Eleanora awoke alone in bed, feeling heavy and sick. A hammer was being pounded on her skull as her stomach churned uncomfortably. Sitting up, she wrapped the duvet around herself as she took in her surroundings with squinted eyes, the brightness of the room throwing off her composure, or lack thereof. Looking  around herself, she grabbed her clothes before pulling them on and going into the washroom.

One glance in the mirror and she had made up her mind never to have alcohol again because she never wanted to feel hungover, ever again. Her white hair was an absolute mess, her bright eyes were red and her porcelain skin sickly pale with her lips chapped and her entire posture sagging. Gathering water into her hand, she splashed its coldness on her face, welcoming the sting of the water against her skin. Luckily, she hadn't thrown up yet and hoped that she wouldn't either.

She reeked of alcohol, Eleanora realised. With a scrunched up faced, she stripped out of her clothes, throwing them into the laundry before stepping into the stream of water. Quickly scrubbing, she wrapped a towel around herself before stepping out of the washroom, allowing the stream to flow out after her. Upon her entrance into the room, she was surprised to find Apollyon seated at the foot of the bed, his shirt clinging to him with his breathing slightly laboured, his attire a clear indication that he had been out running.

"Hi." She spoke in a scratchy voice, taken aback by the way she sounded as she cleared her throat. "Where were you?"

Apollyon didn't turn to look at her nor answer her as he grabbed his belonging from beside him on the bed and side stepping her before slamming the washroom door shut with a slight bang that had Eleanora jump in surprise. "Sheesh...what's gotten into him today?"

Eleanora quickly dressed into something warm before making her way into the kitchen. She wasn't in any mood for cooking a hot breakfast, and settled for cereal instead. The microwave beeped once the milk was warm before she poured cereal into the bowl, mixing the contents with a spoon before scooping it into her mouth with her seated on the counter, swinging her legs back and forth as she waited for Apollyon to come.

She was halfway done with her bowl before Apollyon appeared into the kitchen, ignoring her seated figure as he turned on the coffee machine, grabbing himself a granola bar from the basket.

"What happened last night?" Eleanora asked curiously since she couldn't recall much. As a matter of fact, she couldn't recall anything.

"You lied to me." He spoke monotonously as he poured himself a cup of coffee. His statement having Eleanora freeze in her actions as she looked at him in confusion.

"I lied to you?" She asked in bewilderment, because that didn't sound like her.

"As a matter of fact, you kinda cheated on me too."

"I-what?!" She shrieked in astonishment, not understanding what he was talking about.

"You disobeyed me."

"Apollyon, what are you talking about?"

"You betrayed me."

"Apollyon! What are you talking about?!" She exclaimed in panic, jumping off the counter as she started to walk towards him, but he backed away the moment she neared, his actions causing her to freeze as hurt flashed over her face. "I don't remember last night. Please tell me what happened."

"You're lightweight, and an honest drunk. Pouring out your secrets and desires to me." He chuckled humourless as he sipped his coffee in silence as Eleanora waited for him to continue. "Even after I warned you not to, you struck a deal with Gabriel."

Eleanora's heart jumped to her throat as she mentally cursed herself for having done this and kept it hidden from him for so long. What else had she told him?

"Oh, you told me everything once you realised how pissed off I actually was." He cackled as he placed his mug on the counter beside him. "You told me all about the nightly 'talk session' you two have every night once I was asleep. Everyday. Behind. My. Back."

"Apollyon..."

"The cigarettes you stole from me and tried them out. The intimate topics you two have talked about. All the chatting behind my back, ensuring I would never find out. Oh! And I almost forgot! The kiss you two shared." He growled lowly as he glared at her form over his shoulder. "You bargained our relationship in return for my nightmares being taken away."

"I-I...it's not like that!"

"Then what is it like? Hm? Tell me Eleanora, what am I reading wrong?" Apollyon asked as he turned around to face her, his hands rested on his hips, his eyes hard and demanding an answer. "Do I not take good care of you? Do I not make you happy? Do I not respect you? Am I not loyal to you? Do I not love you enough? Tell me Eleanora, what am I doing wrong to deserve this betrayal?"

"Apollyon..." Her voice cracked as she stepped forward, cupping his face in her hands as his gaze was downcast, not meeting her eye. "I-I...it's my fault. You did nothing to deserve this...I couldn't stand by and watch you suffer like that night after night. Please...I'm sorry..."

"I know you are." He spoke softly as he wiped away her tears. "But I don't know if I can trust you again."

"W-what?"

