That One Dreaded Word

"I didn't think it was going to be this romantic.." Kyle whispered to me, holding my hand tightly under the candlelit table. "I should've changed clothes."

"Hey, just be thankful that I changed out my sports gear." I teased, giving his hand a squeeze back. "And don't worry, I had a shower."

"Good." He giggled, looking at me with smiling eyes.

"You're so gorgeous." I shook my head in disbelief, at how amazing he looked tonight. To which he blushed, and twirled his spaghetti round the fork in his other hand, in a very adorable nervous way. "And that's the truth. No lie." I leaned closer to him, whispering in his ear.

"Stan.." He blushed more, smiling at me.

"What? I'm just saying the truth." I shrugged.

"No. I mean, we're in a hotel restaurant...And a very posh one at that." I chuckled, and leaned away from him, and rubbed circles in his palms.

"Okay, okay. No public acts of affection." And he giggled at that.

"I just mean, no seductive things." I nodded at his request, smiling genuinely.

Seeing as we were in a hotel restaurant, there will always be at least one nosey person. No matter how posh the place is. And at the very moment we finished our food together, and just talked for a while. A couple walked in, and the lady just looked at Kyle, then to me. And shook her head sadly.

"Isn't that sad Marcus?" She said to her husband, who was glued to his phone. "I just find relationships like these so sad. Because it's clearly not going to last very long. I mean, look how pale that kid with cancer is. It's clearly his last week." And as soon as that dread word was said; everyone looked up to look at her, and us. Especially poor Kyle. He had tried to be romantic by taking his hat off for me, but now it was just giving people the excuse to stare at him, like he was a museum exhibition or something.

"It's just tragic, isn't it?"

"My friend's son had cancer. He only lasted a year."

"I bet he has lung cancer. I heard him coughing in the bathroom."

"Mommy, why does that person have no hair?"

"Because he has a problem, honey."

It was point, stare and comment, over and over. It was just too much for my sobbing boyfriend. But when people saw he was crying, they stopped talking about us, and carried on with their own conversations. But the lady who was still, standing beside our table, kept pushing it.

"I hope he'll have someone to be in love with afterwards Marcus. Because he's just going to die. Isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is."

"There's honestly no point on even taking him anywhere. I mean it's never going to last. Is it?" That got a few 'no's' from our apparent audience. And that was it. I have had enough of this.

"Shut up! Can't you see you're hurting him?!" I yelled; almost screamed, at her.

"I'm just saying the truth. Look how weak and fragile he is."

"Look how tearful and upset he is! Now could you please leave us to have our night in peace?!" She tossed her hair, and walked off in her high heels. I sighed, then looked to Kyle; who was just sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ky, it's okay. Don't listen to any of them. None of them know you, or your life." I kneeled beside him, and rubbed his shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"Why do you still call me beautiful? I'm not!" He sobbed more, his poor mind breaking down. "I look like a freak! Everyone's right!" He choked on his own words and tears. This was honestly just heart-breaking.

"Shh. Ky. It's okay, I promise it is." I rubbed circles in his shoulder to distract him. "I would never lie to you. Never. So why would I be lying, when I tell you that you're beautiful?" Then he just hugged me tightly, crying into my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry! I'm such a hassle in public, and I can't cope with everyone staring, and pointing at me. Saying that I'm better off dead, and that I have a problem, and should be dead in two weeks!" It was everyone else's turn to feel guilty now. They all lowered their heads. And all said a sincere apology.

"I'm so proud of you." I kissed his temple, stroking his head gently.

"I-I.." He couldn't speak right now, and that was okay. He just needed to calm down from his panic. So I kept on stroking his head slowly, feeling how smooth his scalp was.

"Just give yourself time to get your breath back." I whispered, to which he nodded. And eventually, he did calm down. And asked if we could leave. I said yes, I could almost feel uncomfortable he was. So I paid for our food, then took him gently by the hand. And walked him back into the lobby.

"Come on, let's get to our hotel room." I rubbed his pale skin, leading him to the stairs.

"Yeah. Screw the elevator." He smiled, giggling slightly. I chuckled back, happy to see he was okay on the outside. It might take a bit longer for him to heal on the inside though. However long that will be.