[ wp ] `` You 're gon na miss me when I 'm gone . ''

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 He laid in bed. The leds pulled at his skin, and the tape holding the wires and tubes in place itched. 
 
 `` Do you remember that Sunday after your folks divorced.'' She asked. 
 
 He quietly smacked his lips, slow and with purpose. He swallowed gently and gave her a weak lethargic smile. She sat on the edge of the bed between the nurse and doctor and held his hand. `` You were...'' He breathed shallowly. `` You were wearing the yellow dress.'' He said, smiling. `` With the blue flowers.'' 
 
 `` Yes.'' She laughed, bending low to kiss his fingers. He saw that she was crying and reached up to wipe away her tears. 
 
 `` Careful, Walter. You ca n't move. It's important.'' The doctor told him, leaning forward to adjust the equipment one last time. Walter reluctantly lowered his arm and lay it beside him on the bed. 
 
 `` Sorry, Doc. I was just saying good-bye.'' He murmured quietly. 
 
 `` Walter, you're not going to die.'' The doctor told him. 
 
 He wanted to shake his head and laugh, but instead, he just moved his eyes to hers. They knew the truth. 
 
 `` The rain was warm. You remember that, Walter?'' She asked. 
 
 `` I do. I remember dancing with you, surrounded by flowers and limbs laden and bent from the weight of too much rain. Your hair was plastered, dark and dreadful. Your sundress clung to your body, and I...'' he swallowed and felt his eyes droop with exhaustion. `` fell in love. I've loved you all my life. I loved you.'' He felt tears spill from his eyes and sneak down his cheek and chin and slide beneath his collar. 
 
 `` Okay, Walter.'' The doctor told him. `` It is very important that you do n't move or talk.'' 
 
 `` Will it hurt?'' Walter asked. 
 
 `` You wo n't feel a thing.'' The nurse assured him, taking his hand. 
 
 `` You're going to miss me when I'm gone.'' The girl whispered, standing up. 
 
 He wanted to say good-bye, but the nurse placed a finger across his lips and shook her head. He blinked to let her know he understood and looked back to the girl. She smiled and backed away further. He felt different and closed his eyes as whatever the doctor was doing took effect. He felt pressure but no pain. It went on for several minutes. Walter kept his eyes closed. He felt part of him slipping away, like slowly having having a skein peeled away, then with a victorious groan and grunt, the doctor exhaled in relief. 
 
 `` Got it.'' He said simply. Walter waited for the nausceous feeling to go away before opening his eyes. 
 
 `` She's gone.'' Walter groaned, fighting the burning sensation he knew would end in body wracking sobs. 
 
 `` I know, Walter. Without the tumor, the hallucinations will stop.'' The doctor told him soothingly. 
 
 `` But, I loved her.'' He cried quietly. `` All my life.'' He could n't stop the tears. 
 
 The nurse swallowed the lump in her throat and took her patient's hand. `` I'm sorry.'' She whispered. 
 
 `` If we had waited...'' The doctor said, leaving it hanging. Walter pulled the nurses hand up and kissed it and cried some more. She gave him a brief hug and released his hand so she could start removing the halo holding his head still. `` You still have the memories.'' The doctor told him in an attempt to console him. Walter continued sobbing long after and fell asleep with his tears drying on his cheeks. 
 
 She had been right. He did miss her.
