- Logan -

"The report's here. According to it, you have no signs of it. The treatment was successful."

I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was a dream, or something. But no. It was real. It was very real. The thing that I was scared of the most. The thing I left everything and everyone I loved behind for. I didn't have it anymore. Those words that left the doctor's mouth five years ago...I could still hear it, echoing in my ears in the back of my mind, as clear as if he were right in front of me delivering the news for the very first time.

My tumor was gone. I could live the normal life that I always dreamt of again. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this happy...it must have been months ago.

"But, Logan. Just know that in most of the cases with the first grade of brain tumor...it tends to come back after a few years of treatment, stronger than before. You have to be very careful."

A little bit of my happiness did fade when the doctor spoke those words to me. But my hope was still alive. I could fulfill my dreams again. Well, at least some of them. I knew it was impossible to go back to the girl I loved. To live a happy, normal life with her. It was just a dream that was never going to come true. My 'happily ever after' that could never be completed without her. I still remember the first time I saw her. She was like lightning. One flash, one shine and I had lost my heart ... I was completely in love with that girl. There was only one wish ... that I wanted to stay in her heart. But that's impossible now.

But the other dream was still very much possible.

And I am living that dream now.

I wanted to be an actor from a very young age. The brain tumor had crushed all my hopes and dreams for a little while. But after treatment, I was back to normal and some of my hope returned. So, I went out to make at least one of my dreams true.

Now, five years after the treatment, I'm working as one of the lead roles in a recently popular television series. I have also worked as a supporting actor in a few films. Now there's a movie coming up soon in which I have the lead role.

I sigh as I sit there, waiting in yet another hospital for another check-up. I have lost count of how many times I've been to a hospital for these check-ups in the last five years. As the doctor said then, I have to be very careful. It was a normal routine for me to come to the hospitals regularly to see if the tumor had returned. Since I came to Denver, I had been feeling the symptoms again. That's why I came here to the hospital.

"You're perfectly fine. There's no sign of any tumor. The headache, fatigue and sleep problem seem to be only from stress. Though, it was very wise of you to come straight here. You don't want to take any risk." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as the doctor said these words now.

"Thank you," I say, and feeling intensely relieved, I stand up.

"By the way..."

I stop on my way out and look at the doctor apprehensively as she said those words.

"Would you mind taking a picture with me?"

"Sure." I smile while I groan internally. This life. But it's definitely better than the one with tumor.

After taking the picture, I try to make my way through the hospital corridors as fast as I can, hoping that no one would stop me to take an autograph or a picture with me.

It was as I made a turn when I see her. Just one turn, one step, and it changed my life.

She was the last person I had ever thought of seeing again. At just one sight of her, my heartbeat quickens and I feel hot and cold all at once. I find myself hiding behind the wall, not having enough courage to take another step towards her.

It's her. Kadence Wilson. Standing just around the corner.

I had forgotten this feeling. This weird feeling I always used to get whenever I was near her. She still affects me the same way.

"Oh, I am so happy today!" I close my eyes as I hear her squeal. "You are going to have a little brother or sister!"

What the hell? Little brother or sister? I peep from behind the wall. I see Kady standing there. She hasn't changed much as far as I can see. Her wavy auburn hair, longer now, plunged over her shoulders, framing her angelic face perfectly. Her impeccable bow-shaped lips are stretched into that beautiful smile of hers. She looks happy. She is more slender now, her waist more tapered, but she still has that same burnished complexion. She is still as beautiful as she was all those years ago.

Although, it wasn't her sight that made my heart skip a beat. It was the sight of her smiling and looking down at the kid she was holding in her arms.

No. She can't be married and already have a kid. That's so unlike the Kady I knew. But what if she's changed now? Maybe now she is no longer a mischievous, adventurous girl who loved to take risks. Maybe now she is a grown-up, responsible woman who craves peace.

"You're going to be a good boy for your mom now, aren't you?" The smile slips off and a horrified look crosses her face. "Oh my god. Now I'll have to look after two little devils."

Another woman comes up towards them and takes the kid from Kady. Alright, so that kid must not be of Kady's. A little hope sparks up inside me. And then it gets crushed again as I see Kady touch a ring on her left hand.

So she is married. A wave of sadness washes over me. Kady is happily married with a kid and another on the way. This is the worst feeling ever. You know, when your hope rises up so fast and then gets crushed just as strongly. It's like all those years back, when my heart broke for the first time. But at least I know that she is happy. That's worth something.

But I also know that if I meet Kady now, I'll be the one to get hurt at last. It took me a lot of time to get here. I can't afford to lose everything that I have again. I can't meet her.

Someone taps my shoulder from behind and I turn to look at the same doctor who checked me standing there. "Is everything okay?"

"Um...yeah. I was...I was just...um..." What do I say to her? "I'm just gonna go," I say and make the step towards the exit.

One step at a time. Don't look at her. Keep going. Don't look at her. One foot in front of the other. Don't look at her.

Someone tugs my pants. I look down to see the kid Kady was holding looking at me with big eyes. "Sam!" the kid shouted. I remember acting in a film as a supporting actor in which the name of my character was, indeed, Sam. He must recognize me from that movie.

I look at Kady and the woman. They are deep in conversation and don't seem to notice that the kid is no longer by their side. I look down at the kid again, confused as to what to do next. The kid looked as if he was struggling with something. Like he was trying to say something, but couldn't.

Then, there was a weird gurgling sound, and the next thing I know... the kid is puking on my shoes.

I step back from the kid as fast as I could and the woman finally comes and takes hold of her kid as he hurls more, this time on the hospital floor.

I look down at my shoes, covered in some filthy greenish-yellow stuff. I close my eyes, steeling myself. There was only one thought that was in my head and only one thought that mattered. I can't meet Kady.

I make my way towards the exit, not caring about anyone who was calling for me to wait. I just had to get away from Kady as soon as I could.

As I reach the exit door, my head turns back to look one last time at Kady. The kid had stopped hurling and the woman was wiping his mouth with a cloth, while Kady's head turned towards me. Our eyes meet. Recognition flashes in her eyes.

Then just as I did all those years ago, I turned my back towards her and went out the door, leaving the love of my life behind once again.

***

A/N:

So, what do you think of the story so far? I'll try to update every week, but it's gonna be hard with my exams coming. Anyways, I'll try my best. Please vote for this chapter if you like it. And don't forget to comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story!