Six Months

Silence filled the hospital room.

Heavy.

Cold.

Unbearable.

Noah stood frozen.

His face had gone pale.

His breathing felt strange.

Unsteady.

Uncontrolled.

The doctor’s words kept echoing inside his head.

Stage four brain cancer.

Six months.

Six months.

Impossible.

It had to be impossible.

Noah slowly turned to look at Anna.

She sat quietly on the hospital bed.

Pale.

Weak.

Too calm.

That calmness disturbed him.

It made everything feel worse.

His voice came out low.

Rough.

“When?”

Anna said nothing.

Noah clenched his jaw.

His voice sharpened.

“When did you find out?”

Silence.

Mia glared at him.

Her anger was boiling.

“She found out yesterday.”

Noah froze.

Yesterday.

Yesterday.

His heart skipped.

Yesterday…

The day Anna called him.

Three times.

Three desperate calls.

His fingers slowly curled into fists.

No.

No.

No.

His chest tightened painfully.

Yesterday she was at the hospital.

Alone.

Hearing she was dying.

Alone.

Then she called him.

Three times.

And where was he?

With Clara.

Something twisted painfully inside him.

Mia’s voice was cold.

“She called because she needed you.”

Each word struck like a hammer.

Noah said nothing.

Mia continued.

“She was alone when she heard she was dying.”

Her voice broke.

“She wanted her husband.”

Silence.

Noah’s face hardened.

But inside, 

Something was cracking.

Mia stepped closer.

Her eyes burned.

“She needed comfort.”

Another blow.

“She needed support.”

Another blow.

“She needed you.”

Her voice rose.

“But you chose Clara.”

The room fell silent.

Anna closed her eyes.

Noah looked at her.

His heartbeat pounded painfully.

For the first time in years, 

He didn’t know what to say.

Mia laughed bitterly.

“You always choose Clara.”

Noah’s jaw tightened.

His voice dropped.

“That’s enough.”

Mia scoffed.

“No. It’s not enough.”

She pointed at Anna.

“She is dying.”

Her voice trembled.

“Do you understand that?”

Silence.

Noah stared at Anna.

Dying.

That word felt unreal.

Wrong.

He took a step toward Anna.

Then another.

Until he stood beside her bed.

His eyes remained fixed on her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Anna slowly opened her eyes.

Then she looked at him.

Her face remained calm.

Too calm.

That calmness unsettled him.

Anna spoke softly.

“I tried.”

Noah froze.

Three simple words.

But they hit hard.

Very hard.

Anna continued quietly.

“I called you.”

Her voice was flat.

No emotion.

No tears.

No anger.

Just emptiness.

That emptiness scared Noah.

Anna looked straight into his eyes.

“You didn’t answer.”

Silence.

Noah felt his throat tighten.

Anna continued.

“When you finally answered…”

She paused.

A bitter smile touched her lips.

“Clara answered.”

The silence deepened.

Noah said nothing.

Anna looked away.

Her voice became softer.

“I understood everything then.”

Those words made his chest tighten.

Noah frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Anna stared ahead.

Expression unreadable.

“It means I stopped expecting anything from you.”

Silence.

Noah froze.

Something about those words felt dangerous.

Very dangerous.

He suddenly hated how far away she felt.

Even though she was right in front of him.

Mia folded her arms.

“Good.”

Noah shot her a cold look.

Mia didn’t care.

“You should stop expecting anything from him.”

Noah ignored her.

His gaze remained on Anna.

Then he said quietly, 

“I’m here now.”

Anna laughed softly.

It wasn’t a happy laugh.

It was painful.

Broken.

She turned to look at him again.

“Are you?”

Noah frowned.

Anna’s voice remained calm.

Cold.

“You’re physically here.”

She paused.

“But emotionally…”

Her voice dropped.

“You’ve never been with me.”

Noah’s entire body stiffened.

The words cut deep.

Far deeper than he expected.

He wanted to deny it.

But he couldn’t.

Because deep down, 

He knew she was right.

Mia watched him coldly.

The doctor cleared his throat.

“We should discuss treatment.”

Noah turned immediately.

“Yes.”

His voice was firm.

“What treatment options are available?”

The doctor explained carefully.

“Surgery carries serious risks due to the tumor’s location.”

Noah listened.

