Chapter 119: The Practical Proposal

The on-going beep from the medical instruments was a rhythmic reminder of the fights being fought within these sterile walls of the oncology ward. Olivia sat in the waiting area, her fingers absently tracing patterns on her well-worn sketchbook. She had just finished another round of treatment, and the old friends of exhaustion and nausea were making their unwelcome return. The soft touch on her shoulder made her look up. At her side stood Nathan, with his face generously smiling and the thick folder clutched under his arm. "Hey," he said softly, sitting beside her. "How are you?" Olivia mustered up a weak smile. "I've been better. But then, never so bad." Nathan nodded, and his eyes said they understood perfectly well. He'd been there through most of these treatments; he'd been a presence in the storm of her illness outside the doctors' offices as well as inside. But it was something else about him today—flitty, nervous energy—that she couldn't quite place. "I have something I wa