MY ESSENCE

The next two months proved to be extremely difficult for Ian. He couldn't come to terms with the fact that he was going to lose Kim. However, Kim had accepted that she would die in two months, so she tried her best to be happy and make as many memories as she could during the time she had left.

She became weaker by the day, though, so her mom kept suggesting that she undergo chemotherapy. However, she refused, stating that there was no point because a specialist, brought in by her dad to look into her case, had said the same thing as the first doctor.

Moreover, due to how affected Ian was, his dad had arranged for her to be transferred to one of the best hospitals in Chicago. However, when she got there, she was told the same thing – she had leukemia and was going to die in two months.

After learning all this, she believed there was no point in spending the remaining time in the hospital trying to get treatment that wouldn't change her condition. Instead, she decided to spend it with her loved ones.

Both her dad and Ian's dad did their best, and everyone around her tried to give her whatever she wanted. As the time approached, she told Ian about her desire to attend the prom with him, despite her situation.

It would be her last, but she would try to make it a memorable one. She spent most of her time with Ian and some of it with her mom and Wendy, who were always crying whenever she was around.

With Ian, it was different – even though he was unhappy, he tried not to show it in front of her. They went out on dates, went dancing, swimming, stargazing, cooked together, and did everything else they could. Ian had asked her to make a list of all the things she wanted, but she told him that she just wanted to spend time by his side.

So, he came up with activities that he was sure would not sap too much of her energy, considering her sickness always left her feeling tired. As the prom day drew closer, she knew that her death was also close. She had gotten a calendar, and every day she marked it to remind herself of how many days she had left.

When the date eventually arrived, her mom got her a Cinderella gown, which was very beautiful. Ian wore a suit and came to her house to pick her up. When they went to school for the prom party, Ian couldn't stop staring at her.

The news about her imminent death had spread, and many sympathized with her. When they arrived at the party, Kim tried her best to be lively and make everyone feel at ease. She didn't like the fact that they were all feeling pity for her.

"You look very beautiful," Ian told her when they stood on the dance floor. "You are the most beautiful girl here and the most beautiful girl in the world."

"Well, you have always told me this and today is no different. As long as you're saying it, I believe it," she replied.

He stared at her diamond necklace and earrings. "You wore them today."

She nodded, "Yes, I did. And after today, I would never take them off."

"Why?" he asked.

"They're precious to me. They're from you, so it's only natural that I would want to wear them always. I want to die wearing them because I want to look like your girlfriend even in my death."

"Please don't talk about death anymore," Ian said.

"I'm sorry. I do not plan to make this day difficult for you," she replied. "I just... have come to terms with reality, and I hope that when I'm gone, you will try to do the same as well."

"Let's just dance," Ian told her.

He hugged Kim as they danced slowly to the music. When the party came to an end, they were both crowned prom king and queen. Ian knew that everyone must have voted for Kim as their way of saying goodbye to her, but she seemed very happy. And when she accepted the trophy, she kept smiling in all the pictures that they took.

Afterward, she got into his car, and he began to drive her back home. But on their way home, she said, "I don't feel like going home tonight. I want to spend the night in your arms."

"Will your parents be okay with that?" he asked.

"Let me call my mum," she replied.

She called her mum and told her about her desire to spend the night with Ian.

"It's okay," her mum said. "As long as it makes you happy. See you tomorrow."

After saying goodnight to her mum, Ian drove her to his house. When they got into the house, she saw his dad sitting by the hearth. The moment he saw her, he got up and walked up to her.

"Kim!" He said.

She smiled, "Hi, Mr. Thompson." He opened his arms and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry, Kim. I wish there was something I could do for you and Ian."

"It's okay," she replied. "It's fine, Mr. Thompson. Even if I die today, I will die fulfilled because I know I have the love of all the important people in my life. Everyone around me has been very good to me, and they have made this process easier. I have no regrets."

"Alright, then I'll let you two be together."

Ian led her to his bedroom, and as they sat on the bed, they talked about how the prom night went and went through all the pictures and videos they took.

Afterward, Ian took one of his T-shirts from the wardrobe and said, "Your gown looks uncomfortable. I'm sure you will not be able to sleep in it."

"Of course, please untie the rope at the back for me."

Ian untied the rope and then turned his back so she could take off the gown. After she took off her clothes, she picked up the T-shirt he had left on the bed and quickly put it on.

"You can turn now," she said to him.

He smiled at her, "I will be in the bathroom, so just wait for me on the bed. When I'm done, you can use it if you wish to."

She nodded. "Alright, I'll be waiting for you."