"You hurt me Eleanora." He stated gently. "And I have never done anything to hurt you. What have I done to deserve this? Please, just tell me."

"Nothing! You've done nothing wrong!"

"Then why?" He continued tiredly. "Why did you hurt me like this?"

"I-I'm sorry. Please, I'm sorry." Eleanora's voice cracked as he pulled away from her. "Please don't leave me. Please, don't leave me..."

"I'm not leaving you." He assured with a shake of his head. "I just...I need time." He murmured solemnly as he grabbed his coat from the hook and picked up his keys before walking out the door.

***

Eleanora knew that there was no point in sitting around and sulking, so to keep her mind occupied and away from everything that happened. She spent most of her time, cleaning and re-cleaning the entire apartment. She even finished a novel she had been reading. Eleanora had played music to keep her distracted from the day's events as she cooked dinner. Deciding on something simple and something she knew she couldn't screw up.

But with her mind so muddled, she ended up over cooking the pasta into straws, burning the sauce and char coaling the meat. Distraught, she threw all of the burned dishes out before she decided to make an apple pie, maybe they could have that with a warm glass of milk. She had placed the pie into the oven, before she went to check her emails before getting preoccupied with a text message from Jessica. Smiling, she had replied as a conversation ensued between them. Suddenly she heard the shrill beeping of the fire alarm as she jumped up in panic, throwing her phone away as she rushed into the kitchen, seeing smoke protruding from the oven.

"Shit! No, no, no, no!" Eleanora exclaimed as she ran to the oven, opening the door as all the smoke rushed out and not her face as she coughed and swatted it away. Hurried footsteps pattered across the floor as a disheveled Apollyon came in view, standing in the kitchen with obvious distress as he noticed her seated in front of the oven, moodily looking down at the black rock in front of her. Grabbing the broom, Apollyon manoeuvred it to turn off the alarm as he grabbed Eleanora by the arm, pulling her onto her feet as he inspected her for any injuries.

"Are you alright?" He asked in panic as he cupped her face in her hands. "Eleanora! Are you hurt?" He demanded as he lightly shook her shoulders.

She solemnly shook her head before wrapping herself around him, wanting some sort of comfort. Instantly Apollyon pulled her tightly against him as he held her silently for a moment. "What happened? Where are you hurt?"

"I burned everything." She spoke grumpily. "I wanted to make dinner and I burned it all."

"Okay...?"

"I cleaned the apartment thrice." Her voice cracked. "I didn't remember cleaning it thrice."

"Eleanora?" Apollyon asked in concern, not understanding.

"I didn't remember I had left food to be made." She sobbed as she collapsed to her knees.

"What do you mean? Eleanora, you're scaring me."

"I-I thought my absent mindedness was because of what happened in the morning. But I was wrong. I didn't even remember making a pie. I-I can't-I couldn't remember."

"Eleanora..." Apollyon trailed as he seemed to realise what was happening, the cancer had started to take its toll, starting with her memory. "Eleanora." His voice cracked at the realisation as he held her close to him, burying his face in her hair as she sobbed into his chest.

"I'm dying." She cried. "I'm dying."

"Shh..." Apollyon soothed in a shaking voice as his own tears clouded his vision. "No. We are not going to talk about it. We are not going to talk about it."

"Not talking about it won't make it go away." Eleanora sobbed as she clutched onto him.

Taking out his phone, Apollyon dialled Dr. Harold's number, holding Eleanora to him on the kitchen floor as he swallowed the lump in his throat and clearing it to make sure that he didn't break down on the phone. Dr. Liam Harold picked up the phone after the fifth ring, greeting Apollyon with a curious tone.

"Doctor..." Apollyon choked out as he held Eleanora close to him. "T-the cancers is taking its effect."

"What-what do you mean?" Dr. Harold demanded in urgency. "What happened?"

"S-she couldn't remember she was making dinner...she didn't remember..."

"Bring her to the hospital as soon as possible, I'm on duty tonight." He instructed firmly as Apollyon nodded, croaking out an 'okay' before declining the call. Standing up, he held Eleanora to him as he informed her that they have to go meet Dr. Harold. She nodded with a hiccup before she went to wash her face and get dressed for the weather outside.

"Come on." Apollyon sniffled as he grabbed her hand and both of them walked down the stairs, crossing by Mrs. Scott on the way, who looked like she wanted to say something but decided against it at the last moment. Unlocking the car, Apollyon helped Eleanora get settled in before driving off to the hospital.

