Prologue | Deathbed I
TIMSON COHEN

It's time.

I knew it was time.

But I still can't let go.

I felt it was almost my time when I started to feel weak all over again. Even though I took the medications the doctor prescribed and obediently follow his instructions.

I still felt weak even though the people I love so much kept visiting me and telling me to stay strong.

It took me so much strength to plead that I don't want to go to the hospital anymore. I don't want to be confined there again.

I don't want to die while confined to a hospital room. I want to die while I'm lying down on my bed inside my bedroom. I want to die in a room filled with memories of my whole life, not in just some white room with a beeping noise that made me go insane.

As soon as I was laid down on my bed, relief washed over me and I just looked up the ceiling.

The next days were the start of me eating less and less until I can't eat anymore.

My neighbor next door, Mr. Jefferson, took the liberty of taking care of me every day until my boyfriend comes home from the hospital.

He was a sweet old man who was like a father to me, having him entertain himself by watching in the living room's TV or reading a book from David's bookshelf by my bed. He can also make a delicious meal.

On his first two days of taking care of me, he would sit by my bed and open the TV, making jokes and comments on what was on just so I can also be entertained and smile.

But on the following days, I started to notice that his expressions kept getting forced and forced... Probably trying not to cry.

He knew where this was going because I started to request smaller servings until I didn't look at him in the eye and told him I don't want to eat anymore.

I can't help it. The food was starting to get tasteless for me. And the medicine was not working out anymore.

He started to not look at me on the eye anymore but every time he leaves my room, he would still say "It's all gonna be fine, son."

I can hear the crack on his voice now and then as he says those words.

After a few days, I had the urge to call the two people who I hold so close to my heart.

As soon as Mr. Jefferson entered my room to check on me, I called out to him.

He looked at me in surprise, his eyes getting glossy with tears as he asked me what did I want.

It was getting hard to talk and it felt easier to whisper.

Mr. Jefferson took a seat beside me and did everything he could to understand what I was saying.

He took my cellphone from my nightstand and opened it. I told him to call my sister first since David was still working whilst my sister is already in her dorm--if my assumption is correct.

Madeline--I call her Maddy sometimes--was the only family I had left. She went abroad to study culinary and was coming home the day after tomorrow so she can stay with me for a month.

We didn't talk too much since we were on different timezones--when it's morning here, it was the night for her. But when we do get the right time, we can talk for hours.

Mr. Jefferson pressed the call button on Madeline's profile. It ringed a few times and after the fifth ring, Madeline picked it up.

With a yawn, she answered. "H-Hello?"

Mr. Jefferson glanced at me for a signal and I somewhat gestured to him that he should speak for me.

"Hi dear, it's me, Mr. Jefferson" he greeted.

"O-Oh hi Mr. Jefferson," Madeline greeted back, "Why are you on my brother's phone?"

"Your brother wanted to talk to you... But he doesn't have the strength to hold the phone so I'm holding it for him."

"Of course I would love to talk to him. Let's turn this into a video chat."

Mr. Jefferson then pressed something and was about to face it to me when I weakly shook my head sideways making him understand I don't want to let her see my face.

He then pressed something on my phone again and held my phone near enough for me to see her face. Her hair was a mess and she kept yawning. It seems like I woke her up around 3 am.

Although she looked tired, she mustered up a smile. "Advanced good morning there, Timson."

"Morning, Madeline," I said weakly.

I wasn't too sure if my whispers were going to be heard so I go for speaking and just limited my words.

It was a bit hard though as even my saliva was already hard to swallow.

I may not see her that much anymore but I knew her mouth was turning to a frown. "Timson?"

"I... Just wanted... Say... Love... You." I managed to say.

I hear her sniffle, "Aw shucks I love you too Tim."

I smiled contentedly and felt comfortable as I close my eyes with her words in my mind.

"Timson Cohen you better stay strong and be by my side when I open my restaurant, okay?"

I nodded, forgetting that I was only on call.

"I'm sorry dear I think Tim is already tired." Mr. Jefferson explained.

I hear her sobs as she speaks, "Tim... Wait for me. I'll come home much earlier than you think. Just... Don't leave me yet."

I opened my eyes again slowly and looked up to the ceiling and I realized a tear rolled down my cheek. "Okay... I'll wait."

With that, she muttered a goodbye and ended the call. A few moments later, I could hear the ringing of my phone once again. My vision was getting blurred the more time passed.

Mr. Jefferson hurriedly answered it. It was getting harder to see. But I know it's David who was calling.

David is my boyfriend--the love of my life. My soulmate. The person who I promised to spend my whole life with.

The past few days, he was going home on late nights and going out in the early morning making it hard for me to talk to him in person. I was okay with that since every time he has his breaks, he would video chat me and tell me all kinds of things--from encounters with his patients to funny trivia about random things.

At every end of our video chat, he would say "I love you" and say he wishes to be here to kiss me.

"Hey cutie." he says, "I've got good news!"

By the figure shown on my phone, it looks like we both were only on call.

I faintly hear footsteps nearing. "Surprise, honey!"

It was David's voice.