I have something.

Two weeks passed.

Grace was reading the same book and was talking to Alex.

Eventually she smiled. "What do you want to do when you grow up?"

Alex had been answering this question everyday now and expected it.

Alex's cheeks had a red tint to them as he blushed. "I… I have something."

Grace was taken aback. She smiled happily. "Really? You do? What is it?!"

Alex's face turned bright red and he ran away while screaming. "I-I'm not telling!"

Grace laughed. "What's up with him?"

The scene shifted again.

It was another month later.

Alex was doing the dishes while Grace read the same book.

Alex looked over and asked. "Why do you keep reading the same book over and over?"

Grace looked up and smiled while scratching the back of her neck. "It's my favourite book."

Alex hummed. "But… if you want to be the smartest person in the world… wouldn't it be better to read new books."

Stunned, Grace didn't respond for a while. Eventually she started laughing. "You're right, but, for some reason I can't stop reading this, even if I know I should read other things."

Alex started to think. Then he smiled. "Perfect."

Grace looked over at him. "What?"

Grace saw Alex smile for the first time. "That makes it easier for me to become smarter than you. Because I'M going to be the smartest person in the world."

Grace's body trembled and tears fell from her eyes. She ran over to Alex and hugged him.

"I believe in you, Alex. I know you can do it!" She exclaimed with teary eyes.

From that day on, not only would Grace look after Alex, but she began to teach him things. She tried to get him to read, but Alex admit that he didn't know how in embarrassment. Grace laughed and happily taught him.

A year later.

Alex and Grace were sharing a meal and laughing together as Alex asked more questions about farming and how to grow plants.

Grace answered with a smile.

Alex shoveled more food in his mouth and spoke up. "You're so smart… how are you not already the smartest person in the world, Grace?"

Grace smiled. "There are plenty of people out there, and many of them are smart. Doctors, scientists, politicians, kings, advisors, and many more! All of them are smart! But they all know different things. So, it's hard to say which one is smarter or who is the smartest. That's why it's hard to know if I'm the smartest in the world or not."

Alex nodded in understanding before giving an innocent smile. "Then, I just need to be smarter than them all! I'll become the best doctor, scientist, politician, king, and advisor! And all the others! Then, I can be the smartest person!"

Grace paused for a moment before laughing. "You're right! Hahahaha!"

Alex smiled proudly.

Suddenly, Grace coughed violently. She spit out blood all over her food.

She looked at Alex sadly as her eyes slowly closed before her body slumped and her head hit the table.

Alex panicked and ran over, doing everything he could to help.

The scene shifted.

Alex was sitting beside Grace's bed with puffy eyes.

Grace looked down at him and smiled sadly. "It's time. I wish I could have stayed with you longer."

Alex had watery eyes. "Why? Just go to a doctor! You said they were smart! They can fix you! I know it!"

Grace shook her head. "They can't."

Alex replied in a desperate voice. "You can't leave me! It's not fair! You saved my life! Don't just leave! Y-you can't… please… please Grace… please don't leave me… w-what about being the smartest in the world? Y-you … you have to do it!"

Grace gently stroked his cheek while scratching the back of her neck. "It's fine. You're going to do it for me right? So, don't ever stop. Keep pushing forwards, Alex. Don't ever stop like you did back then."

Alex started bawling and shaking his head.

Grace smiled. "I'll … tell you a secret. The way to become the smartest." Grace grabbed Alex's hand. "All you have to do is learn new things everyday. Every single day, even if you can't read a book, or listen to a teacher. All you have to do is learn something, you can learn things in millions of different ways. You can learn from mistakes, you can learn from experiences, you can learn from watching other people, listening to them. Every single thing you do or see is a lesson, and every single moment you are alive you are learning new things. So… to become the smartest… you just need to keep living. Survive, Alex. That's what you need to do to achieve your goal. Even if its just one more year, one more month, one more day, one more hour, one more minute, even just a second. Every second you stay alive, the smarter you will become. So, promise me this. You will survive, the next time you are standing on a rooftop, don't think about falling off… because if you do… then you can't witness this beautiful world… you can't become smarter."

Alex started shaking.

"The next time someone kicks you in an alley. You kick them back, fight, if not for yourself, then for your goal. To survive for even one more minute, to get smarter. And if not for that, then do it for me, Alex. Live for me, fight for me, and survive, so that you can fulfill my… no… OUR wish. Promise me to survive."

Alex's tears started dropping to the floor, forming a puddle. "I- I WILL! SO DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE!"

Grace closed her eyes and smiled, satisfied to part with this world after hearing Alex's answer.

"Alex, do you still hate sunsets?" Grace asked.

Alex shook his head. "N-no. I don't. Y-you showed me their beauty. Y-you… you saved me from the darkness. You sheltered me from the cold. B-because of you… because of you I think they are beautiful now!"

Grace's hands were already limp. She didn't reply to Alex… She couldn't reply.

"G-grace?" Alex said as he tugged on her blanket. "G-GRACE! ANSWER! PLEASE! DON'T… DON'T LEAVE!"

Grace's lifeless body shook as Alex attempted to wake her.

Alex fell to his knees. His gut twisted and his stomach churned. He had never felt anything like this, such a visceral feeling of despair. He used to feel numb, like nothing mattered, but now he felt like his chest was a pit, an abyss.

He had been given a heart, only to have it ruthlessly ripped away by the woman who gave it to him.

Alex couldn't hold it in. His body reacted to the feelings he felt in his heart as he hunched over and threw up.

He couldn't stop. Almost like his body was trying to rid itself of this new feeling. Trying to push everything out.

His tears continued long after he had emptied his stomach. Alex clasped Grace's cold hand with both of his and touched his forehead to the back of her palm as he bawled.

"I promise. I promise. I promise. I promise…" He repeated over and over, until his body ran out of tears to cry.

Alex woke up in a pool of his own tears. He noticed one thing beside him.

It was Grace's favourite book. Alex read the title for the first time in his life and gasped.

[Cancer: Hypothesis on a possible cure.]

Alex clenched the book in his hands tightly.