***

Dr. Harold met them at the entrance and instantly rushed them both in. He directed Apollyon to settle down in his office while he conducted some tests on Eleanora. He had no idea how long he sat in that office, it felt like days as I paced around, not being able to sit still or sit at all for that matter. Concern, anxiety, and fear gnawed away at his tattered existence as he slumped in defeat, because he couldn't do anything.

Why did he have to fall?

Apollyon heard the grandfather clock chime behind him as he turned around, surprised that only an hour had passed since he'd arrived. He continued to pace the room, and eventually leaned against the cold window pane, welcoming the chill against his forehead as he felt feverish. Swallowing thickly, he felt the tears gather behind his eyes before he pushed them away, not being able to cry without knowing what was wrong.

The door opening had Apollyon stand alert as Dr. Harold came in with a disheveled look, holding a set of scans in his hand. Silently, he walked over to his desk and settled down behind the seat, gesturing for Apollyon to settle down as well, but he didn't heed that instruction and choose to stand against the cool window instead.

"We've temporarily admitted her." Dr. Harold started as he realised that Apollyon had no intentions of settling down. "And I've got the scans back."

He glanced up at Apollyon, seeing him stand there, waiting for him to continue. "And uh...it's not good news."

"How long?" Apollyon asked as he walked forward and stood behind the seat, grasping the back of it for support.

"Well...she was meant to have another year to live...but with the growth of the tumour and the rapidity of its conquest...I'd estimate that she had half a year left to live." Apollyon inhaled sharply as he tugged at his hair in frustration, the tears pooling behind his eyes, knowing that he only had 6 months left with her. "It has attacked the amygdala, the part of the brain pertaining to memory. It had started before with things like forgetting where she placed the keys or where the remote was. Normal day to day things she knew happened but couldn't recall where she placed them--something which we would have passed off as callousness. But now...she had absolutely no recollection of making dinner and having burnt it because she forgot she was making food."

"She'll still have her long term memory, like her identity, where she is, who you are. But she'll have trouble recalling short term memory, like what happened half an hour ago, meeting new faces, learning new facts...I'm sorry, she won't be able to go to school any longer." Liam spoke gently as Apollyon shook with the intensity of emotions coursing through him. "The cancer is spreading too fast...and even six months time is stretching her life span. I'm sorry, Apollyon."

Apollyon collapsed to his knees, sobs wracking through his body as tears streamed down his face, the pain suffocating him with the reality of the situation. Dr. Harold stepped forward and towards him, gently rubbing his back as he allowed the young teen to cry out at the cruelty of it all.

"I want to see her." He spoke through his sobs. "I want to see my Eleanora."

"Okay." Dr. Harold nodded in understanding. "Okay, come on. Let's go see her."

The doctor helped the teen to his feet, offering him a tissue as Apollyon wiped away the tears, sniffling as he scrubbed at his face with the back of his hand. He gave a nod to the physician, letting him know that he had composed himself enough for this. Walking down the hall, Dr. Harold led him into the room as he was greeted by the sight of Eleanora seated cross-legged on the bed, her hands folded in her lap as there was an I.V drop connected or her arms and some extra wires attaching her to the monitors around her.

"Hey,  love." Apollyon sniffled with a forced smile effectively gaining Eleanora's attention.

"Hey." She spoke in a breathy whisper as Apollyon stepped forward, settling down beside her as he placed a kiss on her temple.

"Eleanora, I come bearing bad news." Dr. Harold informed as Eleanora grasped Apollyon's hand in search for comfort.

Apollyon heard a soft whisper enter his ear like the breeze blowing in his hair as the doctor enlightened Eleanora of the situation. He believed he was imagining things as he turned towards the physician, already knowing what he was going to say. However before he could even focus on what the doctor was saying the whisper infiltrated his mind once more. The voice sounded familiar, and it sounded almost distorted, as if though the breaking of a frequency signal.

"Apollyon..." The voice spoke softly as he turned his head in the direction of the whisper, looking for someone, but seeing no one. "I have your Grace..."

His eyes widened in surprise at the words uttered in his mind. He recognised that voice, but didn't know who it was.

"If you want your Grace, come to 24.8N, 55.8E."

"Who are you?" He thought silently, hoping for a response, but before he even could have received a response, he was torn out of his thoughts by Eleanora's crying and her tackling him in a hug. Feeling as if though in a trance, he wrapped his arms around her, soothingly calming her as the coordinates swam in his head.

"24.8 degrees North. 55.8 degrees East." He uttered to himself, wracking his mind for the pinpointed destination. "Dubai desert." He realised with a startled gasp as Eleanora's crying resonated in his ears, the trance breaking away with her sobs as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Everything will be alright again."