The boy couldn't help but frown inwardly as he was pulled into his boyfriend's arms, feeling the elder's gentle yet somewhat painful caresses. They didn't hurt physically, of course, but their tenderness made the blonde want to cry because they wouldn't last for long. It hurt to think that soon he would have to leave that strong embrace that provided so much feelings like safety, love, the sense of belonging to someone and join his family in the cold ground where no one ever will hug him, keep him protected. He couldn't help but think he was a bit selfish though.

There he was on the brink of death and all he kept thinking of at the moment was how he was going to miss the warmth of the person he loved the most in his life while he would leave many people behind, letting him grieve. He would never be able to return to soothe them though which clenched his heart. How he wished he could. How he prayed every single night that suddenly there would be a cure for his condition that would help him, make him better within days, weeks or even months. Yet he knew that it was impossible. He knew that even like this, when every single day he pleaded to the ones who were up in the sky, when he kept on wishing on shooting stars, secretly folding cranes and all those silly stuff he used to think were useless before, his days were counted. Even if there was a cure, even if he could be healed, there was a huge chance that something else would kill him. He was already too weak, even simple colds were extremely dangerous to him.

Ironically, Jonghyun had never noticed. He kept on smiling, beaming at his small boyfriend, loving, babying him as he had done since the very day they had become friends. It had always been like that. The elder guiding the blonde to a much better life, showing him the wonders of the world he would have never seen alone, even at the times when he was confined to his hospital room that was empty, like his heart at that time. But slowly, the older boy had shown him what it was to be truly alive. How beautiful a sunset could be even through a window, how cheerful the birds' songs were even if they were simply carried into the warm room by the gentle breeze, how stunning the nature could be at spring, summer, fall and even winter. He had taught him a lot as well. How t