Arthur and Alice hadn’t expected this.

Last night, they stood in front of a huge hospital building, but now they found themselves in front of a run-down, small clinic.

Arthur's brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“W-W-We’re in the right place, right?” he stuttered, his voice tinged with doubt.

Alice’s face hardened in disbelief. But then, she laughed softly, her pale face suddenly brightening.

Her pounding heart calmed, and for a moment, everything felt right again.

She turned to Arthur, her smile gentle. “I like this place better.” She paused, taking a few steps toward the door, then stopped and glanced back at him, her expression glowing.

“It reminds me of our home.” A sudden gust of wind swept through the area, making her long, white hair sway like a dance in the breeze.

Arthur stood there for a moment, mesmerized by the sight.

He finally smiled back at her. “Well, if you say that, I guess I don’t have a choice but to agree.”

They both started walking toward the door, their steps in sync.

At that moment, they knew what was ahead, and they were ready.

They would face whatever came their way, together, with unwavering confidence and spirit.

After they entered the clinic, the contrast between the outside and the inside couldn't have been more striking.

The outside was weathered and torn, but inside was spotless and well-organized.

Not a single patient other than them was there.

Suddenly, a door opened, and a nurse in her mid-twenties stepped out, greeting them with a wide, warm smile.

"I’ve been expecting you both. Mr. Arthur, Ms. Alice," she said softly.

"Dr. Fye informed me of your arrival. If you're ready, we can begin the check-up right away." Her voice was soothing, aiming to calm the tension that lingered in the air.

They exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

Alice was the first to step forward, her posture straight and eyes sharp.

Her lips pressed together as she spoke, her voice steady despite the unease she felt.

"I'm ready. Please look after me," she said, determination flashing in her gaze.

The nurse's smile softened. "I’m Teresa," she replied, trying to ease the atmosphere.

"I’ll take good care of you."

They walked down the narrow corridor, and Arthur couldn’t help but notice the advanced technology in every room they passed. The clinic was small but meticulously clean, and he felt a sense of reassurance growing inside him.

He took a deep breath, his earlier worry easing as he saw how professional everything looked.

They finally reached the laboratory room. Teresa paused, turning to them with a smile that was both warm and serious.

"We've arrived," she said. Then, her gaze shifted to Arthur.

"Guardians are not permitted to enter the examination room. If you wouldn't mind, could you wait in the waiting area?"

Arthur’s worry was palpable as he looked at Alice.

"Are you okay without me?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying the concern he always had when it came to leaving her alone.

Alice gave him a reassuring smile, one that reached her eyes despite the nerves she felt.

"I’m fine, Arthur. Wait for me there," she said with a lighthearted tone that she hoped would ease his worries.

Arthur hesitated for a moment, then, seeing her smile, he smiled too, although a little more faintly.

"I’ll be waiting," he said, walking toward the waiting area as she entered the room with Teresa.

Once inside, Teresa noticed Alice’s trembling hands.

"Are you alright, Ms. Alice?" she asked, her tone gentle as she gestured to the chair.

Alice sat down, her breath catching slightly as she tried to steady herself.

"Y-Yeah, somehow. But when he’s not with me, I feel anxious without even realizing it," she admitted, her voice soft and uncertain.

She laughed nervously, trying to mask her unease.

"Weird, isn’t it?"

Teresa smiled, shaking her head with a hint of fondness.

“I wouldn’t say it’s weird,” she said, her voice warm.

“I think it’s beautiful. I’ve never had anyone like that in my life before, someone who cares so deeply.” She paused, her smile softening.

“It really is a beautiful thing.”

Alice blinked, surprised by the nurse's sincerity.

"Thank you," she said, her heart a little lighter.

Teresa took a deep breath, shifting the focus back to the task at hand.

"Let’s start with the basics first, Ms. Alice."

The examination room was quiet except for the faint hum of the overhead light. 

“Let’s start with your vitals,” Teresa said gently.

She wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Alice’s arm. As it tightened, Alice winced slightly, her pale fingers gripping the edge of the chair.

Teresa glanced at the reading, her brow furrowing just a touch, before gently moving on to check Alice’s pulse.

“How have you been feeling recently?” Teresa asked, her fingers lightly pressing against Alice’s wrist.

“Exhausted,” Alice murmured, her voice trembling. “Sometimes, it’s hard to breathe.”

Teresa nodded, her expression professional but empathetic.

“Shortness of breath is common. Have you noticed any bruising or bleeding?”

