It's been two months since {{char}} had started her battle with cancer, two long, grueling months filled with chemo, nausea, and too many days lost to the fog of fatigue. But here she was, propped up in her hospital bed with pillows strategically placed around her to provide some semblance of comfort, playing her favorite video game on her Nintendo Switch Lite. Her fingers danced over the buttons with surprising dexterity considering her weakened state. On the screen, a fierce warrior fought valiantly against hordes of digital monsters, a stark contrast to Celine's own fragile form beneath the thin hospital gown. The room was dimly lit, only the soft glow of the TV and the moonlight streaming through the window providing illumination. The rhythmic beeping of machines and distant sounds of hospital staff moving about outside served as an ever-present reminder of her confinement, drowned out by the playlist of metal music blasting through her ear buds. "Oh bad man, what's the reason why," she sang along to the lyrics of Disturbed's 'Bad Man', "the innocent always have to die, by your hand?" her voice a quiet murmur, so subdued compared to her normal powerhouse singing voice. Her eyes remained focused on the screen as she navigated the virtual world, pushing through waves of pain and exhaustion to find solace in the pixelated battles—they seemed almost trivial compared to the real one she faced daily. Just keep fighting, she told herself, drawing strength from the words she often heard in her favorite songs. The door to her hospital room opened quietly and in walked Dr. Castillo, her oncologist. His expression was serious as he approached her bedside, clipboard in hand. His kind brown eyes searched hers as he greeted her. "Hey there, rockstar. How you holding up today?" Celine gave her in-game character a break by a bonfire and offered Dr. Castillo a tired smile. "Kicking ass at Dark Souls," she responded with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant. Inside, though, she felt her heart rate spike just a bit at his presence—his visits usually meant news, good or bad. Dr. Castillo raised an eyebrow. "Already? Impressive," he said with a hint of humor, setting the clipboard down next to her bed. "How are you feeling today?" Celine considered lying, telling him that she felt fine because she didn't want to worry anyone, but she knew better. If I don't tell him the truth, how can they help me fight this thing? She took a deep breath. "Tired," she admitted, setting the game down on her lap. "Really tired. And my chest hurts from laughing earlier." Dr. Castillo nodded solemnly. "Understood," he said, making a note on her chart. "Your energy levels are bound to be up and down. Try not to push yourself too hard." He looked down at her charts again. "We're going to need to run some more tests to see how your last round of chemo went. They'll come get you shortly." As he left, Celine couldn't help but feel a pang of dread coil around her insides. More tests meant potentially more bad news, but she pushed those thoughts away. For now, she had music and video games and the promise of seeing {{user}} again soon. Leaning back into her pillows, she resumed her game, letting the roar of guitars fill her ears and transport her far away from the sterile walls of Saint Mary's Hospital.

A tired smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she glances up at him. "Hey there, hot stuff," she says softly. It's always a struggle to maintain a strong front when he visits, but she doesn't want him to see just how worn down this cancer has made her feel. She scoots over and pats the empty space beside her on the bed. "Sit with me for a bit?"

Her lips twist into a wry smile as he kisses her cheek. "Yeah, well... the competition isn't exactly fierce these days," she says, gesturing to her weakened state. Glancing at her game once more, she mumbles, "I've been meaning to ask you though, when was the last time you played that thing?" referring to her Nintendo Switch Lite.

She chuckles softly, leaning into his touch. "You might regret that once you start seeing how brutal it can get," she says with a wink, then adds hastily, "but hey, if you really want to learn, I could always show you sometime after..." Her voice trails off as her gaze drifts away again. The pain and exhaustion were always worse when Col wasn't here, but even having him by her side couldn't completely chase them away.

It was in that moment that she realized how much she truly appreciated him. He never once complained about staying with her through the night, despite knowing that it could mean less sleep for both of them. And yet, there he was, smiling down at her with nothing but love and support etched into those gentle brown eyes. With a soft sigh, Celine leaned into his touch even more, savoring every moment they had together before returning to her game, this time sitting sideways so she could rest against him while playing. As the two of them navigated their separate worlds--hers digital and temporary, his real and uncertainly waiting for her return--they found solace in simply being present with each other.

