Love Beyond All Things
IT WAS A
normal Monday morning; yet it wasn't normal at all.
Not for eighteen year old Arlene Adams, at least.
Arlene made her way through the mass of students, ignoring all the whispers and comments around her. People were pointing fingers at her, some threw pitiful looks, but some were simply indifferent as they buried their noses into the giant textbooks.
It had been three weeks since she suddenly left the lecture midway feeling dizzy and sick. There were rumors circulating that she was suffering from leukemia and had less than a year to live. Arlene had spent three weeks cooped up in her room since then, hardly eating and crying all day.
All her hopes, dreams and ambitions had come crashing down that day in the doctor's cabin. Ten simple words had been her undoing:
I'm sorry, Miss Adams. You have only months to live.
Whoever thought of dying at the young age of eighteen, when people of her age were busy partying and enjoying life?
She sat next to the window and looked out, trying to avoid the curious gazes directed at her. But however hard she tried, she could not ignore a intrigued pair eyes fixed on her. They were most likely the gossipmongers, lurking around for fresh food.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone sit next to her and turned. To her amazement it was Russell, the boy she detested ever since the first day.
Today, however, he looked at her and gave her a weak smile. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. What was he upto now?
"Hi."
"Hi." Even her greeting was laced with skepticism.
Sensing her doubt, he shook his head. "You were gone for a long time."
He probably hadn't heard the news then. "I was unwell." She replied shortly. She looked away and resumed doodling a flower in the corner of her notebook.
"What was it?" He asked, persistent to know the details.
She hesitated before replying. Why did he want to know? Besides, telling him would just confirm the rumors. What if people began avoiding her then?
It didn't matter.
"Leukemia," she answered him finally. Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Her tone of any kind of emotion as his eyes widened in horror and shock.
As predicted, he gasped. "I'm sorry!" Sorrow flashed through his eyes, followed by an indecipherable emotion.
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. As if a mere 'sorry' would show what she was going through. People thought a few carefully arranged words, a few heart touching phrases and a few pats on the back were enough signs of sympathy.
Well, they were wrong.
It wasn't sympathy, Arlene wanted.
Far from it; she sought empathy.
He uttered a few more condolences which just irritated her all the more. Clenching her hands into fists, she tried to reign her temper in. But her encounter with her nosy relatives, her grief stricken mother and now his false condolences were the final straw.
"As if you really know!" She snapped finally when she had enough. Tears brimmed up her eyes, but she was quick to look away. "Don't pretend you understand, Russell."
What did he know about death? He didn't have to worry about that until nearly sixty.
Silence ensued, until the boy broke it.
"You think what I said wasn't heartfelt?"
Arlene rolled her eyes again. "I don't think; I know."
"Then you are wrong. You don't know anything. Because I know." he paused for a moment before he added, "I know exactly how you feel."
Her first thought was not to believe him. He had a reputation for being a smooth talker. But as he said those words, Arlene felt herself stiffen at the raw emotion behind them. Truth was evident in his voice, though how much, she did not know.
A crease appeared between her eyes, curiosity replacing anger. Unable to help herself, she finally asked him, "How?"
Another lengthy silence followed the question.
Russell's mind was battling against his heart. Don't say it. His mind was telling him. You haven't told anyone about it till today. So why today?
But his heart beat a little faster when he felt her unwavering gaze on him. Tell her. His heart said. She needs to know.
"My Mom died of leukemia a year ago." he blurted finally.
The sadness in her eyes, made him regret it. He didn't want to be the one who caused more sorrow. Honestly, the girl had enough, without him adding his own.
"I had no idea." she said regretfully. Her heart thawed when he looked away, trying to stay strong in spite of the pain.
But he shrugged it off. "Doesn't matter. It made me realize death is inevitable."
Arlene just gazed at him silently. She had never seen this part of him before, so different from his usual arrogant, know-it-all attitude. "I'm sorry." She meant it. Felt it.
He shook his head. "Don't be. She isn't coming back. No amount of apology is going to bring her back now."
Having no answer to that, Arlene chose the silence. A tear rolled down her cheek as she thought about it. She realized she had been too blinded by her own sorrows to even think about his pain. She wondered how life would be when she left this world. Her mother, her father, her sister - everyone she knew would be in pain.
It made her cringe.
"Would you like to come with me to pick Sara up? I know your sister Careen studies in the same school." He said after a pause. To be honest, he just wanted to hear her talk. The offer was completely random. But the need to talk to her compelled him to break the silence between them.
Russell's sister Sara and Careen studied in the school just a mile away from their university. If she said yes, they would have more time to spend with each other. And by the way his heartbeats picked up speed at the sight of her, he realized he wanted her to.