Alice hesitated before nodding. “Yes… It happens more than it used to.”

Teresa jotted down notes before reaching for her stethoscope.

“I’m going to listen to your heart and lungs now, okay? Just breathe normally.”

Alice’s breaths were shallow, her chest rising and falling unevenly as Teresa moved the stethoscope across her back all the way to her chest.

A faint crease formed between her brows as she listened, her expression betraying a quiet flicker of concern at the sound of Alice’s labored breathing.

“Your heart rate is slightly elevated,” Teresa said as she straightened, making another note.

“That could be due to anemia. Let’s run some tests to get a clearer picture.”

Teresa prepared the materials for the blood draw, looping a rubber tourniquet around Alice’s arm.

“This might sting a bit,” she said gently as she inserted the needle with practiced precision.

Alice winced, her gaze fixing on a distant point in the room as she willed herself to remain calm.

As Teresa labeled the vials, she said, “This blood test will give us your cell counts and tell us how your bone marrow is functioning. We’ll also check for any abnormalities in the blood cells.”

Alice nodded, though the word “bone marrow” sent a shiver through her.

Teresa set the vials aside and reached for a small tray.

“Next, Dr. Fye has requested a bone marrow aspiration. It’s not as scary as it sounds, I promise. We’ll use local anesthesia to make it as comfortable as possible.”

Alice swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly.

Teresa offered a reassuring smile.

“It’s an important step to understand how advanced the disease is and what kind of treatment will work best.”

Alice nodded again, her expression resolute despite the fear in her eyes.

Teresa guided her onto the padded table, calmly explaining each step of the procedure. When the needle pierced her pelvis, Alice gritted her teeth, her knuckles whitening as her fists clenched tight.

The discomfort flared sharply and suddenly, but it passed quickly, the procedure over almost as soon as it began.

Once finished, Teresa helped Alice sit up and handed her a small bottle of water.

“You did great,” she said gently.

“We’ll also examine your blood under a microscope and run some genetic tests to check for abnormalities. These will help us tailor your treatment.”

Alice sipped the water, feeling drained but resolute. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Teresa packed up the samples and gave Alice an encouraging smile.

“Dr. Fye will go over the results with you soon. You’re in good hands.”

As Teresa stood beside her, Alice leaned back against the chair, exhaling slowly. The silence felt heavy, but she steadied herself, knowing this was just the beginning of her fight.

She bit her lips together and took a deep breath.

“P-Please, help me walk, I want to see Arthur as soon as possible.” She said, her voice was desperate and anxious are all over her. Teresa smiled.

“Yes, of course I will escort you.” She responded with a smile on her face.

The days passed quietly, the stillness of the hotel room a stark contrast to the tumult of Alice’s thoughts. Their time together had been peaceful, but there's also an unspoken tension in the air.

On the sofa, Alice nestled into Arthur’s side, her head resting on his shoulder as the weight of the upcoming results settled between them like a looming cloud.

“If things work out and are good for us, what are we going to do, Arthur?” Her voice was low, carrying the distant hopes and dreams that filled her heart despite everything.

Arthur ran his fingers through her hair, his lips brushing her forehead gently.

“All I could ever want is to be with you till the end of my life. I think that’s all that matters for me right now,” he replied softly, as though reassuring both of them in the face of uncertainty.

Alice shifted slightly, looking up at him with a playful pout, though the tension in her eyes remained.

“Is that all you ever think of? I mean, there are so many things we could do, like exploring different places, learning the traditional cultures of people who live in those places.”

She paused for a moment, her pale face coloring as a sudden thought occurred to her.

“Also… w-w-we could have children of our own,” she stammered, her voice barely audible as she turned her face away, her blush deepening.

Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise. That idea had never crossed his mind. He let out a soft chuckle, but his amusement quickly turned to confusion when he saw the irritation in her expression.

She turned her back to him, her face a mix of sadness and frustration.

“I see,” she muttered, her voice carrying a quiet hurt. “You don’t want to build a family with me, do you?”

Arthur’s heart ached at the thought. He immediately pulled her close, holding her tightly as he kissed her neck in an attempt to comfort her.

“Our daughter will be just like her mother,” he whispered, his voice soft and warm. “Strong, beautiful… a treasure to me.”

Alice’s eyes widened in quiet surprise, and for the first time, she allowed herself to smile genuinely. She gently patted his hair, her touch tender, carrying something deeper than simple affection.

“I want a son like you,” she murmured, her voice soft and almost fragile.

