Cecilio… you're going to be alright."
Rosa's voice trembled, breaking between breaths. "Please… stay with me. Can you keep your eyes open? Just a little longer… please."
Her words echoed somewhere far away
like a sound carried underwater.
Slowly… painfully… Cecilio opened his eyes.
And when he saw her, he smiled.
"Don't cry, Rosa…" His voice came out rough, barely holding together. "I want you to be happy… always."
"No…" she shook her head violently, tears spilling without mercy. "I can't be happy without you."
Her hands hovered over him, afraid to touch, afraid she might hurt him more.
"Are you in a lot of pain?" she asked, softer now, like the answer might break her completely.
There was a pause.
A quiet one.
"No…" Cecilio whispered. "It doesn't hurt… not when you're here… with me, my beloved."
His eyes began to fall closed.
"No!!"
Rosa's voice cracked into something unrecognizable. "No, no, no! Cecilio, stay with me!"
She turned to the front, panic tearing through her chest.
"Can't this ambulance go faster? Please...please!"
"Cecilio, talk to me!" she begged, gripping his hand tighter. "Open your eyes! Look at me
please!"
"Ma'am, we're here," one of the medics said quickly. "We'll do everything we can to save him."
The doors burst open.
They rushed him out,hands moving fast, voices overlapping, urgency swallowing the air. Cecilio's body disappeared through the hospital doors like something being stolen from her.
And just like that
he was gone.
Rosa stumbled after them but stopped when the doors shut in her face.
Operation in Progress.
The words glowed red.
She stood there
barefoot, trembling, wrapped in nothing but a thin dress and a robe that did nothing to shield her from the cold.
Or the fear.
Her knees gave way.
She sank to the floor.
"Please…" Her voice broke into a whisper, fragile as glass. "Lord… I beg you… don't take him from me."
Her hands pressed together, shaking violently.
"I might not be the best person… I've made mistakes… I've ruined things…"
Her breath hitched, tears falling faster.
"But Cecilio… he doesn't deserve this. He deserves to live. He deserves to be happy."
Her voice cracked open completely.
"I love you so much, Cecilio…"
The words came out like a confession she was too late to give.
"Don't leave me…"
*****
"Rosa, you remind me so much of this song," Cecilio's voice cut in.
He gently placed the earphones in her ears so she could hear it.
"It's called Ethereal by txmy," Cecilio said, watching her face for a reaction.
"It's just instrumental," Rosa said.
"It doesn't need words. It's as beautiful as you," Cecilio replied, grinning from ear to ear.
"When are you going to stop being cringe?" Rosa said, blushing.
"You like it when I'm cringe," Cecilio laughed.
"I like it…" Rosa mumbled.
"What?! What did you say?" Cecilio asked, already feeling proud of himself.
"Leave me alone," Rosa said, running into another room to avoid him.
"Well, someone's blushing," Cecilio teased, following her.
******
"We should buy some flowers for the house," Cecilio said, holding Rosa's hand.
"No, it's not important. We just came out to get groceries," Rosa replied.
"Oh, come on. It'll be nice
let's go," Cecilio said, pulling her along.
"There are weeping lilies… how pretty," Cecilio added as they looked around the flower shop.
"There are no sunflowers," Rosa said.
"Why sunflowers?" Cecilio asked.
"Because they suit you. You don't have to be loud or dazzling… but you exist in this kind of warmth that makes people feel safe around you," Rosa said, staring at him.
"Oh, Rosa… that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me. I could cry right now," Cecilio said.
"That's a lie," Rosa said, trying to run away,, but Cecilio caught her and hugged her from behind.
"Well, I think lilacs suit you better," Cecilio said, pressing a soft kiss to her neck.
Rosa turned red. "Why lilacs? You don't hear about those every day."
"Lilacs suit you… because no matter how hard the world gets, you still bloom. You're strong enough to bloom when nothing else dares. I admire you deeply for that, my beloved Rosa."
"When did you start calling me beloved?" Rosa asked, visibly flustered.
"Since now… until the day I die," Cecilio said.
"Beloved…"
"Beloved…"
A figure stepped out of the dark.
"Rosa… it's been two weeks. Please, give yourself a break," Parez said softly.
"He promised me…"
She didn't look at him.
"Didn't he?"
"How dare he love me to death… and not let me say a single 'I love you.'"
A hollow laugh escaped her lips.
"How cruel… how mean… how selfish of you, Cecilio…"
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Parez swallowed, his chest tightening at the sound of her voice.
"He would have wanted you to live, Rosa. Please… go home. You're only hurting yourself."
But Rosa didn't move.
Her eyes stayed fixed on Cecilio's grave.
Everything still felt unreal.
"He was just here yesterday… wasn't he?" she whispered.
Silence answered her.
Her lips trembled.
"I don't think I can move on, Cecilio…"
Her voice broke completely now, barely holding together.
"You were wrong… I'm not strong at all."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"Right now… I'm just a train wreck."
Did I really deserve no pity?
What even was my crime to get such grave punishment? Rosa asked hearts shattering all over again.
We never get what we deserve...