She nodded with a small smile. "I'd love to, Russell."
Surprisingly, Arlene began to find him fun. He talked about almost anything and everything. For the first time in days, Arlene felt like an smiling again.
The next few days passed in the same way. She began to look forward coming to class and meeting Russell despite her detoriating health. Between hospital trips, college homework, and waves of depressed thoughts, he was the one thing in her life that kept her stable.
She was both shocked and pleased at how easily he had barged into her heart. And a part of her, may or may not be ready to admit, she had a teeny tiny crush on him.
But she was so not going to say it out loud.
"Are you asking me out on a date, mister?" She asked him, her blue eyes twinkling when Russell had casually mentioned a French restaurant that served supposedly served the best food in the world. He had put the proposal forward so casually that it didn't hit her until a whole minute had passed.
He was asking her out.
Cupid had finally struck the arrow at the right place.
His heart skipped a beat at her knowing gaze. Yes, that was exactly what he intended. But with an air of forced casualness he remarked. "Depends on what you want it to be, Lene."
Lene. He was the only one who called her that. And devil take his soul if he let any other boy call her the same.
"A date it is." She confirmed, the smile on her face growing.
"Mhm. I can totally see why you are excited." He nods, pretending to think about it. In truth, his heart was hammering against his ribcage already. " French food. French date. French kisses. Me. You'd kill to have the last one, wouldn't you?"
Arlene laughed, throwing a pen at him. He caught it easily and flung it back. "Ouch." he cried in an injured tone, "That hurts, lady!"
"Whoever said anything about French kisses?" She teased him.
"I did." He admits, smirking. He didn't look remotely abashed at her teasing. "But don't act like you aren't excited, Lene."
And it took everything in Lene's power not to blush like a fool.
Yes, she was falling.
Pity, she didn't have time.
Arlene did have a lot of fun that day. They ate; they drank; they started a food fight. Hell yeah, they even kissed.
It was the night, she officially became Russell Taylor's girlfriend. But unfortunately, it was also the night of the beginning of the end.
All the fun took a toll on her health. She began to feel extremely tired and halfway through she had to be rushed to the hospital. Russell was with her the entire time and even refused to leave her side at night when Arlene's mother told him to go and rest.
Arlene knew her end was drawing in, since it had already been quite late when they diagnosed the illness. The initial results of chemotherapy were positive, but her body was weakening because of the overexposure to the radiation. The progress had begun to decline; her rate of recovery was dropping; her blood count was shocking.
She was fading, and she knew it.
However, unlike the last time, she wasn't sad. In the past few months, she had discovered so much more joy. She had learnt the lesson of true love. Love which lasts even after death.
Russell visited her everyday with flowers and books. She knew he was hurting inside but put up the brave facade of hope just to make her smile. His heart broke every time he paused at the door, listening to the monotonous beeps of the monitor.
And the veiled hurt in his eyes, hurt her as well.
"Russell, will you do me a favour?" She asked him one day while she lay in the hospital bed.
His forehead creased with worry. "What is wrong, Lene ? Does it pain anywhere? Should I call the doctor?"
She shook her head and said, "No Russell, it's not my illness I wish to talk about."
Now, he was really worried.
"Then?"
"You do know," she began softly and cautiously, "that I don't have much time, don't you?"
No matter how many times he heard it, the pain those words caused him was unbearable. But he had to stay strong; for her; for himself. "Lene, you'll recover. Whatever the doctor said, is complete bulls-"
"Russell, listen to me." She pleaded, raising her fragile hand to silence him. There was urgency in her voice, one that he couldn't ignore.
"Promise me that when I die," He cringed at this. However, she went on, "No. Listen. Promise me, that you will not let our story fade with me. You must tell it to the world, so that people may learn to love life however little time they have."
"Lene, but I—
"No buts. Promise me."
"I-I promise." he choked, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.
It wasn't long before he fled from the room, knowing fully well that was probably the last time he saw her. Alive.
Early next morning, he received news that Arlene died late last night.
It didn't come as a surprise; he had been expecting it. Yet, he wept. He cried. He wallowed in pity for days.
Sadness engulfed him, but it didn't dim the promise he had made.
TEN YEARS LATER . . .
Russell and his sister, Sara, stood near Arlene's grave in silence.
He had kept his promise. He had written Love Beyond All things which spoke of their unspoken love and touched the heart of millions. Arlene was right; he had a way with words. But this time he put his words to good use.
He made people aware that love does not stop with illness; love doesn't stop with death. Love, if true, doesn't stop at all. Arlene was just on the other side of the curtain, waiting for him with open arms when the time came.