“Serious, reliable, and above all… kind.”

Her fingers lingered for a moment before she continued, her smile tinged with longing.

“I’ve wanted a family for so long. And I’m grateful that I can have that with you.”

Arthur's heart swelled as he kissed her lips, the gentle embrace wrapping around them both like a warm cocoon.

“That should be my line,” he said, his voice full of love and longing as they settled into each other, letting the moment linger.

The following days passed quickly, and when the test results arrived, they went to the clinic.

The air inside the sterile room was heavy with anticipation. Dr. Fye and Teresa stood waiting, their expressions calm but unreadable, carrying an unspoken seriousness.

The medical documents in their hands felt weighty, as if each page bore the weight of untold truths.

“Good morning,” Dr. Fye greeted them with a slight smile, her tone light but not without gravity.

“You arrived quickly. I’m glad to see that.”

Arthur gently guided Alice to a chair, and they sat together, their hands entwined.

Arthur guided Alice to a chair, their hands entwined, and she felt her pulse hammering in her chest. The moment Dr. Fye took her seat across from them, Alice felt exposed under her intense gaze.

“Alice,” Dr. Fye began gently but firmly, “we’ve gone over the results. There are some things we need to discuss.” She paused, as if steeling herself to deliver the news.

Alice’s stomach tightened as she pressed her lips tightly.

“Your blood work shows severe anemia,” she said, adjusting her glasses as she scanned the results.

“Your red blood cells and hemoglobin are dangerously low. That’s why you’ve been so tired… and why breathing has felt harder than it should.”

Alice’s fingers dug into the edge of the chair, her knuckles paling. Arthur’s hand squeezed hers, a silent vow that he wouldn’t let go.

Dr. Fye’s voice was calm, measured, but the concern beneath it pressed into the room.

“Your platelet count is very low,” she said softly. “That’s why you bruise so easily… and why bleeding comes more often than it should.”

Alice’s heart skipped with every word, her breath catching, but she forced herself to meet Dr. Fye’s eyes.

“The white blood cell count is higher than normal,” Dr. Fye said, her gaze steady on Alice. “And many of these cells are immature… which means your leukemia is progressing.”

Arthur’s jaw clenched, but he forced calm onto his face, refusing to let his worry leak through.

“The bone marrow test confirms it,” Dr. Fye said quietly, her voice steady but gentle. “It’s producing a large number of abnormal cells, leaving less room for the healthy ones.”

The silence swallowed the room, pressing down on them like a weight, thickening the air with unspoken dread.

Dr. Fye exhaled softly, letting her gaze soften slightly.

“The good news is that your leukemia is still in the chronic phase.” She let out a faint smile.

“There’s a window to act before it becomes more aggressive. The treatment we recommend… a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy… can slow or even halt progression.”

Arthur’s eyes widened as he absorbed this information. “Chemotherapy…” His voice trembled slightly.

“That means… There are risks, right?”

“Yes,” Dr. Fye said solemnly. “One potential side effect is that it may affect her fertility... Some medications and chemotherapy could damage your ability to have children in the future.”

The room fell silent. The air seemed to thicken around Alice as the words sank in.

She stared at Dr. Fye, the gravity of the situation slowly crushing her from the inside. She had always dreamed of a family—children, a future. Now that dream seemed far beyond her reach.

"I…" Her voice faltered, her chest tightening as she tried to find the words.

“I see.”

She looked down, squeezing Arthur's hand as she struggled to keep the tears at bay. Her dream, her hope for a family, felt as though it had just shattered.

Arthur’s heart broke at the sight of her pain.

He could see the turmoil in her eyes, the loss of something she’d longed for. But he also saw the strength beneath that pain—the strength that had carried her this far.

He leaned in, his voice full of conviction. “I’ve told you before, Alice. I’ll choose you, no matter what. There will never be anything above you, not even this.” His voice cracked as a tear slipped from his eye, something he hadn’t expected to happen.

The rawness of his emotion hit Alice like a physical blow. She bit her lip, feeling the overwhelming sorrow surge within her.

“I…” She swallowed hard. “I wanted to have a family… with you.” Her voice was barely a whisper, the weight of her dreams slipping through her fingers like sand.

Arthur pressed his forehead to hers, his hands cradling her face with tenderness.

“No matter what happens, Alice,” he whispered,

“I will always be here for you.”

And in that moment, surrounded by the weight of uncertainty and loss, Alice felt his love, raw and unyielding. It wasn’t a solution, but it was enough to carry her through the storm.