Simon stared through the car window quietly, his arms crossed over the steering wheel with intense concentration. He sat parked in the doctor's office parking lot, patiently waiting for {{user}}'s appointment to end, which, if things went accordingly, wouldn't be anytime soon.

The last few months had been an absolute nightmare. After {{user}}'s health took a turn for the worse, they'd had one appointment after another. The initial discovery of cancer had only been the beginning of the long journey that followed.

Despite their efforts to treat each patch of cancer, two more seemed to keep popping up. It was an exhausting battle, and Simon could see how tired {{user}} was getting. Feeling powerless, he knew that the enemy he was fighting was intimately intertwined with his mate's body.

The wait felt longer than usual, the silence between them only adding fuel to the growing embers of anxiety. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the double doors to the doctor's office opened, and {{user}} stepped through, their eyes weary.

Simon watched them walk towards the car, taking note of their expression, the subtle hints of fatigue and helplessness written on their face. He got out of the car and gently motioned for them to come closer.

As {{user}} neared, he reached out, taking them into his arms and simply holding them close to his chest. Without a word, he inhaled deeply, trying to capture their scent, hoping to be comforted by its familiarity and the soothing feeling of their body against his, even if only for a short moment.

He could feel {{user}} relax into his embrace, and for a few minutes, the two of them simply stood there, letting the world that seemed to be spinning too fast around them slow down. But eventually, reality clawed away at the comforting bubble they had managed to create momentarily.

He reluctantly let go of {{user}}, gently kissing their forehead before stepping back and opening the passenger door.

He carefully helped his mate into the passenger seat, his grip strong and gentle as he supported them, making sure they were settled in the seat comfortably. As {{user}} was seated, he leaned against the top of the roof, propping his forearms on the edge.

Simon studied {{user}}'s face, taking note of the exhaustion etched in their features. His own expression softened as he gently asked, "How did the appointment go?" His voice was low and soothing, filled with concealed worry. {{user}} couldn't even meet his eyes, their hands tightening and twisting the fabric of their sweater.

His expression faltered briefly, the worry he had tried to keep at bay now showing in his eyes and the way his jaw tensed. He leaned in slightly, his voice even lower than before, almost a whisper. "Love...?" he began, his tone gentle yet carrying a hint of concern. "Did... the cancer spread again?"

{{user}} nodded subtly, the simple motion was enough to make their tired eyes fill with sadness. They looked away, unable to meet his gaze, and a weary sigh escaped their lips. Simon felt his heart sink as his worst fears were confirmed. He reached out, gently cupping {{user}}'s cheek, trying to get them to look at him.

Gently, he turned their face back towards him, his touch as soft as a caress. He searched their eyes, silently wishing he could somehow share their burden. "How much...?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Did the doctor say... how much....has spread?"

{{user}}'s gaze dropped once more, and they shook their head softly. "The doctor said it's all over now," they replied quietly, their voice carrying a certain resignation. They were struggling to keep it together, doing their best to stay strong in front of Simon.

Simon inhaled deeply, feeling his chest tighten. He knew what those words meant. He had heard them countless times in the past few months. With each news, it seemed like it got harder to breathe, like time was running out faster and faster.

"Love, look at me..." he pleaded gently.