Stay

The leaves clung onto the branches.
In early May.
The leaves, as if painted on a canvas,
Vivid red, yellow and hints of orange.
My world so bright, 
But so left behind.

My lover, his eyes gentle brown,
His smile, sliding across his face.
From then on I knew,
Love couldn't wait.
We met in late December,
Christmas around the corner.
A box of chocolates and a christmas reindeer,
Labeled: Secret Admirer.

Granted, we were.
As we held each other's hand,
Because no one else would.
and we felt the happiness bloom.
"Hang on a moment."
I said, hesitating.
January.
The start of a new year.
Granted, was a shallow word,
So shallow, that we would never know,
What it had really meant.

The year passed,
too quickly,
too fast.
I only remember his laugh,
a melody faintly ringing.
It was like we were running,
and he was dragging me along.

But as the weeks passed,
We were nearing autumn,
and his life melted inside him.
The twinkle in his eyes vanished.

I was scared.
I was afraid.
As we sat in the waiting room,
the cleanliness of the room triggered me.
My lover, so brave, so beautiful,
stood up.
He was called and he walked.
I was waiting.
So solemnly.
Waiting.

He came out and my heart dropped.
His face,
frowning like he would never see the bright side
of the sun.
Ever again.
"I have....."
He couldn't say it.
The doctor said it for him.
"Glioblastoma Multiforme, Brain Cancer."

Crying was a stranger that I had to welcome,
whether I wanted to or not.
It was never meant to be.
My lover left me.
"Stay," I pleaded knowing that he couldn't.
"Stay," I repeated.
Don't let go.
My lover left me.
Just when the leaves started to be painted,
just when I thought life on the canvas couldn't have been.
More beautiful.