The small living room was filled with the scent of fresh flowers and the soft hum of a classical radio station. Michael sat on the worn couch between his parents, his hands nervously rubbing his knees. His father, George, was propped up with pillows, his skin pale but his eyes lively. His mother, Margaret, rested in her recliner, a blanket covering her legs.
"Well, it's been a while since you brought up someone new," George said with a hint of a smile, his voice still strong despite his recent bout with leukemia. "Tell us about her."
Michael cleared his throat, trying to push away the mix of guilt and anxiety that clung to him. “Her name is Rachel. We’ve been seeing each other for a few months now.”
Margaret’s face lit up, her hands clapping together softly. "Oh, Michael! That’s wonderful! What’s she like? Does she make you happy?"
"Yeah, Mom, she does," Michael said, forcing a smile. "She’s kind, smart... we have a lot in common. We met through some mutual friends."
"Do you have a picture?" George asked, leaning in with more energy than Michael had seen in months.
Michael pulled out his phone and found a photo of Rachel. "Here, this is us at the park last weekend."
Margaret reached out to take the phone, her hand trembling slightly. "She’s beautiful, Michael. You deserve someone like her after… everything."
Michael nodded, his heart heavy. He could see the joy in their eyes, but behind it, he couldn't help but notice how frail they both looked. His father had lost so much weight during his treatment, and his mother’s recovery from surgery was slow, her movements careful and deliberate.
"Do you think... do you think she might be the one?" George asked, his voice a bit softer, as if he knew the weight of the question.
Michael hesitated. "Maybe. I mean, we’re taking it slow, but... yeah, it feels right."
"That’s all we ever wanted for you, Michael," Margaret said, squeezing his hand. "You’ve been through so much. It’s time you had some happiness again."
Michael swallowed hard, trying to push down the guilt. He wanted to be present, to share in their joy, but all he could think about was the future—how he might lose them both soon, how he would have to handle everything on his own. The thought of one of them dying while he was distracted with a new relationship made his stomach churn.
"It’s just..." Michael began, his voice faltering. "I worry about you two. I want you to meet Rachel, but I also want to be here for you. I don’t want to miss anything, you know?"
Margaret’s eyes softened, and she reached up to touch his cheek. "Michael, you can’t stop living your life because of us. We’re still here, and we’re still strong enough to enjoy this with you."
"And we want to," George added firmly. "Don’t you dare hold back because of us. We’ve been through worse, and we’re still kicking. You deserve to find love again."
Michael nodded, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill. "I know. I just... I don’t want to lose either of you. Not yet."
"We’re not going anywhere just yet," George said with a wink. "Now, when are we going to meet this Rachel?"
Margaret smiled, her hand still on his cheek. "We’re so happy for you, Michael. Let us share this with you."
Michael forced a smile, pushing down the fears that had been clawing at him. "Maybe next weekend? I’ll bring her by for dinner."
Margaret beamed. "That sounds perfect."
As they continued to talk about Rachel, Michael felt a small weight lift from his shoulders. For now, in this moment, they were all together, and that was enough. But as he looked at his parents, he couldn’t completely shake the thought of what was to come—the inevitable day when he would have to face the world without them.
But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the light in their eyes as they talked about meeting Rachel. He would let them have this joy, and he would try to share it with them, even if his heart wasn’t fully in it yet.