FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

24 ➵ A Different Kind of Soulmate

For politeness, I opened it up and pretended to read. I could tell that this was a good sign to Daniel as his posture suddenly relaxed, thinking my mind was distracted. I was anything but. I stared at the table of context the whole time. I didn't flip a page or scan the book, but just stared at the chapter names. It make me feel like there was a bit of order in the chaos, a shield of weariness hidden in the wild.

I notice Daniel soon sit up. I looked to my side, blanket wrapped around his shoulders and a reusable mug in his arms, but he wasn't looking at me. He was looking past me. As I turned around, I noticed the same nurse that had called me before. Without words, she nodded her head gesturing just for me to follow.

The blanket slid off my shoulders, but I didn't feel any new chill. My body's been frozen from worry since the minute I got the phone call from his father. Daniel gave me a small smile before I walked off. My chest didn't burn, it didn't ache, it didn't crack, but it felt swollen. I could feel my chest swelled up, almost like rash, from worry. It almost became hard to breathe.

When I walked down the familiar hallway, the nurse stopped in front of the door and finally looked my way. As she faced me, I finally got to take in her features. She seemed caring, almost noble with job. Her scrubs were an auburn red as small strands had fallen out of her hair from her small bun. She could have been a few years older than Trista, but it was obvious that age was catching up to her a bit sooner. There were decent bags under her eyes, but I didn't blame her. She had been here as long as I have, probably longer.

"Could I see him?" I spat out eagerly.

"You'll see him," she started a bit weary before grabbing my hands. "I saw you when that other boy grabbed you out of the room. I heard you. I'm guessing the young man with epilepsy was very important to you."

I nodded quickly and her smile was so soft, so sweet. "With my job, I do a lot of observations. I could tell you meant a lot to the young man as well. I mean, his parents didn't allow any other visitors in the room except you. Friends, distant cousins, no one. I think they didn't want anyone else to see him in that state besides you."

It was obvious that I wasn't quite sure where this conversation lead up to. "What are you trying to say?"

She closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm sure he loved you deeply."

"Loved?"

I felt myself sinking lower and lower into that very ocean.

My arms pulled away from hers before jolting into the cursed room. The mother was chanting prayers over and over against Charlie's chest as Mr. Gray gripped both his only son and wife. The thing is: the room was so incredibly quiet. No more beeps. I looked to the machinery next to the frail boy, and it was flat. There was a gasp so quiet, but in the mist of the silence, it was the only thing his parents hear.

"Is he?" I couldn't say it.

Mr. Gray nodded slowly.

I felt all my fragile strength disappear.

There was a buzzing through my ears. I could feel myself sobbing, but I didn't hear it. I wasn't sure when this happened, but my body reached over to Charlie's gripping his cold hands. I kissed them, praying he'd suddenly awaken to my touch.

He didn't.

I felt robbed. A treasure was stolen. My goodbye was stolen. My time with him was stolen, limited. I didn't even realize I was on a ticking clock when I was with him. Every moment, every memory suddenly became more and more treasured in my mind, but at that moment, they were just fuel to my insanity.