"Isaac, the cancer is spreading." Cecilia whispered in my ear.

I stared at her. My heart dropped into my stomach. I wanted to scream, cry, and throw something across the room.

"Please, Cecilia, tell me you're lying." I said. My voice shook.

Cecilia moved away from me. Her eyes were filling with tears. "No, Isaac. They just told me...I wanted you to know."

"Why me?" I snapped. I couldn't take this. I couldn't lose her too. Not her. Anyone but her.

Cecilia looked taken aback. I felt bad for snapping at her, but I didn't correct myself.

"Because I trust you." She said slowly. Her eyes searched mine. I tried to keep my expression blank; I didn't want her to know how worried I was. I couldn't show any weakness. Not now, when she needed someone strong.

Cecilia looked away from me. I reached for her hand and gripped in tightly. "It's okay to cry, Cecilia." I told her gently. 

She lifted her eyes to see my face. "Practice what you preach, Isaac." She said bitterly. I squeezed her hand. "Cecilia, it's your turn to breakdown." I said. "I'm going to be brave for you."

"You don't need to be brave for me." Cecilia sat up straight, a stubborn expression on her face. I almost laughed. "Well, you were already brave for me." I explained. "So now it's my turn."

Cecilia raised her eyebrows. "When was I brave for you?" She asked. "You took a bullet for me." I said.

Cecilia looked confused. "What do you mean? I never took a bullet for you."

"Oh, hell yeah you did!" I snapped at her. "I was unconscious, and instead of leaving me for dead, you got yourself shot! All to save my sorry a-"

"Alright, I get it!" Cecilia laughed.

She leaned a little closer to me and smiled. "You know, I'd do it again. I'd take any bullet for you. Even if it wasn't a physical bullet."

"Meaning?" I asked her curiously.

"Meaning, if I had to take all your sadness, anger, and stress in the form of a bullet, I would do it."

"Why?"

Cecilia grinned widely at me. "Because I would, stupid."