She sat on the bed and waited for him while he went into the bathroom to bathe. But after a while, she got up and took off all her clothes.

Afterward, she opened the bathroom door, and went inside naked, to meet him.

Ian stared at her in surprise, "Kim."

She stood in front of him and smiled, "I don't know how much time I have left, Ian. I don't want us to hold back anymore. Make love to me."

Ian's heart began to race as he asked, "Are you sure, Kim? I don't want you to feel weak and..."

"Shh," she placed her finger on his lips, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him."

Ian smiled and his eyes gleamed as he held her cheeks and softly kissed her lips.

He carried her in his arms out of the bathroom and back to his bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed and looked into her eyes.

"You look so perfect," he whispered.

"So do you," Kim replied.

Her eyes closed and her lips parted as Ian's lips found her breasts, sucking and fondling while she held on to the sheets, moaning and panting for breath as a wave of pleasure consumed her.

When he entered her, his thrusts were gentle and their fingers intertwined as he repeatedly professed, "I love you more than life itself, Kim."

Once the passion was spent, Ian and Kim showered together before returning to the bed.

Like Kim, Ian also had a calendar on his phone and kept looking at the date. The time they were given had already elapsed. It had been more than two months already, a few days past two months.

He was wishing for a miracle, hoping that somehow she would make it or become miraculously healed. He didn't want to sleep, although she had fallen asleep. He intertwined his fingers with her own and watched as her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. He kept staring at her and did not realize when he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

When Ian opened his eyes in the morning, he noticed that she was still lying in the same position as last night. He tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't budge. He quickly checked her pulse and realized that she was dead.

He screamed, and his dad ran into the room. Seeing that she was dead, his dad picked up his phone and called her parents, who also came into the room.

Ian kept holding her hands and crying, begging her to come back to him, even though he knew it wasn't possible.

She was taken away, and her burial was scheduled to take place in two days."

Ian could not bring himself to eat or stop crying. He kept staring at her pictures and reminiscing their moments together.

On the day of the burial. Ian joined the family as they took her coffin to the cemetery where they intended to bury her. He kept staring at the coffin from a distance, unable to go closer.

As he listened to the priest say so many words, he found himself remembering their moments together once again. He recalled all the plans they had and all the promises they made, and tears kept falling from his eyes.

His hands and lips began to quiver, he couldn't bear it anymore and fell to the ground, losing consciousness. He was rushed to the hospital, where the doctors took care of him until he eventually came to

After her burial, it was extremely difficult for Ian to move on. He would spend his time sitting alone in his room, thinking.

During this period, his dad tried his best to care for him, always cooking for him and making sure he ate his meals. Wendy was also very supportive. She came every single day, as they were all aware of how much Kim meant to him.

Eventually, Ian began to speak. Each time Wendy came, they would talk about Kim, and Ian would tell her about other memories they had together. Sometimes he would cry, and Wendy would join him. She became his very close friend, and he soon became more attached to her.

As he woke up each day, he looked forward to Wendy coming around so they could talk about Kim and look at her pictures together. Other days, he took Wendy to places he had gone with Kim. He even took her to the rooftop of Evanston High and told her about that night when they danced together at the top of the roof and ran down the stairs. It was the same night his world collapsed, the very night he realized that death was going to snatch Kim from him.

"I am so sorry," Wendy said. "I would give anything to see that you do not go through this pain, but I feel it too. Kim was my sister, and I loved her so much. It has been extremely difficult for my parents, but they have me, so I guess I'm there to remind them of Kim, and it makes the healing process quicker. But I know it will be harder on you because, other than your dad, Kim was everything to you. I was a witness to how much she meant to you."

Most times, Ian spent the entire day with Wendy, and when he finally realized it would get dark, they would both go back home. Two weeks after Kim was buried, Wendy came to his house as usual. Ian sat outside on the porch, going through pictures and videos of himself and Kim.

When Wendy came, they spoke briefly, but afterward, he said he wanted to be alone. He felt like reminiscing but without anyone else. He wanted to imagine being alone with Kim.

Wendy got up and said, "In that case, I'll give you all the privacy you need. Just call me if you feel like talking."

As she began to walk away, his phone rang. He looked at the screen; it was a foreign number and it wasn't familiar. He answered it anyway, and the first thing he heard was a familiar voice – Kim's voice.

"My essence!" She said.

His eyes widened in surprise. He stared at Wendy, who was walking toward her car, and asked, "Is this a joke? Who is this? What are you trying to do?"

"How long will I love you?" she asked.

"Until my dying breath," they both replied.

He instantly got up and exclaimed, "Kim?"