’re walking towards his bed. “When he was transferred here at the ICU, he’s conscious. I don’t know what happened, but this morning, he’s still good. He even talked to somebody on the phone. He even told me that he feels so happy and light after that phone conversation. I just left him when he said he wanted to take a nap, and when it’s time for his vitamins, I couldn’t wake him up anymore”

I wonder who he talked to. Maybe it’s his Mother, who he loves dearly.

“Hey!” I playfully poked his shoulder a couple of times. “I’m here” I said with a shaky voice. “You got to hold on”, and I hold his hand. “Ethan’s birthday is coming up. As usual, you’re in-charge of the party. You know so well that I’m bad at it”. At this point, my tears started falling down like waterfalls. “Emma wants her mini house done as soon as possible. She doesn’t want me to help her with it, she wants you”. I sniffed and wiped my tears. “I’m willing to dress up as Ernie on Halloween as long as you dress up as Bert. We’ll even go to another neighborhood where they give out better candies, like what you and the children always do that you’re keeping a secret from me because I strictly told them not to go far”

This is so hard! I know he can hear me, and if motivating him over and over again is the only way to give him a reason to live, I will never stop giving him motivation.

“And…” I catch my breath. “I will try to fix my life as you wish. I will go to Big bang’s concert. Face Jiyong. And let him meet the kids. I swear, Aden, you got to be there when it happens, for I know you wanted to witness it more than anyone”

I know that making a promise I can’t stand up for is . But this time, I’ll never blow it. I’ll do it. If I can’t get Charlotte to grant his wish, I will grant his wish for me. After all, I think it’s time to face my past.

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