Our eternal affairs

Anna burst through her apartment door and marched straight to the kitchen. She took out a bottle of water from the fridge, and gulped down its contents, not pausing for a breath.

Cliff, who heard sounds coming from the kitchen strode calmly from his room, phone in one hand, and another in his pocket, tapping away mindlessly.

 "Welcome princess, did you get anything to–"

He looked up from his phone, only to be alarmed at her disposition.

Her hair was dishevelled, eyes were red and puffy as she stood, forcefully wiping tears away.

He rushed over to her side, just when she cranked up her elbow over her mouth, to stop the howling sound that threatened.

Cliff wrapped his arms around her and hugged her fiercely. He didn't need to be told what happened, he just held her. 

His heart ached in his chest, as he thought of all the things that fox could have done to hurt her.

 "Shhh, I'm here now, don't cry." He whispered softly.

Oh, but that did it, she let the dam explode, and wailed in his arms, thumping softly on his chest, over and over again.

 "That damned rat. He said it to my face. I feel worthless Cliff." She poured her heart out into his warm embrace.

 "You're not worthless Anna." He said, still holding her, and glanced toward the front door, resisting the urge to storm out and give Sam a hell of a punch.

Anna calmed down after a long while. She sat at the kitchen counter and watched Cliff pace around the kitchen, trying to prepare something for her to eat. She felt all the more helpless.

 "I'm sorry." She murmured for the umpteenth time.

Cliff just nodded, he was scared he would yell at her to shut up. It was already nine pm, Anna didn't normally eat by this time, but the crying had sapped out all her strength, and she also couldn't resist the scent of peanut butter toast and hot chocolate.

She sighed gratefully and munched deeply. She held her lips, holding back her tears, but didn't know if she was crying about Sam or the snack.

 "Don't you dare cry on me, Anna." He pointed at her and she swallowed.

He knew she was grateful, but didn't think he could stomach another crying scene from her.

Questions screamed at the back of his mind, but he pushed them back, and settled on a stool across from her.

 "You like?" He asked, and she gave him a thumbs up, saying between mouthfuls. "You're amazing. Did you know that?"

He smiled weakly, Tanya never told him that.

 He crossed his arms, and thought about how he would ask the questions. But she interjected before he spoke a word.

 "What happened? Is that what you wanted to ask?" Anna said mouthful and he nodded, scratching the back of his head and chuckling nervously. "Guilty." He said.

Her expression suddenly turned teary, but she fought to keep the tears at bay. "He was having a party. There was a swing room."

Cliff shut up his head, his eyes widening in shock immediately, and he shouted, "WHAT!?" When he caught the swing room. 

Anna shook her head in disappointment. "I've never imagined a day like this would come in my life." She sat up straight.

If Cliff had reserved any respect for Sam before now, it was wiped off and replaced by scorn. He kept quiet, his mind raced with a lot of ways to comfort Anna, and get back at that dimwit for causing her trouble. He suddenly remembered her diagnosis.

 "How did he react when you told him?" He asked.

She scoffed. "Told him? I didn't tell him anything, rather HE told me." Cliff was confused.

 "I saw him with Rosie– used to be a friend. She's a nurse now, and she works at the general hospital, where I happened to be rushed to yesterday."

Cliff burned in fury, and clenched his fists. Imagine someone mocking you because you had cancer. But his outer demeanour appeared calm. He smiled faintly. 

 "Thank goodness you're done with that douchebag, you'll find someone better Anna. I promise." She stared at him for a long time, as if in disbelief before she nodded.

It was past midnight when she went to bed. She tossed and turned on her bed, the image of the swing room kept crossing her mind. She twisted her face oftentimes to push them away, but they lingered.

Then she decided to think about her mother instead. The woman she had yearned for to save her and love her, as every mother would, their children. She soon fell asleep, a tear quietly rolled down her rosy cheek.

The next morning, she was startled when her alarm woke her at six am . I gotta reset this thing.

She lay in the bed, faced the ceiling, and thought of all the things she would do in the day. Should I just remain in bed?

