Chapter Text
They meet again one year later. For one year, they haven’t seen each other, because it’s not how things go anymore. She has a life outside of the hospital now, and he’s not her doctor’s son. Both have been avoiding each other, not ready to take on the other’s pain on top of their own. Still, they will always be connected, coming back to cry at the same grave, missing the same person, suffering the same heartbreak.
They don’t greet each other, he just nods at her as she steps beside him in the damp grass. Her hair has grown out, her cheeks are rosy, she looks good. She’s not the girl he met after her first chemotherapy anymore, and not just because she isn’t vomiting this time. He’s glad to see her looking healthy, but he doesn’t say it, mostly because he knows she would give it all away without hesitation if only she could get her brother back.
She grabs his hand, their cold fingers pressing together in an attempt to offer another hope on this day. They remain silent for a long time, looking down at the grey stone with his name written on it, the letters too small to do his sacrifice justice. Both of them have been putting down flowers around it frequently, but they always lose their beauty quicker than they can be replaced. The most beautiful ones always die first.
It seems to be okay as they’re standing there, remembering a smile none of them is ever going to see again. They find comfort in the certainty that the other understands their tears. They’re going to make up for his death by living both their lives to the fullest - it’s the last promise they gave him, although they rather made it to each other, since he was long gone by then. It seems to be okay as they lay down their letters for him, sharing parts of two lives he’s no longer a part of. It seems to be okay as they look at each other, agreeing that it’s time to go with a light nod, knowing that no amount of coldness creeping up their weak legs is going to bring him back. It seems to be okay as they say their silent goodbyes.
It’s no longer okay when they turn around and walk away. It’s far from okay - leaving him behind, breathing when he isn’t, moving freely, maybe hurting, but at least being able to feel at all. They’re no longer crying silent tears, they’re sobbing and shaking as they bring more distance between them and him - although him is really just a grave, just a stone in the ground and a few sad flowers.
Tara has been in remission ever since she got his kidney. She has hope to live a long life, all because of him, but also without him. Nothing about being cancer-free feels the way she always imagined. The worst thing is, she’s going to be a college student soon, and eventually she’s going to be a working adult, a writer if everything works out for her. She will remain Liam’s friend. Maybe she’ll be a mother one day. Maybe, maybe. So many possibilities. But she’s not a sister anymore. Not a sister. Not her brother’s keeper.
Liam is about to finish high school, but he’s not going to add his initials to the great collection of graduates on the shelf in the library. Because the letters L.D. should have come a year after T.R. And so he’ll let the years pass without either happening. He’s never set foot into the hospital again. He keeps a safe distance from the place where he lost his heart to a boy who took it with him to a place where neither are ever going to return from.
It should be the end, but life continues without mercy. At least for two of them.