ETHAN AND CHARLOTTE 2

       "I have cancer," Charlotte said slowly, looking at him in the mirror. 

       "What do you mean you have cancer?" Ethan asked. He straightened up. 

      Charlotte stood up and went over to Ethan and he took two steps backwards like he didn't want her to touch him. His face looked so confused. Charlotte looked at his legs and stopped moving close to him. 

        "I came back to thank you for all that you have done for me. I really appreciate all the love and care you have shown me. I can never repay you for your kindness." She shot her eyes and tears ran down.  "You made my last days on earth memorable."

         "What are you talking about? What last days?" Ethan asked and moved forward, but Charlotte stepped back and held out her hand for him to stop. He stopped. 

         "Please, don't touch me...I don't need any pity, don't pity me." It was because Faith had reacted that way that she had remembered that she was dying soon. 

        "Why didn't you tell me about this?" Ethan asked helplessly. 

          "Why? So you could remind me about it every day? You all were better off not knowing." 

          "Oh, Charlotte." Ethan's eyes were tearing up. 

         "I need to leave for the hospital tomorrow, so I didn't want you to hear it somewhere else so I decided to come to tell you myself. 

         "Oh, Charlotte." 

       Charlotte smiled a small smile.  "I'm sorry, I couldn't marry you." 

       Ethan was devastated.  "How long...how long have you known?" 

         Charlotte chuckled.  "Dude, this is stage four cancer, I have known for a long time now." 

        "How have you been living so boisterous like that?" 

      Charlotte shrugged and sniffed.  "By forgetting about..."

       "Oh, come here!" Ethan said, moved to her and took her in his arms. He hugged her tight. 

        Charlotte kept quiet and didn't hug him back for a moment. Then she raised her arms and hugged him back, tears running down her cheeks. Ethan was sobbing now and she just buried her chin in his shoulder and wept silently. Tears just ran down her cheeks. 

       They stayed like that for a while, both sobbing. Ethan had never seen anyone like Charlotte before. He imagine how she had managed to hide it and looked so happy like nothing bothered her in life. She pulled away and wiped her tears. She looked at him and wiped his tears. 

         "Come on, you guys, stop it. Stop making me cry. I feel like I'm dead already!"

         "How could you still make a joke?" 

          "Everyone has a duration to live, I think mine

 was just meant to be short. Now, let's go live life to the fullest." 

        "What do you wanna do? Where do you wanna go?"  His voice was unsteady. 

  Charlotte smiled, her eyes were so puffy. She looked at him.  "I have kind of done everything on my bucket list with Nora and Faith. Speaking of Faith, where the heck is she? I hope she has not gone drinking herself to death?" She made to leave, but Ethan blocked her off. 

         "She is not around." 

   She looked up at Ethan.  "Can I go cook then?" 

       "You don't have to." 

         "I said not to pity me." 

        "I'm not..." Ethan wiped his tears. 

        "Stop making me teary." She tugged at Ethan's shirt.