"It's a brain tumour," Max was saying. Michael could barely hear him through the fuzz that filled his head. This was like some sort of nightmare. "I was at the hospital, visiting my uncle George who's a patient there. I saw them Maria in her room, her mom told me when I asked."
"How?" That was all Michael managed to ask. Max interpreted that as how did she get so sick so soon, but what Michael really meant was, how could this happen to someone like her? How could this happen to him?
"They don't know," Max said in a hollow voice. "There were no symptoms, save a few headaches in the past month or so. But, all of a sudden, she had a seizure yesterday and collapsed. Liz called an ambulance."
Michael realized it had likely been when he had heard the noise in the back at the Crashdown, and he had just walked out. "How long does she have?" he asked in a voice devoid of happiness.
"They aren't sure," Max said, "The tumour has spread so much already. It could be 6 months, it could be tomorrow."
"Can't you do something?" Michael asked, "You healed Liz from a gun shot wound, this should be child's play to you."
"I can't," Max said.
"Why the hell not?" Michael demanded. "Is it, you 'can't' or you 'won't'? Maybe because she's not the one you're in love with?"
"I can't Michael," Max said angrily. "My God, don't you think that if I could do anything, I would? She's saved my life, I would gladly do the same for her. It's not im my abilities. I prayed last night to develop some power that could heal her, but I didn't. Not even the healing stones will work because she's human!"
"Oh Lord," Michael wanted to let his knees buckle underneath him and collapse to the floor as the full weight of the situation hit him. All his previous strength seemed to have left him. But, he wouldn't let this touch him. He had walked away for a reason. This changed nothing, it couldn't.
He cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice from betraying the urge he had to cry. And urge he had never felt before. "Let's go to breakfast. Is and Tess are probably waiting," Michael said to Max, averting his eyes from his friend as he pulled on his sneakers.
"That's it?" Max asked in surprise as Michael pulled the key to his apartment that hung by the door of it's hook. "That's all you've got to say? You love her Michael, and all you've got to say is 'let's go to breakfast'? Aren't you going to go to her before it's too late, tell her you made a mistake?"
"No," Michael said shortly as he ran his hand through his mussed up hair. "I'm not."
"Why the fuck not?" Max fumed. He never usually swore.
"I'm not Max, leave it alone," Michael said stonily, refusing to look at him still.
"How can you be such a bastard?" Max asked, "I know you're not the warmest person on the face of this earth, but I never expected this even of you. She loves you Michael, and she's not going to be around for much longer. Even if you dislike her, can't you have the decency to make the last days of her life happy ones?"
Max didn't see Michael coming. One minute he was fuming at his friend, the next he was pinned up against the wall. "Don't. Ever. Say. That." Michael seethed, his hands on Max's jacket lapels as he emphasized every word. Max could see the depths of emotion in Michael's eyes. "I'm not doing this because I'm the unfeeling bastard you seem to think I am, I'm doing it for her own good. I won't make her days happy ones. I'm not good for her. I may be a son of a bitch, but I won't apologize for it. I left her for her safety, and her happiness. I won't spoil that just to satisfy some need of mine to see her. If I loved her any less, I would go to her in an instant. Don't lecture me on being unfeeling Max, cause the problem is, I feel too much."
Max didn't have a chance to say anything before Michael released him and walked out the door, leaving Max staring after him in astonishment. He had no choice but to follow.
TBC........
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