5 Things That Never Happened to Chas Chandler (In Progress)
1. Requiem
It happened so quickly, it seemed like a dream. One day, John was (mostly) the picture of health and snarkiness. The next day, he could barely move from his bed. The coughing fits shook his entire body and his face was deathly pale.
When the blood started looking fresher, Chas carried John - over his protests - to the infirmary. The doctors did what little they could to soothe the coughing and the pain, but they all knew it was a matter of time now.
Chas never left John’s side, unless forced to by bodily necessities. He ignored his cursing at everything in the world, letting him rant it out. He held him when he cried, whispering endearments and words of comfort. He read Paradise Lost when he was tired, though the prose gave him trouble at times.
On one of his trips back from food, he ran into Mark. Mark looked worse then he did, Chas was certain. He looked even skinnier then he had been and there were dark circles under his eyes.
"Roger," Mark said quietly, his voice strained with emotion.
"John," Chas nodded. There was nothing more that needed to be said.
When John died several days later, Chas sat dry-eyed through the makeshift service. His only goal was to get through the day in one piece. And in truth, he’d been prepared for losing John since the note he’d found in his cab during John’s first bout with the cancer. John had won that round, but it had only delayed the inevitable.
It was only after Roger’s funeral that Chas surrendered to his grief. He’d tried to hold on for Mark, who was visibly exhausted and close to the edge. His determination had failed him at the grave site, and when Mark broke down, he did as well. They clung to each other, sharing their grief and seeking support. They would have to go on. Best friends always do.