He never married, because he never forgot. But he was happy. However wretched the circumstances had been, however brief their time together was, it taught him a valuable lesson.
In fond memory of his late beloved he had founded an institution in her name, which still provides hope to billions of cancer patients all over the world.
One day he would join her. One day they would reunite. One day they'd find a cure for cancer.
But today, he had hope.
Whoever thought of dying at the young age of eighteen, when people of her age were busy partying and enjoying life?
She sat next to the window and looked out, trying to avoid the curious gazes directed at her. But however hard she tried, she could not ignore a intrigued pair eyes fixed on her. They were most likely the gossipmongers, lurking around for fresh food.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone sit next to her and turned. To her amazement it was Russell, the boy she detested ever since the first day.
Today, however, he looked at her and gave her a weak smile. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. What was he upto now?
"Hi."
"Hi." Even her greeting was laced with skepticism.
Sensing her doubt, he shook his head. "You were gone for a long time."
He probably hadn't heard the news then. "I was unwell." She replied shortly. She looked away and resumed doodling a flower in the corner of her notebook.
"What was it?" He asked, persistent to know the details.
She hesitated before replying. Why did he want to know? Besides, telling him would just confirm the rumors. What if people began avoiding her then?
It didn't matter.
"Leukemia," she answered him finally. Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Her tone of any kind of emotion as his eyes widened in horror and shock.
As predicted, he gasped. "I'm sorry!" Sorrow flashed through his eyes, followed by an indecipherable emotion.
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. As if a mere 'sorry' would show what she was going through. People thought a few carefully arranged words, a few heart touching phrases and a few pats on the back were enough signs of sympathy.
Well, they were wrong.
It wasn't sympathy, Arlene wanted.
Far from it; she sought empathy.
He uttered a few more condolences which just irritated her all the more. Clenching her hands into fists, she tried to reign her temper in. But her encounter with her nosy relatives, her grief stricken mother and now his false condolences were the final straw.
"As if you really know!" She snapped finally when she had enough. Tears brimmed up her eyes, but she was quick to look away. "Don't pretend you understand, Russell."
What did he know about death? He didn't have to worry about that until nearly sixty.
Silence ensued, until the boy broke it.
"You think what I said wasn't heartfelt?"
Arlene rolled her eyes again. "I don't think; I know."
"Then you are wrong. You don't know anything. Because I know." he paused for a moment before he added, "I know exactly how you feel."
Her first thought was not to believe him. He had a reputation for being a smooth talker. But as he said those words, Arlene felt herself stiffen at the raw emotion behind them. Truth was evident in his voice, though how much, she did not know.
A crease appeared between her eyes, curiosity replacing anger. Unable to help herself, she finally asked him, "How?"
Another lengthy silence followed the question.
Russell's mind was battling against his heart. Don't say it. His mind was telling him. You haven't told anyone about it till today. So why today?
But his heart beat a little faster when he felt her unwavering gaze on him. Tell her. His heart said. She needs to know.
"My Mom died of leukemia a year ago." he blurted finally.
The sadness in her eyes, made him regret it. He didn't want to be the one who caused more sorrow. Honestly, the girl had enough, without him adding his own.
"I had no idea." she said regretfully. Her heart thawed when he looked away, trying to stay strong in spite of the pain.
But he shrugged it off. "Doesn't matter. It made me realize death is inevitable."
Arlene just gazed at him silently. She had never seen this part of him before, so different from his usual arrogant, know-it-all attitude. "I'm sorry." She meant it. Felt it.
He shook his head. "Don't be. She isn't coming back. No amount of apology is going to bring her back now."
Having no answer to that, Arlene chose the silence. A tear rolled down her cheek as she thought about it. She realized she had been too blinded by her own sorrows to even think about his pain. She wondered how life would be when she left this world. Her mother, her father, her sister - everyone she knew would be in pain.
It made her cringe.
"Would you like to come with me to pick Sara up? I know your sister Careen studies in the same school." He said after a pause. To be honest, he just wanted to hear her talk. The offer was completely random. But the need to talk to her compelled him to break the silence between them.
Russell's sister Sara and Careen studied in the school just a mile away from their university. If she said yes, they would have more time to spend with each other. And by the way his heartbeats picked up speed at the sight of her, he realized he wanted her to.
She nodded with a small smile. "I'd love to, Russell."
Surprisingly, Arlene began to find him fun. He talked about almost anything and everything. For the first time in days, Arlene felt like an smiling again.
The next few days passed in the same way. She began to look forward coming to class and meeting Russell despite her detoriating health. Between hospital trips, college homework, and waves of depressed thoughts, he was the one thing in her life that kept her stable.
