One Last Call Before Goodbye Chapter 05
Darlene’s mind went blank at Marshall’s words.
She was pulled back to freshman year. By then, they had left high school behind and were officially together.
They were taking a walk across campus one afternoon when she suddenly said, “Marshall, if we ever break up someday, I will never see you again. Not even till the day I die.”
He’d looked at her, flustered and confused. “Why?”
“Because I love you so much,” she’d said. “If I ever see you again after we break up, it will kill me.”
Smiling, he’d ruffled her hair and promised, “Silly girl. That day will never come.”
He’d sounded so certain back then. Now, those words just felt empty.
Darlene shoved the surging memories back down deep.
When she lifted her head again, her eyes held nothing but calm. “Okay. I’ll keep my word, too.”
Marshall paused, visibly caught off guard. He clearly hadn’t expected her to agree so easily.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, but still, he didn’t let go of her hand. “I’ve got a couple more days here. After I leave … let’s not see each other ever again.”
“Okay.”
The word had barely left her mouth when her already aching stomach suddenly seized. Her face went deathly pale, and she sank to her knees, doubled over.
Marshall reacted instantly. He caught her, his voice tight. “What’s wrong?”
She wanted to say she was fine, but she didn’t even have the strength to speak. Within seconds, cold sweat soaked through her hair.
Marshall frowned deeply. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
She froze. Then she gripped his hand, desperate. “I’m fine… It’s just low blood sugar. Plus, I’ve got a bit of a cold, so I’m a little dizzy. That’s all.
“I just need to go back and rest for a while. Then I’ll be fine…”
Faced with her stubborn refusal and that faint trace of pleading in her eyes, Marshall gave in. “Alright. I’m taking you home.”
Darlene opened her mouth to refuse, but the look on his face left no room for argument. She nodded.
A little over an hour later, Darlene led Marshall into her apartment.
Out of politeness, she offered for him to come in and sit for a while.
“Louie’s out taking care of some things…” She poured him a glass of water, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen. “If you’ve got nothing else going on, stay for dinner.”
Just as she moved toward the kitchen to cook, Marshall rolled up his sleeves and stepped in ahead of her.
“Let me. You’re not feeling well. Get some rest.”
She froze. But the pain in her stomach left no room for hesitation. Taking advantage of his turned back, she pulled out her painkillers and swallowed them down.
Finally, the pain began to ease. The apartment was filled with nothing but the sound of running water and the steady chop of vegetables from the kitchen.
As Darlene watched Marshall’s slender silhouette, her mind drifted back.
They had just graduated, and she had never been any good at cooking. Marshall had always been the one in the kitchen, always making different dishes for her.
Those days had been warm, though brief.
About forty minutes later, Marshall brought three dishes and a soup to the table.
BBQ ribs, Caesar salad, spicy chicken wings, and creamy tomato soup. All were her old favorites.
Her eyes stung as she stared at the food.
After the stomach cancer diagnosis, her diet had been tightly controlled. Everything was so bland that it barely had any flavor. She hadn’t eaten food like this in what felt like forever.
Marshall handed her a fork. “I hardly cook these days. Try it first.”
Hesitant, she took the fork and brought a bite to her mouth. It tasted exactly the way she remembered.
Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, Marshall frowned. “Is it no good?”
She shook her head quickly, forcing the ache back down. “Not at all. It’s perfect.”
Her fragile stomach couldn’t handle food like this. But even as the barely suppressed pain surged through her again, she couldn’t bring herself to put the fork down.
She knew. This was the last time she’d ever eat anything Marshall had cooked.
Neither of them spoke much during the meal.
Just as they set their forks down, Louise walked through the door.
She froze at the sight of Marshall.
He nodded at her slightly. “Hey, Louise.”
Louise’s eyes flickered with something complicated. She looked over at Darlene.
Knowing exactly what Louise wanted to ask, Darlene gave a small shake of her head.
Louise could only let it drop. She set the bag of fruit she was carrying on the table. “Have a seat. I’ll go wash some fruit.”
Marshall glanced at his watch. “No need. I should get going.”
A flash of reluctance flickered through Darlene’s eyes, but she lowered her head and said nothing.
“Alright. Come visit again sometime.” Louise forced a strained smile.
After one last glance at Darlene, who remained silent, Marshall frowned, barely perceptibly, and walked toward the door.
As he bent down in the entryway to change his shoes, he spotted several small medicine bottles and disposable syringes tucked in the corner of the cabinet.
His medical training kicking in, he picked up one of the bottles.
Enhertu?
His pupils contracted. Eyes locked on Darlene, he demanded, “Why do you have stomach cancer targeted therapy in your apartment?”
A dead silence fell over the room.
Darlene turned white as a sheet, her body ice cold.
She was about to brush it off when Louise cut in, “Those meds are mine.”