Tenth Color

Again, I was back in the hospital room after fainting during a check up.

Just when I had thought being alive was better but this illness of mine really didn't want that.

"Did you feel anything out of the ordinary in the past week?" asked Mark.

"Nope, I was taking the medicine the doctors gave me." I replied.

That was all I was doing, waking up in the morning, taking the medicine.

I had forgotten about the messages Pallas sent, I could only hope that she'll be fine.

"I see, we're going to perform a check up on you right now. Is that fine?" asked Mark.

I nodded in reply.

I felt tired, weak, helpless. It was as if everything in the world had slowed down, it felt peaceful as if death was inviting me.

Which they were...

After about 10 minutes of the doctors performing their procedures, I could hear talks and them looking at the report that came from me. I wanted to know and listen but my body wouldn't let me.

I was tired, too tired for my liking, and without me realizing it.

My eyes started closing, but when the events that would happen when I would wake up would make me want to stay asleep.

...

When I woke up, Mark was sitting on the chair observing the computer.

"Mark." I managed to say.

I felt a bit better than before because of the sleep, the disease is making me way too tired.

"Athena, you've woken up." said Mark.

I looked at him in the eyes, he had a saddened expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's...I'm not sure if I should tell you." said Mark.

Now that worried me a bit, what was it that he couldn't tell me?

"Just tell me, it's better now than later." I said.

Mark looked back at me, his eyes were telling me he was fighting a mental conflict with himself.

"I guess it's better to tell you now, though you should probably clear your mind first." said Mark.

I took a few deep breaths and pushed away any unnecessary thoughts and awaited the news Mark was going to tell me.

"During your check up, we did a few inspections about your cells and it's increase. We estimated how much cells it was eating away and how much cells your body is producing. Although your immune system is strong, it wasn't stronger than the disease. The increase rate of the cells being eaten had gotten higher and your body's cells is slowly dying."

"We estimated that you have a week to live." said Mark.

I laid there in my bed as Mark walked out of the door.

The news struck me yet I had no reaction.

I wanted to die, ever since I found about my incurable disease, I wanted to die.

Then why can't I say that I wanted to die right now, why couldn't I feel relieved?

I wanted to die more than anything, but now, it was as if I was longing for life.

I wanted to live.

I wanted to be alive more than everything.

I didn't want this disease to kill me.

Pallas, yes Pallas.

Just the thought of that girl would bring me a smile to my face, it was as if I didn't need anything except her.

All my life, I didn't have anyone.

Maybe if I had met Pallas earlier that I would be happy.

But the feeling of death creeping up to me would always envelop me and kill those desires of mine.

I wanted to see Pallas.

I wanted to embrace her warmth once more.

Hug her.

I wanted to see her smile.

I wanted her to bring the colors into my world.

To turn this colorless life of mine into a colorful one like her.

Tears started flowing down my cheeks as I had those thoughts.

Why did I have to suffer from this disease?

Why couldn't I be with Pallas forever?

But as the saying goes, nothing last forever.

Nothing.

But just maybe the love I had for her will be fulfilled.

Love?

The word love never struck me or gave me any reaction at all. Despite that, I knew what love was. It was an indescribable feeling that would make anyone happy.

That was when I realized it, I loved Pallas.

I was in love with her.

I wanted and needed her more than anything.

Although this disease held me back, I made a new resolve.

For the week I still had to live, I would spend every day with her.

Next week was a holiday week too, so it was perfect for me.

This disease of mine wouldn't stop me.

The tears in my eyes stopped as I closed my eyes.

Memories of Pallas and I together filled my head.

It was filled with colors, nothing was gray, everything was beautiful.

Every moment with her was beautiful.

When there is sadness, there will be happiness.

When there is death, there will be life.

With that in mind, I drifted off too another sleep.

....

When I woke up, there was a woman beside my bed with an unreadable expression.

She was staring at her phone, when she looked up and saw that I was awake.

She put away her phone and asked, "How're you feeling?"

"Better than before even if I was dying."

She gave me a sad smile when I said that.

"It's fine, I got over it." I added.

Now that I was able to see colors, she looked quite similar to me.

Black hair and lavender eyes, it was pretty.

"I see but there's another thing you need to know."

I focused back on her and waited for the other news.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I know you may have your doubts, you might not believe me, but I am your mother." said the woman.

I didn't even know her name yet...Metis

The news didn't hit me as hard as my death, I looked at her intensely.

Her long black hair were quite similar to mine, the purple eyes of mine were similar to her lavender eyes.

Deciphering her features and comparing it to mine, it was quite similar.

"So you really are my mother..I don't even know your name." I said.

"I'm Metis Lysque, your full name is Athena Lysque." said Metis.

Lysque, it had a unique tone to it, though a questioned lingered in my head.

"Why did you leave me?" I asked.

"I...i guess you have the right to know..."

"When you were born, my financial finance was terrible, your father passed away a few months before you were born. Things for me were terrible...when you were born, it was as if you were a light that I had but...I needed to give you a decent life and grow up to be a fine woman because I couldn't give you that." said Metis.

"And as your mother, I can tell you grew up to be great. There's only a few dozen of the car you have in the world and you have a pretty girlfriend." said Metis.

"Sh-she's not my girlfriend." I said turning away.

I knew I was red in embarrassment but the thought of her being my girlfriend would be pretty nice.

But I remembered I was still talking to my mother.

Instead of saying everything, I spread out my arms for a hug.

I couldn't get up due to my laziness.

"What's this?" asked Metis.

"A hug or acceptance." I replied.

"Thank you." said my mother smiling.

We talked a lot and bonded, it was great meeting my mother. Though it was unpleasant that she only made herself known at my deathbed.

...

"We'll find a cure for you." said my mother.

With that said, I began to drift off to sleep.

I was going to get discharged the next day because of my request.

Plus my mother was able to convince them due to her influence.

Pallas, I'll see you soon...