17 The Rainbow Painting

Over the past 24 hours, Pallas stayed beside Athena's side and wouldn't leave. She didn't want to be away from Athena, the one she could call her other half. She waited and waited but eventually fell asleep.

Then she suddenly woke up due to a slight movement.

Jolting awake, she immediately focused her eyes on Athena who woke up.

"P...pallas." Athena managed to say.

She felt tired, it was as if she was being dragged down, as if she was on her deathbed. Athena looked around and realized she was in the hospital, her arms were attached with tubes and there was even a heart monitor. That was when she realized her time was coming, her inevitable death was coming soon.

"Athena, you're awake." said Pallas.

Athena looked at Pallas and suddenly felt even worse, there were tears forming in her girlfriend's eyes.

"I'm...sorry." said Athena.

She tried lifting her arm to wipe Pallas's tears but she had no strength at all, she could only move her hands.

"It's okay Athena, I know why you didn't tell me." said Pallas.

That was when it everything hit Athena, she never actually told her about the disease she had. She had to be on her deathbed in order for Pallas to figure it out. Athena couldn't imagine the pain Pallas went through, tears had started forming on Athena's eyes.

"I'm sorry..Pallas." croaked Athena.

"I already said it was okay, you don't have to explain." said Pallas getting up from her seat and wiped Athena's flowing tears.

Athena could never thank god enough for giving her such an amazing girlfriend.

"How much longer...do I have left?" asked Athena.

"2 hours at most." replied Pallas.

Athena and Pallas's heart both pained at the fact that she had 2 hours left and she was stuck to the hospital bed. However, they decided to make the best of it. Pallas started telling stories about herself as Athena listened with a smile.

Pallas actually grew up in a poor neighborhood, it was even hard to have hot water to shower. Her parents worked at different stores and would come home late at night tired just to provide family for their home. They were nearly on the verge of going broke when her father was able to get the job he wanted.

It was to become a worker for the one of the richest departments owned by CEO Williams, someone who was extremely wealthy and influential across the world. My father began working for the department and his salary started going up since he was always hard working. When he had enough to put Pallas in school, he made no hesitation and immediately did it.

When Pallas first went to school, she was nervous and didn't know anything since she was home schooled due to the conditions of her house. As the days went on, Pallas became a cheerful girl and made numerous friends. Her father started getting more money and her mother also got a job that paid well.

Everything started getting better for Pallas, however, her parents had to work too much and they started prioritizing that over her. Since then, Pallas would always be by herself in her house and her parents would leave money for her to buy food. Years passed by and it kept going like this, she thought it was going to be like this forever.

But it all changed when she transferred high schools and met her, Athena. When Pallas first saw Athena, the first thought that came to her was that she was isolated from the world. It was like no one paid attention to her and she wouldn't pay attention to them either. She wanted to get closer to Athena and became friends with her. Pallas was surprised that Athena wasn't a total anti social but her responses would be plain.

As they kept hanging out and talking to each other, Pallas would start enjoying everyday because of Athena's presence. Over time, Pallas fell in love with Athena, she knew she was into girls since she never paid any interest towards boys, but she was scared about if Athena liked her back or not.

But those fears all faded when Athena confessed to her, she was filled with tears of happiness that her crush had finally loved her back. Each day was filled with happiness and joy but not everything goes the way you want it to.

And that brings us back to the present.

"Did you enjoy it?" asked Pallas.

"Of course, it was about you after all." said Athena.

They both smiled at each other as the sun started setting in the window.

"I don't have much time left." said Athena.

"I know." said Pallas.

The monitor that displayed Athena's heartbeat was lowering.

"I want to thank you Pallas for allowing me to feel love. I don't regret a single day being with you, loving and being with you was the best thing that's ever happened to me. So can you do me a favor?" asked Athena.

"Anything for you." replied Pallas.

"When I pass away, I want you to be happy."

"Since you asked, I'll try to."

"Thank you."

As the sun set, they shared one last passionate kiss as the lines on the monitor went flat.

"Maybe in another life, we can be together." said Pallas as she stared at her girlfriend's lifeless body.

Thus, Athena died on March 20th, 2022.

A new spring started for Pallas, a spring without Athena came to be.

.

.

Over 10 years have passed since Athena's death.

Pallas was now 27.

She had actually became a doctor and helped research on the disease that killed her girlfriend. After 5 years of studying, they were finally able to find a cure. They started treating everybody who had the disease and saved countless lives. She was a famous doctor and was known across the world for her skills and intellect.

Pallas lived happily, it took over 2 years to get over the death of her beloved girlfriend. But after taking therapy and meeting new people, she started getting better and better.

"Hey Athena, you would've been 26 right now." said Pallas.

She stood in front of Athena's grave as the sakura blossoms started falling. She wanted to put their grave here since it was one of the places that fitted Athena well.

"Although I'm happy and gotten over your death. I'm still in love with you, falling in love with someone else just isn't possible, you were unique. And don't worry about your car, I'm actually driving it and my skills might even be better than yours." chuckled Pallas.

"It's been 10 years since you're death eh? Time surely flies by quick. It's June 21st, 2032 now."

"A new spring started and now it ended."

"One day in another life. I wish we can meet again under these sakura trees." said Pallas.

With one last prayer, she turned around and started to leave...

...

Pallas turned around and started to leave, school had just ended and she wanted to check out the the cherry blossoms that was going to bloom this year.

Since she was so excited, she started running towards the place. Once she made it there, she was amazed by how pretty everything was. Staring at the trees, she suddenly bumped into someone.

She had short black hair along with purple eyes.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." said Pallas.

"It's okay, I wasn't really checking where I was going either." said the girl.

"No really, it's my fault."

"Didn't I say it was mine?"

They both stared at each other and started laughing.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Athena, what's yours?"

"I'm Pallas, nice to meet you too."

"Since we're both probably checking out the cherry blossoms, want to go together?"

"Definitely."

They started walking around and sightseeing.

Somehow, it felt as if they knew each other for an entire lifetime but they both new they had just met.

Thus, a spring filled with another story began...