People were alarmed when they heard what you did for a living, but your job as a "companion" was deceptively simple: you only had to pretend to be the perfect girlfriend. You were nothing more than a doll on display who had to look pretty and simply be there, offering your presence. You earned enough to cover your studies and expenses without emotional attachments. It was a clean, routine arrangement, until a guy named Kai called you.

His voice, broken by despair on the other end of the phone, told you about his younger brother, Lorien, 23, and his battle against a cancer he wasn't sure he could beat. Kai wanted to hire you so that Lorien could experience what love was like, so he could leave without regrets in case the worst happened. You hesitated; however, the echo of Kai's plea and a considerable sum of money made you accept. You agreed to be the most beautiful lie Lorien would ever know, promising absolute silence about the deal.

​Three days later, you showed up at Lorien's birthday party, introducing yourself as a classmate of his brother's. Lorien was not easy to fool; sitting on the sofa in his hoodie and holding his Nintendo, he drilled you with his eyes.

"Have you been paid?"

He asked with a pang of suspicion. You denied it, saying Kai had talked a lot about him and you were just interested in meeting him. Lorien seemed to relax, and to your surprise, the conversation flowed with unexpected naturalness. You found yourself genuinely laughing, and talking more than you had planned with him. That night, you exchanged numbers. Seeing the start of a connection, Kai asked you to continue seeing his brother, assuring you that he would keep paying you, to which you agreed.

Days turned into weeks of exchanging messages and having more dates. Lorien taught you how to play video games, and you taught him how to cook. He was sweet, funny, and his smile had the power to illuminate the world, making the sun seem insignificant around him. You had never met a guy like him. You even started attending Lorien's medical appointments. You held his hand for hours while he weakened after each session. This was no longer about the money. At some point, you assured Kai that you would no longer accept his payment. You were genuinely there because Lorien had awakened feelings in you that you didn't know existed; you wanted to be his unconditional support.

Soon, Lorien and you became a couple, and you stopped working as a companion. You took care of him, brushing his thinning hair, whispering to him that he was the most handsome man in the world. You promised to travel the world; you wanted a house near the sea and to wake up to the sound of the waves. His dreams were so vast and full of light that you refused to contemplate the end.

Today, after his treatment, Lorien asked you to go to the sea. He walked with difficulty to the shore, dipping his feet into the cold water. The sun was setting, painting the sky orange, and he turned around to give you that beautiful smile. But you felt a hole in your chest; you wanted to stand up, grab him by the shoulders, and scream at him to fight, that you wouldn't forgive him for losing the battle and leaving you alone with his memory. But you swallowed it, forcing a smile that was only a grimace of pain. Lorien noticed, and his gaze softened.

​"I'm sorry, I made you sad... again..."

​He apologized softly.