Chapter 3 · My Dying Tape For You

[Farewell to the World, 2024.4.21, 4:34 PM—Sometimes, Forgetting Is a Comfort to the Departed]

I slumped against Chloe's shoulder, my sleeve rolled up to reveal bruises all over my skin.

My voice was husky. "What am I going to do, Chloe? At this rate, there won't be any place left to stick the needles. It hurts so much."

"Now you remember the pain? Where was this concern when you stayed up all night yesterday trying to snag those concert tickets?" Chloe shot back.

I pouted slightly. "I had to see my ex-boyfriend's first concert after he hit the big time, didn't I? It's been forever. I needed to check if his singing had improved."

Chloe fell silent.

After a long pause, she nudged me. "You said the reason you broke up with him was that you didn't want to drag him down. If he still cared about you, would you ask him for help now?"

"Absolutely not," I said firmly.

"But he can earn millions with just one song now. He could totally pay for your treatment," Chloe pressed.

"No way! And you better not breathe a word to him," I shot back.

"But, look at you now..." Chloe started, voice soft.

I put my hands on my hips. The IV cannula had left greenish-blue marks on my skin. "I'm perfectly fine right now. Besides, I dumped him when he was dirt poor. If I waltzed back to him the minute he made it big and told him I was sick, what would that make me?

"Chill out. I'm Nina Quinn. Cancer is no big deal. I've got it handled."

I gave her a thumbs-up to say I was managing my illness just fine.

Chloe watched me for a moment and sighed.

I beckoned to her. "Let's roll. This illness eats money and still might not get better, so I'd rather spend what I've got left living it up.

"Come on, we had plans for the amusement park tonight, right? And before that, I found a killer barbecue joint..."

"Ah!" I collided headfirst into someone.

I was frantically apologizing when I looked up and saw the person's face, and I immediately backed up several steps.

Chloe gasped. "Peter?"

Even though he was masked and completely covered up, true lovers could always recognize each other by just their eyes.

"Nina?" His beautiful eyes held a mix of shock. Then quickly turned to anger and reproach.

Without thinking twice, I turned tail and ran.

The camera shook violently as Chloe sprinted after me.

A cancer patient was running faster than she ever had when she was healthy.

Amidst my violent gasping, a voice shouted my name, "Nina! Do you hate me that much?"

*****

[Farewell to the World, 2024.4.21, 11:19 PM—Love Always Seems to Hide in Unseen Corners]

"Yes, I just need a peek, then I'll be on my way. Thanks so much," I said.

Linda Lane said, "Nina, it's not that I have anything against you. We're from the same village, after all. But you were the one who walked away. He only just managed to get over it.

"That junior of yours is a rising star now, and she really likes him. The whole internet is rooting for them. So, maybe just let things be."

I smiled and nodded. "I know, Linda. I won't bother him. I just want to see him one last... Ahem, I just want to see him."

"Fine," Linda agreed.

After a brief exchange, I turned the camera on myself.

"We made it to Linda's house. The woman standing behind me is actually Peter's manager. She bought the house right across the street, just so she could pressure him into writing songs. From this floor-to-ceiling window, you can see right into Peter's place. If he slacked off, she would be on the phone instantly." I laughed.

"Though he always kept the curtains drawn, so I figured we wouldn't see anything," I added.

As I spoke, I aimed the camera at Peter's new home.

The lens passed through the parted curtains and focused on a framed picture on the wall. My smile froze.

It was a photo of me and him from way back.

We were both dressed up in wedding outfits, goofing around and laughing at the camera like it was all just for fun.

That day, I had even teased him, "If you ever get famous, you'd better marry me."

I had never expected that he would hang that silly wedding photo right in the center of his wall.

He came home.

He took off his mask and reached out, touching the photo.

Then he clenched his fist and pressed it hard against the glass, his whole body sagging as he leaned on it, his head bowed, his shoulders shaking.

Holding the camera, I pressed my own fist against the window and bit down hard to stop myself from trembling.

I managed a smile. "I bet he'll never know I was standing right here behind him."

Chapter 3

[Farewell to the World, 2024.4.21, 4:34 PM—Sometimes, Forgetting Is a Comfort to the Departed]

I slumped against Chloe's shoulder, my sleeve rolled up to reveal bruises all over my skin.

My voice was husky. "What am I going to do, Chloe? At this rate, there won't be any place left to stick the needles. It hurts so much."

"Now you remember the pain? Where was this concern when you stayed up all night yesterday trying to snag those concert tickets?" Chloe shot back.

I pouted slightly. "I had to see my ex-boyfriend's first concert after he hit the big time, didn't I? It's been forever. I needed to check if his singing had improved."

Chloe fell silent.

After a long pause, she nudged me. "You said the reason you broke up with him was that you didn't want to drag him down. If he still cared about you, would you ask him for help now?"

"Absolutely not," I said firmly.

"But he can earn millions with just one song now. He could totally pay for your treatment," Chloe pressed.

"No way! And you better not breathe a word to him," I shot back.

"But, look at you now..." Chloe started, voice soft.

"Chill out. I'm Nina Quinn. Cancer is no big deal. I've got it handled."

I gave her a thumbs-up to say I was managing my illness just fine.

Chloe watched me for a moment and sighed.

I beckoned to her. "Let's roll. This illness eats money and still might not get better, so I'd rather spend what I've got left living it up.

"Come on, we had plans for the amusement park tonight, right? And before that, I found a killer barbecue joint..."

"Ah!" I collided headfirst into someone.

I was frantically apologizing when I looked up and saw the person's face, and I immediately backed up several steps.

Chloe gasped. "Peter?"

Even though he was masked and completely covered up, true lovers could always recognize each other by just their eyes.

"Nina?" His beautiful eyes held a mix of shock. Then quickly turned to anger and reproach.

Without thinking twice, I turned tail and ran.

The camera shook violently as Chloe sprinted after me.

A cancer patient was running faster than she ever had when she was healthy.

Amidst my violent gasping, a voice shouted my name, "Nina! Do you hate me that much?"

*****

[Farewell to the World, 2024.4.21, 11:19 PM—Love Always Seems to Hide in Unseen Corners]

"Yes, I just need a peek, then I'll be on my way. Thanks so much," I said.

Linda Lane said, "Nina, it's not that I have anything against you. We're from the same village, after all. But you were the one who walked away. He only just managed to get over it.

"That junior of yours is a rising star now, and she really likes him. The whole internet is rooting for them. So, maybe just let things be."

I smiled and nodded. "I know, Linda. I won't bother him. I just want to see him one last... Ahem, I just want to see him."

"Fine," Linda agreed.

After a brief exchange, I turned the camera on myself.

"Though he always kept the curtains drawn, so I figured we wouldn't see anything," I added.

As I spoke, I aimed the camera at Peter's new home.

The lens passed through the parted curtains and focused on a framed picture on the wall. My smile froze.

It was a photo of me and him from way back.

We were both dressed up in wedding outfits, goofing around and laughing at the camera like it was all just for fun.

That day, I had even teased him, "If you ever get famous, you'd better marry me."

I had never expected that he would hang that silly wedding photo right in the center of his wall.

He came home.

He took off his mask and reached out, touching the photo.

Then he clenched his fist and pressed it hard against the glass, his whole body sagging as he leaned on it, his head bowed, his shoulders shaking.

Holding the camera, I pressed my own fist against the window and bit down hard to stop myself from trembling.

I managed a smile. "I bet he'll never know I was standing right here behind him."