Aaron walked up the steps to his house. The fence around his large yard was ten feet tall. No one could see into his world. That was the way he liked it. He didn’t need anyone asking questions.

He walked inside and put the groceries down. His jacket was wet from the rain. He hung it up and brought the bags to the kitchen. He started putting things away when the bell rang. The jingle from upstairs called to him. His love was calling to him.

Each step he took up the stairs weighed a little more than the last. He wanted to see her. He always wanted that. He just didn’t want to see her hurt. These days she was always in pain. He walked to the end of the hall and paused. His hand had already gripped the door handle. It was his heart that stopped it from turning. He ignored it.

The door opened and revealed the dim room. It was more like a tomb though. The smell of stale air wafted out. Aaron went to crack the blinds and open the window.

“No. Don’t,” Rachel said.

“Why not? It’s really dark in here. And it smells.”

“It’s just a tease. You aren’t going to let me go outside. So why tease me with the smell of the wind?”

“I’m not teasing you. You know why you can’t go outside,” Aaron said.

Aaron cracked the blinds anyways. He pulled the window open. Rachel turned away from the light. She was naked in bed. The outline of her boney body appeared in the moonlight that peeked through the rainclouds. She was a fragment of the person she started out as. The sickness had taken her will. Then it took her looks. It would take her body soon. They both knew this.

“Do you want me to bring you some dinner?” He asked.

“I want you to kill me. I want all this shit to just be over.”

Aaron had heard this before. The hope had gone out of her before. It was the hardest part. She wouldn’t get much worse though. Rachel was nearing the end of this life.

“You want to go for a walk?”

Rachel perked up. Aaron hadn’t seen that look in her eyes for a long time.

“Are you for real?” She asked.

“Yes. So real.”

“Help me get dressed.”

Aaron had to treat her like cracked glass. Her body didn’t hold up well to anything. He slid loose fitting clothes over her. In reality, all her clothes were loose fitting these days. She held his hand as they left the room and went downstairs.

“There’s still groceries on the counter,” She said.

“They can wait. It’s raining outside. No one’s out right now. You still need a coat though.”

“No. No coat. I want to feel the rain. This may be the last time.”

“It will be if you go out there without a coat.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Lead the way.”

Aaron knew she was right. He had drawn this out long enough. So he opened the door and took her into the rain. Each drop brought her back a little. Even if it was only an illusion and even if it would be short lived. Rachel was back. She was herself again. No skeletal figure. No loss of hair. No cancer. She was glowing in the rain. They matched eyes, then she took his face and kissed him hard. Just like she used to.

He took her inside. He carried her weightless body up the stairs and back to her bed. She looked at him.

“Thank you,” She said.

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See ya then.”

Her eyes closed. She breathed like normal for a few seconds and then took one deep breath. She exhaled and the life left her. She was gone.

Aaron watched her for a long time. Hours. Then he tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and went downstairs to finish putting the groceries away. He would be sleeping on the couch tonight.

The frying sounds woke him up. Bacon filled the air not long after. Aaron got up and headed to the kitchen. The stranger that greeted him had one of Rachel’s old dresses on.

“Morning sunshine!”

“That dress doesn’t fit you,” He said.

“Yeah. It’s a little tight around the chest. I’m sure that doesn’t bother you though.”

She winked at him.

“Who are you this time?” Aaron asked.

“Kelly.”

“You’re a far cry from Rachel.”

“Is that who I was before?” Kelly asked.

“Yes.”

“Well I’m Kelly, and I love to make bacon. You better get used to house smelling like it pretty much all the time.”

“I think I can handle that.”

Aaron walked up to Kelly and kissed her. He could feel her chest up against his. He wanted to have her right there in the kitchen. It had been so long. So he took her. She took him back.

They laid on the kitchen floor, naked and with sweat drying on them. The sex was always the best the first time. They both had smiles that spread across their faces. The smiles could only last so long though. There was always a lot to talk about at this phase of things.

“How long did I make it last time?” Kelly asked.

“Three months, Twenty one days.”

“How’s that compared to other times?”

“It was normal. Shortest time was three weeks on the dot. Longest was just over a year. We got to celebrate every holiday that time. Christmas was your favorite. We spent New Year’s watching the TV but you got to fire a roman candle off the balcony.”

“How do I look this time? Better?” She asked.

“You’re always beautiful. We’ll have to get you some new clothes though. The neighbors think I run through girlfriends like TV shows,” Aaron said.

“Best damn show in the world.”

“You should have seen their faces when I came out of the house with a man. They really need to catch up with the times.”

“Were you the top or the bottom when I was a man?” Kelly asked with a giggle.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Aaron poked her in the nose and got up. He picked his clothes up off the floor and headed upstairs to shower. The time passed fast. They had their first date. They drove down the coast. They watched the sun rise and set as many times as they could. Aaron never took pictures. He didn’t want any evidence around the house. He wanted to love Kelly as she was. Then love whoever she was the next time. Everything could change about her, but her heart always stayed the same. For months they lived life. Then the cancer started to show again.

The closer they got to Christmas the worse she got. Then it was Christmas Eve and she was still around. She had withered away fast this time. She was determined to make it to Christmas though. Aaron sat with her downstairs by the fire. Presents surrounded the tree.

“What did you get me?” She asked.

“Clothes. A lot of clothes in all sizes.”

“Did you get any clothing for men?”

“No. you can just wear my hand me downs if you’re a man next time.”

Kelly tried to laugh. Her laugh was cut short by the pain it caused her. It was easy for her to forget about the little things that the sickness took. Like laughter. Aaron always hated the end. This time had been better than the others but it still wasn’t anything close to easy. They were six months in and she had handled the cancer better than previous times. Aaron knew next time might not be that way. He knew they would make it through regardless though.

“How many times have you watched me die?” She asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Yes. You do. Don’t lie to me.”

He paused. He watched the fire, then looked at her. He saw all of her. Everyone she had ever been.

“I don’t know how many times you’ve died. But I know how many times I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“How many?”

“I’ll tell you in the morning. It’ll be your first Christmas present.”

She nodded in agreement. They fell asleep by the fire. She passed in the night. Aaron would wake up and get to meet his love in the morning. Then he would tell them how many times he had loved them. That would be their present, and they would be his. Both of them lying beside the tree.