Chapter 4 #2
Normally a miracle comes by and saves him, but in my case there are
no more miracles, Jabari. I refuse to go through more chemo, and I
won’t have another blood transfusion or bone marrow transfusion.”
Slowly shaking his head, Foster rasped, “I just can’t. I’m tired,
Jabari. I’ve been fighting this most of my life, and honestly, I’m
tired of throwing up, and feeling so weak I can barely turn over in
bed. I’m tired of the pain the surgeries bring to me, I’m tired of
being told, ‘This is it!’ only for the cancer to come right back...
I’m just tired. I have missed living my life, and I may only have
four months left of it, or possibly less... I won’t miss living
anymore. I want to explore the world. I want to see sights I’ve
only read about. I want to go dancing in a club and sing Karaoke. I
want to visit museums, go to Pisa and see how far the tower really
leans. I want to lie under the stars and see if I can count them,
and, if I’m lucky, I’d love to see the Aurora Borealis. I want to
visit all the wonders of the world. I want to go up in a hot-air
balloon and visit the site of the Titanic’s demise and place a
wreath. I want to see fireworks over the waters and visit with a
pod of whales, to watch them and listen to their beautiful songs
they play to each other. I have always wanted to swim with sharks,
but know I can’t, but I at least got to see them feed up
close.”
Jabari watched as his mate’s eyes had lit up
with such life... such enthusiasm, and then suddenly faded.
“I know I can’t do all those things, but I’d be
happy to at least do a few of them. I got to visit haunted
lighthouses and go deep-sea fishing, and like I said, I did at
least get to see a shark feeding up close.”
Taking a chance, Jabari asked, “But what about
love? In all that dreaming and wishing have you ever given love a
consideration? You keep saying those stories you read are
paranormal romance. Where is the romance? Don’t you dream about
that?”
Foster gave a wistful smile, “Of course I’ve
thought about it. I wish there was a way for me to experience
love... but how can I do that, Jabari, without hurting the other
person? That would be selfish on my part.”
“Not if the other party knows what they’re
getting into and is willing to take that chance.” Jabari
whispered.
Foster sighed, “Jabari...”
“No, I listened to you, now you must listen to
me. It’s only fair, right?” Jabari asked with a raised brow.
Foster thought a moment, then nodded. “You’re
right, it’s only fair.”
Kneeling down on his knees, Jabari took Foster’s
hands in his own and looked deeply into his mate’s eyes, hoping
that his honesty and deep need shone through as he said, “I have
dreams too, Foster. I have dreamed of walking the streets of
Atlantis, hand and hand with my mate by my side and showing him the
place I call home. I’ve dreamed of swimming the waters with him and
introducing him to the only true ones I call friends, and taking
him to meet my parents just to show them how much I have been
blessed. I want to experience things with him that I have never
experienced myself so we can share so many firsts together. I just
want to be with the man fate deemed as my own, and that man is you,
Foster. I don’t care if we only have four months or three... I want
to spend that time with you. I want to show you all those things
you mentioned, and if I’m lucky, I’d love for you to do some of the
things I’ve always dreamed of too. You’re mine, Foster. No matter
how long we have... you are mine. Please don’t deny me the little
time the gods may be giving us.”
Tears fell from Foster’s eyes and trickled down
his cheeks. His nose began to run, and the next thing Jabari knew,
he and Foster were falling to the floor with Foster’s arms wrapped
around his neck as sobs grew harder from his mate. Jabari held
Foster tightly against him, gently rubbing his mate’s back,
whispering words that made no sense even to him, but it seemed to
work. Foster’s tears slowed, and soon all that was left was a
sniffling, hiccupping, ragged-breathing man, who was holding on to
Jabari as if he was a life preserver in the churning waters they
had been in not so long ago.
Pulling back a bit, Jabari took the dish towel
he had tucked into his pants when he went to clean up the kitchen,
and handed it to Foster. His mate laughed, but took it, then wiped
his eyes and blew his nose. After a few moments, Foster said, “You
are the sweetest, most romantic man I have ever known... well, read
about at least. How these stupid people don’t see the softness
within you is beyond me.”
Jabari softly laughed, “Maybe because that part
of me is reserved only for my mate.”
“Well, we might have to do something about that
before I leave here.” Foster said with a smile.
Ignoring the hurt those words caused, Jabari
asked, “When do you wish to leave?”
Foster cupped Jabari’s cheeks in his hands, “I
don’t know. How long will it take to do all those things you talked
about?”
Hope filled Jabari’s soul where despair had just
been, “You’ll stay with me? You’ll be my mate?”
Foster sighed and pulled back. “I’ll make you a
deal. If I stay we can be mates as far as being with each other
goes, but there will be no bonding. I don’t know how you bond, but
you must promise me that no matter what happens, you will not bond
with me, Jabari. I won’t have you dying when I do. Besides, apart
from the fact that the people of your world need you, you have
parents who would be devastated if their only child died with his
mate.”
Jabari went to interrupt, but Foster quickly
held a finger to Jabari’s lips. “And I would be devastated knowing
that I was the cause of such a wonderful man’s death as well. So,
if you promise me there will be no bonding, I promise I will stay
with you, and we can do all those things mates do together.”
As much as Jabari wanted to argue, he had to
accept his mate’s terms. There was no way he was ready for Foster
to leave, so reluctantly he nodded, saying, “I promise. No bonding
unless you ask.”