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“Cares about you,” she said through gritted teeth

She wanted to say sohe wanted to hear it

Wanted to know if she loved hih he didn’t deserve it

“Past tense, 4C,” he said, reaching out and pushing back a strand of hair that had stuck to her wet face “I had cancer”

“But it htit’s back? That’s why you’re here?”

“They just want to check,” he said “The sythey’re si it safe”

She nodded “Okay Fair enough But you don’t have cancer”

He srimly “Heather—”

“You don’t,” she said emphatically “And if you do, then we’ll—”

And there it was

He’d known it was co on borrowed tio on

It was tio sharp Firm

Her lips parted “What do you mean? I—”

He reached for her hand He wasn’t sure if it was possible to couch rejection in kindness, but he had to try He cared about her too et it now, don’t you, 4C? Why I didn’t want a girlfriend?”

“Actually, no Not at all,” she said

“Because of this” He gestured down at this hospital-blanket-covered legs “Because of this” He gestured at the machines around him “This is my reality, Heather, but it doesn’t have to be yours I won’t let it be yours”

She squeezed his hand “Josh, this could be nothing It could be the flu—”

“Whether it’s cancer this time or later, it’ll always be there The possibility, just looether My particular kind of leukeh chance of recurrence”