She was both shocked and pleased at how easily he had barged into her heart. And a part of her, may or may not be ready to admit, she had a teeny tiny crush on him.
But she was so not going to say it out loud.
"Are you asking me out on a date, mister?" She asked him, her blue eyes twinkling when Russell had casually mentioned a French restaurant that served supposedly served the best food in the world. He had put the proposal forward so casually that it didn't hit her until a whole minute had passed.
He was asking her out.
Cupid had finally struck the arrow at the right place.
His heart skipped a beat at her knowing gaze. Yes, that was exactly what he intended. But with an air of forced casualness he remarked. "Depends on what you want it to be, Lene."
Lene. He was the only one who called her that. And devil take his soul if he let any other boy call her the same.
"A date it is." She confirmed, the smile on her face growing.
"Mhm. I can totally see why you are excited." He nods, pretending to think about it. In truth, his heart was hammering against his ribcage already. " French food. French date. French kisses. Me. You'd kill to have the last one, wouldn't you?"
Arlene laughed, throwing a pen at him. He caught it easily and flung it back. "Ouch." he cried in an injured tone, "That hurts, lady!"
"Whoever said anything about French kisses?" She teased him.
"I did." He admits, smirking. He didn't look remotely abashed at her teasing. "But don't act like you aren't excited, Lene."
And it took everything in Lene's power not to blush like a fool.
Yes, she was falling.
Pity, she didn't have time.
Arlene did have a lot of fun that day. They ate; they drank; they started a food fight. Hell yeah, they even kissed.
It was the night, she officially became Russell Taylor's girlfriend. But unfortunately, it was also the night of the beginning of the end.
All the fun took a toll on her health. She began to feel extremely tired and halfway through she had to be rushed to the hospital. Russell was with her the entire time and even refused to leave her side at night when Arlene's mother told him to go and rest.
Arlene knew her end was drawing in, since it had already been quite late when they diagnosed the illness. The initial results of chemotherapy were positive, but her body was weakening because of the overexposure to the radiation. The progress had begun to decline; her rate of recovery was dropping; her blood count was shocking.
She was fading, and she knew it.
However, unlike the last time, she wasn't sad. In the past few months, she had discovered so much more joy. She had learnt the lesson of true love. Love which lasts even after death.
Russell visited her everyday with flowers and books. She knew he was hurting inside but put up the brave facade of hope just to make her smile. His heart broke every time he paused at the door, listening to the monotonous beeps of the monitor.
And the veiled hurt in his eyes, hurt her as well.
"Russell, will you do me a favour?" She asked him one day while she lay in the hospital bed.
His forehead creased with worry. "What is wrong, Lene ? Does it pain anywhere? Should I call the doctor?"
She shook her head and said, "No Russell, it's not my illness I wish to talk about."
Now, he was really worried.
"Then?"
"You do know," she began softly and cautiously, "that I don't have much time, don't you?"
No matter how many times he heard it, the pain those words caused him was unbearable. But he had to stay strong; for her; for himself. "Lene, you'll recover. Whatever the doctor said, is complete bulls-"
"Russell, listen to me." She pleaded, raising her fragile hand to silence him. There was urgency in her voice, one that he couldn't ignore.
"Promise me that when I die," He cringed at this. However, she went on, "No. Listen. Promise me, that you will not let our story fade with me. You must tell it to the world, so that people may learn to love life however little time they have."
"Lene, but I—
"No buts. Promise me."
"I-I promise." he choked, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.
It wasn't long before he fled from the room, knowing fully well that was probably the last time he saw her. Alive.
Early next morning, he received news that Arlene died late last night.
It didn't come as a surprise; he had been expecting it. Yet, he wept. He cried. He wallowed in pity for days.
Sadness engulfed him, but it didn't dim the promise he had made.
TEN YEARS LATER . . .
Russell and his sister, Sara, stood near Arlene's grave in silence.
He had kept his promise. He had written Love Beyond All things which spoke of their unspoken love and touched the heart of millions. Arlene was right; he had a way with words. But this time he put his words to good use.
He made people aware that love does not stop with illness; love doesn't stop with death. Love, if true, doesn't stop at all. Arlene was just on the other side of the curtain, waiting for him with open arms when the time came.
He never married, because he never forgot. But he was happy. However wretched the circumstances had been, however brief their time together was, it taught him a valuable lesson.
In fond memory of his late beloved he had founded an institution in her name, which still provides hope to billions of cancer patients all over the world.
One day he would join her. One day they would reunite. One day they'd find a cure for cancer.
But today, he had hope.
T H E E N D
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