What Allison Said | ✔️

i

"allison?"

"hmm?"

my voice is muffled

by my mouth pressed against the fabric of your hospital gown

as my head lies on your chest

and i thank my lucky stars that it's still moving up and down.

"i have to tell you something.

they don't want you to know, buttercup, but you need to know."

you take a deep breath.

i'm staring now, my eyes wide and breaths uneven.

i know it won't be good news.

"allison, promise not to cry?"

i promise.

"allison, my allison. i..."

your voice breaks and i keep staring

because now i'm really afraid.

"i... they say i have serious brain damage, allison. they say... they say there's not much hope."

your voice gives way completely, and your eyes succumb to the tears.

i can't feel anything.

i can't breathe.

parker.

i need you.

i need you like people need air, like daisies need rain, and i need you.

you can't leave.

the world needs you in it.

i bury my head in your neck in attempt to stop your sobs,

and i break my promise.

i can taste the salt on my lips, from the water running down my cheeks

and i don't bother trying to stop it.

we lie like that for what seems like hours

but really is mere seconds

because our time together is ticking

before the doctors find me, and take me away.

"you promised you wouldn't cry."

the ghost of a smile traces your lips,

and i know it's because you knew it was an empty promise.

you're fragile, lying there and i don't want you to break

so i lean closer

as if pressing our lips together will fix you

and i hold onto that

even though i know it won't.

our breaths mingle

and i can't tell if i'm tasting salt from your tears

or from mine.

we fit together perfectly, like two pieces from the same puzzle

but the kiss is bittersweet

because we both know

it could be our last.

when we break apart

you're still staring at me,

your eyelashes saturated in water,

and you're holding my hand

and i never want to let go.

that's how the nurse finds us

and she tells me quietly that i have to go

but i'm lucky that she's nice,

because when i ask for five more minutes

she closes the door

and leaves us alone.