The warmth of his words and embrace brought tears to her eyes. "I know," she managed to choke out between ragged breaths as she clung tightly to him. "And I'm not ready for that. Not yet." She took a deep, shaky breath, trying desperately to regain her composure before continuing. "But whatever happens...I want you to know that..." She trailed off again, uncertain of how to properly put into words everything she felt.

Her fingers slowed on the game controls as she met his gaze. There was so much fear and regret in those emerald eyes, but there was also strength and determination--a will to fight for them both that neither could ignore. She swallowed hard and summoned up all of her courage before speaking again. "I want you to know...that no matter what happens, I'm still going to love you." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she knew he heard every word.

The hospital room remained quiet for a moment, the only sound their shared breathing and the beeping of machines in the background. Then, with a small sigh, Celine glanced down at her game once more, still unsure how to face the reality of their situation without him by her side. But she

She closed her eyes and let the warmth of his words wash over her like a healing balm. "Then promise me," she said softly, her voice barely audible above the whirring of the medical equipment, "promise that you'll be okay if...if I can't." Her fingers hovered uncertainly above the game controls, unsure of whether to continue or set it down for good.

There was a long pause before Col answered, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise, baby," he whispered, tears trickling down his cheeks. "I will be okay." He drew a shaky breath and let it out slowly, as if trying to steel himself against the pain of the possibility that lay hidden within their words.

The room was filled with an awkward stillness for a moment, each of them lost in their own thoughts and fears. But then, Celine forced herself to focus on something else, anything else but the grim reaper waiting outside her door. She turned back to her game, determined to push through another few levels before succumbing to exhaustion and the drugs that would help her finally sleep. As she played, she could feel Col's gaze on her, unwavering and loving, a testament to the strength of

As she concentrated on the game, his words slipped into her mind like a soothing balm. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep going for now. "I love you," she whispered before continuing with another failed attempt at defeating the current boss. The rhythm of their shared breath and the faint humming of the machines provided a quiet backdrop against which they both could retreat from reality, if only for a little while longer.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. "Celine?" It was her nurse poking his head in. "Are you ready for your tests?" she asked gently. A sigh of resignation escaped Celine's lips as she closed the game and set it aside. The moment had passed; it was time to face reality once again.

As the phone rang through the quiet hospital room, Celine glanced up at her clock in dismay. It was almost visiting hours, and she'd been looking forward to seeing Col all day. Still, curiosity got the better of her as she reached for the receiver. "Hello?" She asked weakly, already regretting not being able to meet him.

A soft feminine voice responded on the other end. "Celine Hart? This is Jane from the nurses' station. I'm afraid we have some results back from your last round of tests." Celine's heart sank. Not another bad report. She steeled herself for the news, her hand shaking slightly as she held the phone. "And?" she prompted, trying to keep her voice steady.

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Jane spoke again. "Well, we're not exactly sure how to explain this..." Celine lifted an eyebrow in confusion. She could imagine the look of surprise and hope that must have been reflected on her face. "I guess...I mean," Jane stammered, "it looks like your last round of chemo worked better than we expected."

Celine's mouth hung open in disbelief as she listened to the rest of what Jane

"No way!" Celine exclaimed, unable to contain her disbelief. Tears filled her eyes as she began to laugh and cry at the same time. "That's incredible! I don't understand it...but thank you, God! Thank you!" She turned over on her bed in glee, feeling a weight lift off her chest for the first time in months. Her newly renewed energy radiated from her like sunshine after a storm. "Oh my God!" she repeated over and over, not quite believing it was real.

With a newfound vigor, Celine reached out to Col with trembling fingers. "Hey babe! You'll never guess what happened!" she gasped for breath between words. "I...I mean...it's incredible..." The news seemed too good to be true, but the excitement and joy in her voice were unmistakable. There was a long pause as he absorbed the meaning of her words before his relief flooded through the line.

"Oh my God, baby!" Col exclaimed, his voice breaking with emotion. "That's incredible! I knew you could beat this thing!" Celine grinned ear to ear, feeling her chest swell with pride and love for him. She could hear it in his