Anna had recently lost her job, and didn't know what people did to pass time. She heard the tapping of bare feet, on the floor outside her door. Knowing it was Cliff, she stood up and walked out of her room.

The early morning sun, streaked in through the window, casting a golden hue on the sofas in her living room. She moved to the expansive window and pushed it open, revelling in the feel of the sun on her skin, the tweets of birds, greeting themselves cheerfully on the trees, and the soft flutter of cool breeze in her hair. She felt fully awake.

 "Hey Anna," Cliff greeted. He was dressed in casual clothes. 

 "Are you going out?" She asked.when she turned to look at him.

 "Yeah, I wanted to head to the studio, and see if I could get some work done."

Anna remembered that he worked downtown, and had a fashion studio. Whereas she, didn't have anything to do at all.

 "Then I'll come with you." She clasped her hands, jumping slightly, like an excited child.

 "Aren't you supposed to meet with the therapist today? We need to get started with treatments." He said, in a bid to stop her from going with him.

His words cut through her enthusiasm, as she recalled her diagnosis. Cliff seemed to sense that. He didn't mean to hurt her, then he added. "Go freshen up, I'll drop you off."

 "Okay." She said, barely audible, and left for her room.

By the time she came out again, the smell of cranberry orange pancakes, wafted through the air, and she followed it to the kitchen.

 "You're taking your commitment very seriously, Cliff." She smiled, as she settled down.

Cliff chuckled at her words, but was cautious, not to say anything that'll hurt her.

 "Sit your butt down, Missy." He ordered, as he settled the dish before her.

She dug in as soon as it landed. Her stomach growled and she patted it dramatically, "we've been saved by Cliff." 

He sat down beside her, and they ate in comfortable silence.

The ride to the therapist was smooth, Anna looked out her window, gazing at the trees and people living their normal lives. She sighed wistfully. Cliff kept throwing side glances at her as he drove. He wondered what was going through her mind. 

He pulled into the parking lot, the tires of his car crunching on the gravel. The building before them was unassuming, a single story with a flat roof and a beige siding. A small red sign read, 'Hematology Associates' in neat blue letters.

Anna had called Doctor Luke earlier, and he gave her directions to meet the therapist.

Meanwhile, Doctor Luke was surprised, when she called, and found out that she wasn't yet admitted in the hospital, yet he didn't disclose his thoughts.

Anna's hands clenched in her laps, her face pale. Cliff could sense that she was anxious about this appointment. 

 "I'll come with you." He said, and glanced towards her smiling, before they stepped out.

Inside, the waiting room was filled with only a handful of people, who busied themselves with worn magazines, and brown coffee in their hands. A receptionist looked up from her desk, smiling blandly. "Can I help you?"

"Anna Gabadon," Cliff said, his deep voice firm. "We have an appointment."

The receptionist nodded, checking her computer. "Ah, yes. Doctor Liam will see you shortly. Please have a seat."

After a while, Doctor Liam Stone, a tall, imposing man with a kind face, greeted them warmly when he came out.

"Anna Gabadon? Please come in."

His office was cluttered with medical texts and equipments, but he settled into his chair behind his desk, steepling his fingers.

 "So Anna, I understand that you're struggling with Aplastic anaemia."

Anna hinted that he had already spoken to Doctor Luke. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes doctor."

Doctor Stone nodded sympathetically, "I see. Let's take a look at your test results."

After a few minutes of discussion, the doctor handed her some prescriptions, and leaned back into his chair. "Anna, I want to be honest with you. Your condition is severe and we can try some treatments, but…" he paused.

Anna narrowed her eyes. "But?"

 "I want to offer you something else." He said.

Cliff furrowed his eyebrows. "What kind of 'something else'?"

Doctor Stone smiled, a hint of mystery appeared in his eyes. "I know someone who can help. He has helped people with... unlikely conditions. I worked with him for a few years."

Anna and Cliff exchanged curious glances.

"Okay?" Anna replied skeptically.