Chapter 5: Hope in the Darkness

The days at the hospital began to feel less like a burden and more like a haven for Lysander. Every moment he spent with Amara was a moment that brought color back into his life. Her presence was a constant reminder that even in the bleakest circumstances, hope could bloom.

But Lysander's world was shaken one fateful afternoon when he overheard two doctors discussing Amara's condition.

"She's in the last stages. Her body isn't responding to the treatments as well anymore," one of them said grimly.

"She might only have two months left at best," the other replied.

The words echoed in Lysander's mind, hollow and unrelenting. Two months. Two months before she would be gone. The thought was unbearable.

He left the hallway and headed straight to the balcony where they often met. When he saw Amara sitting there, smiling at the horizon as if nothing in the world could touch her spirit, the weight of what he'd just learned hit him like a tidal wave.

Amara noticed him immediately. "Lysander, are you alright?"

He couldn't speak. His throat felt tight, and his vision blurred with tears.

"Lysander?" Amara's voice was laced with concern now. She stood up and approached him, placing a hand on his arm.

That simple touch broke the dam. Lysander pulled her into an embrace, holding her tightly as he sobbed into her shoulder.

"Hey, hey," she said softly, her voice soothing despite her obvious confusion. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

Lysander tried to compose himself but failed. His words came out in broken fragments. "I can't… I can't lose you, Amara. I don't know what to do. You've become… everything to me."

Amara pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes. "What are you talking about? Lysander, what's going on?"

He hesitated for a moment before blurting it out. "The doctors said… they said you don't have much time left. Two months, maybe."

The air between them grew heavy with silence. Amara stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she let out a shaky breath.

"I see," she said quietly.

"You knew, didn't you?" Lysander asked, his voice trembling.

Amara nodded. "Deep down, yes. I've felt it for a while now. But I didn't want to focus on it. I wanted to keep fighting, to keep hoping."

Her calmness in the face of her mortality only made Lysander's heart ache more. "Amara, I…" He paused, searching for the right words. "I need you to know that you've changed me. You've given me a reason to live. And I can't imagine a world without you in it."

Amara's eyes filled with tears, but she managed a small, bittersweet smile. "Lysander, you're not going to lose me. Not really. Even if I'm not here, the moments we've shared will always be with you."

"But it's not enough," he whispered.

"It has to be," she said, her voice firm despite her tears. "Because that's all we have. The time we've been given. And I want to spend every second of it with you, making memories that will last forever."

---

From that day forward, something shifted between them. Their bond deepened, unspoken and profound. Lysander became more attentive, ensuring that Amara had everything she needed to be comfortable. He started planning little surprises for her, from bringing her favorite snacks to sneaking her out of the hospital to watch the sunset.

One evening, as they sat on the hospital roof, Lysander asked her, "If you could do anything, anything at all, what would it be?"

Amara thought for a moment before replying, "I'd want to travel. To see the world, or at least the country. To visit the places I've only ever dreamed of."

Without thinking, Lysander said, "Then we'll do it."

Amara looked at him, surprised. "What?"

"We'll do it," he repeated. "We'll leave this place and make your dreams come true."

"Lysander, that's crazy," she said, though her voice held a hint of hope.

"Maybe. But crazy is better than sitting here and letting time slip away," he said firmly. "I want to give you the life you deserve, even if it's only for a little while."

Amara hesitated, her eyes searching his for any sign of doubt. When she found none, she smiled. "Alright, then. Let's do it. But I warn you, I'm going to make a list, and it won't be short."

"Bring it on," Lysander replied with a grin.

---

That night, they stayed up late, scribbling down Amara's wishes on a sheet of paper. Some were simple—like drinking tea under the stars. Others were more ambitious, like visiting her grandmother's village or attending a snow festival.

By the time they were done, the list felt like a testament to everything Amara wanted to experience in the short time she had left.

"Do you think we can really do all this?" she asked, holding the list close to her heart.

"I don't just think so," Lysander said, his voice steady. "I know so. And I'll make sure of it."

For the first time in a long while, Amara felt a spark of excitement for what lay ahead. Despite the ticking clock, she allowed herself to hope, knowing that Lysander would be by her side every step of the way.

As they said goodnight, Lysander whispered to himself, "I'll make her last days the best of her life, no matter what it takes."