".........." Ryker was silent as he heard what Eke said.

"Great." he said.

"Flipping... just flipping wonderful." he growled.

"How long have you been like this?" he asked.

"Because this is NOT healthy. At ALL." he insisted.

"Condition or not, the fact that you're like this is bad. Extremely bad."

Ryker returned the hug, but remained silent for a bit... before shaking his head and following.

"Ah, right." he said.

"Here." he told him, handing him a small box.

When Eke took it, he saw what it was immediately. It was a cell phone. Not just any cell phone, but the latest smart phone, touting an 'unbreakable' glass screen, and the latest in wireless innovations.

"So we can keep in contact." he said.

"It's already activated and good to go, along with screen protector and case." he added.

Ryker was happy that Eke was pleased, but his smile dissipated when the coughing started again.

"I can afford it." he said.

"Like I said, my job pays me a lot, and I got a small paycheque because I started work close to a pay date. So they just gave me a smaller one, instead of tacking it onto my next one." he explained.

"But it was enough to get us both phones, and a plan for them." he told him.

"My number's already programming into it." he added with a large sigh.

As he was laying there, he received a series of texts. From Ryker.

All I want is for you to be happy. it read.

Health or not, my worries or not, fill your life with the quality you deserve. If you like Aly so much, go and see her. the next one said.

We both know your time is unknown. Try and fill it with as much as you can. the last one told him.

He received one message in return.

I love you as well. was all it said.

Ryker then looked at the phone in his hands, before sitting back on the couch.

"...hey." he then said.

'Yeah?' the other him responded mentally.

"...would alcohol do anything for me?" he asked.

[i['Yeah, probably.'[/i] the voice responded.

"Cool." Ryker replied.

'Keep in mind, I can make it worthless with just a thought.' the voice then warned him.

"...good to know." was all Ryker said with a sigh.

When he made his way downstairs, he saw that Ryker wasn't home. But there was a pizza box on the kitchen table, with a note on it. Inside the pizza box was half a meat-lovers pizza, presumably for him.

At work, Eke.

Remember your date at 7 tonight, at the bookstore.

You'll be gone before I get back, but I'll be home before you get back from your date with Aly.

If you need me to be there in your place for whatever reason, call or text me and I'll make sure Aly knows what's up.

Take care of yourself and have fun.

-Ryker the note read.

This time, Aly had beat him there.

She was sitting at one of the tables, and saw him come in.

She smiled and waved to him.

She almost called out to him, but stopped when she realized she would be too loud.

With that, she merely smiled and waited for him to approach her.

Aly chuckled when she heard that.

"A good long sleep is always nice." she said.

"And you look really nice. You look a lot better than last we met." she then commented.

"I've been looking forward to this." she then said.

"I could hardly sleep last night due to excitement." she admitted further.

Again, Aly giggled.

"Well, we can take a nice peaceful walk." she suggested.

"We can go to a nice little bistro that I know of. They have wonderful paninis." she went on.

"..." she was then silent for a moment, before she snapped her fingers.

"Oh!" she exclaimed.

"Right, I have something for you." she told Eke, as she started to rifle through her shoulder bag.

Aly dug for a few more seconds, before pulling out what looked to be a box of herbal tea.

"I make herbal teas." she told him.

"I made you a blend to help with your... condition." she said, a little sadness in her tone.

"It won't cure you... not by any stretch, but it'll make your symptoms a little more bearable." she continued.

"Just... a little something I can do to try and help." she finished, handing it to him.