Every word felt heavy.

The doctor continued.

“We can begin aggressive treatment immediately, but…”

Noah narrowed his eyes.

“But what?”

The doctor sighed.

“Even with treatment, there are no guarantees.”

Silence.

Noah’s jaw tightened.

“How much can treatment extend?”

The doctor hesitated.

“Months. Maybe a year. Maybe less.”

The answer hit hard.

Noah felt anger rising.

At fate.

At the situation.

At everything.

Noah spoke coldly.

“Get the best specialists.”

The doctor nodded.

“We’ll do our best.”

Noah’s voice became sharper.

“No.”

His eyes darkened.

“Not your best.”

Silence.

His voice dropped.

“Get the best in the country.”

The doctor nodded again.

“I understand.”

After the doctor left, silence returned.

Heavy silence.

Noah looked at Anna.

His voice softened slightly.

“We’ll start treatment.”

Anna said nothing.

Noah frowned.

“Anna.”

Still silence.

His patience thinned.

“We are treating this.”

Anna finally looked at him.

Her expression remained calm.

Too calm.

Then she said something that stunned him.

“No.”

Noah froze.

“What?”

Anna repeated softly.

“No.”

Noah stared at her.

His brows furrowed.

“What do you mean no?”

Anna’s voice remained steady.

“I don’t want treatment.”

Mia froze.

Noah went completely still.

The room turned cold.

Noah’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“What did you say?”

Anna looked straight at him.

“I don’t want treatment.”

Noah felt anger surge.

“Why?”

Anna’s eyes held his.

Then she gave him the cruel truth.

“What’s the point?”

Noah froze.

Anna continued.

“I’m tired.”

Her voice trembled slightly for the first time.

Very slightly.

“I’m so tired, Noah.”

Silence.

Anna’s eyes filled with tears.

But she didn’t cry.

Not this time.

She just looked exhausted.

Emotionally exhausted.

Mentally exhausted.

Physically exhausted.

“I spent seven years fighting for us.”

Her voice softened.

“I have nothing left.”

Noah felt something twist painfully inside him.

Anna looked away.

“I don’t want to spend whatever time I have left suffering more.”

The room fell silent.

Noah stared at her.

His heart pounded.

Something about her words terrified him.

Because this wasn’t anger.

This wasn’t pain.

This was surrender.

Anna had stopped fighting.

That frightened him more than anything.

Noah stepped closer.

His voice lowered.

Firm.

Controlled.

“You’re not giving up.”

Anna said nothing.

Noah continued.

“You’re getting treatment.”

Anna closed her eyes.

Tired.

So tired.

Mia suddenly spoke.

“And what happens after treatment?”

Noah looked at her coldly.

Mia stepped forward.

“Will you finally choose Anna?”

Silence.

Noah froze.

Mia’s voice sharpened.

“Or will Clara still come first?”

The question hung in the air.

Brutal.

Direct.

Dangerous.

Noah said nothing.

Mia laughed bitterly.

“That’s what I thought.”

Anna slowly opened her eyes.

Then she whispered, 

“Mia.”

Mia looked at her.

Anna’s voice was soft.

“Please stop.”

Mia clenched her fists.

But remained silent.

Anna turned to Noah.

Then she said quietly, 

“I want to rest.”

Silence.

Noah stared at her.

He didn’t move.

Anna’s voice remained polite.

Distant.

“Please leave.”

Noah froze.

Mia looked satisfied.

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

“What?”

Anna looked at him.

No emotion.

No warmth.

Nothing.

“I want to be alone.”

Noah’s chest tightened.

Something felt very wrong.

Very wrong.

He hated this version of Anna.

Cold.

Quiet.

Distant.

He preferred when she cried.

When she argued.

When she begged.

At least then, 

He knew she still cared.

But this?

This silence?

This distance?

It made him uneasy.

Noah lowered his voice.

“I’m not leaving.”

Anna held his gaze.

Then quietly said the words that shook him.

“I don’t need you here.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Noah stopped breathing.

The words hit harder than expected.

Far harder.

Anna looked away.

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“I needed you yesterday.”

A painful silence followed.

Then came the final blow.

“But you chose Clara.”

Noah stood frozen.

Unable to move.

Unable to speak.

For the first time, 

Noah Reed truly felt regret.

And it came too late.