Four Months Later.
%%%%%----Zack
I held Riley's hand as she slept. She only wakes up for about 15mins, before going back to sleep. She hasn't got out of bed in two months.. I'm scared.. for the both of us..
Dad walked into the hospital room. "How's she doin'?" He questioned.
"Same. Been asleep all day..." I huffed out in a sadden tone.
"Son. It'll be okay.. she's strong." He layed his hand over my shoulder. Dad.. has been like a father.. he also has been here everyday standing by my side.
I gleamed down at Riley. "I know.. I just hate all the wires and machines they have her on.."
"I know you do. Look, why don't you go and get something to eat? I'll stay with Riley."
I nodded my head, and bent down to give her a kiss. "Call if she wakes up. Okay?"
"I'll call."
@@@@@----Riley
It felt as if I've been here for years.. just laying around.. how everyone else is living their life's. Usually I'm up.. sleeping, it's as if I can hear people.. but can't open my eyes. There like heavy blankets and I'm safer underneath them.
Sometimes when I open my eyes.. I can see Zack, smiling at me.. but all in the same It makes me sad, because I want to walk about.. with his hand in mine.. I miss laughing.. going outside, school.. gosh!, never thought I'd say that.. It's bad when you don't even know what season you're in.
"Thank you Riley.. I don't know what I'd do if I hadn't met you.. " I could hear a voice again.. a deep, soft, voice.. I can't picture the face though? 'But whoever they were.. they were thanking me.. "I was in a bad place.. drugs, women, a whole lot of things.. I'm surprise that I'm not dead yet.." The man laughed. "You saved me.. you told me that I could fix our cup.. and I did! I've never been happier.."
I had to open my eyes.. I saw Zackary's father.. and smiled. "I'm glad.." I got out in a husky voice.
He looked down at me and rubbed my head. "This shouldn't be you.. you're so great."
I blushed.. while shaking my head. "That's why I'm dieing.." I took in deep breaths.. trying to get out my words "Even though I.. think you're... over... exaggerating." Mr. Connor grabbed my hand.. and I smiled.. "Don't... Worry... I'm... Fine.."
"Just take it easy.. try not to talk as much, okay?" His voice was calm, which made me think of Zackary. Mr. Connor Laughed and smiled down at me. "You're thinking about my son."
"How.. can you tell?" I asked.
He bent down and whispered. "How can I not? Your face glows.. but don't worry.. he does the same thing.."
I couldn't help but blush.. he thought about me? As much as I thought about him?
"Really?" I looked up at Mr. Connor and closed my eyes. "How.. is he?"
"Worried sick. Like the rest of us.. But.. holding on. He just left about 20mins ago to go and eat."
"I.. wish.. I.. could talk.. to him." I smiled, trying to breath as I talked. It was getting harder for me.
Mr. Connor pulled out his cell-phone and dialed a number. "Hey, Connor.. someone wants to talk to you."
Zackary's father reached me his cell-phone, I layed it against my ear. "Hey, Zackary."
"Hey, Are you feeling okay?" His voice made me feel so safe.. I wanted him to be with me.
"I'm.. fine. Head hurts.. but fine."
"Maybe you should sleep? Stop your head from hurting." His worrying voice came through the phone.
"I like the pain." I said with a smile.. closing my eyes.
"Pain only makes it worse Riley.."
I stopped him. "No. If it hurts.. that's then I know I'm still alive." I started to fall asleep.. "Do you.. know.. what's so great... about that?"
"No.. I don't." His soft voice rung out into my ear.
I felt myself falling.. I took a heavy breath as my head started to ease.. "Seeing you.."
%%%%%%-----Zack.
"It's good that she's been waking up like that right? Even if it's for a second."
"Zack. There's no way.. I've been doing this for a long time.. It's simply her body.. coming in and out of it.. to weaken herself.. until she..." Dr. Workman stopped. Water forming in her eyes.
I nodded my head. "You don't have to say anymore..."
Her eyes beamed at me as tears fell. "Thank you Zack.. but you mite want to get in the room in case she wakes up.."
****
"I'm going to stay the night with her.. you need to go home and sleep anyway.." Cassy's shy voice rung.
I took a deep breath and took my hand over my face. I can't stay here everyday.. but I can't leave Riley.. "I can't Cass.."
"Yes you can, and you will.. if you think that it's hurting Riley's feelings.. you're wrong.. she'd rather you be happy than anyone here.. and for you to be happy, you have to be healthy.. so go.. and eat, get cleaned up.. and sleep.. I won't leave her." Cassy eyes told me she was speaking the truth.. so I nodded my head and walked out.
*****
I went home and cleaned up with a hot shower.. the tried to sleep.. but Jay walked into my room.
"So... how is she?" He questioned.
I huffed out a breath.. looking him dead in the eye. "Dieing.. she's been for 11months and a week."
His eyes looked broken. "You know that's not what I meant.."
"No! You ment if she was dieing more right?" I screamed out
Jay moved to my bed. "I know how you feel.. when I was gone two years ago.. right before I came back.. I fell in love. Her name was Addie. She had short black hair.. with these popping brown eyes. I don't even like brown eyes.. but on her.. they were perfect. I couldn't help but laugh at the way she walked.. she looked like a duck." Jay laughed sadly. "We met in the winter.. Christmas eve. She bumped into me.. she dropped everything, so I bent down and helped. She told my about her son.. she had him when she was 17. His name was Holden. Holden Wade."
"Jay.. I don't get why you're.." He cut me off right as I got it out.
"She died. And.. I couldn't do anything about it. In a car wreck.. I went to the hospital.. and she was awake.. and the Dr.s couldn't do anything more to help. I ran to her side.. and held her hand.." Tears were rolling down his face. Jay has never told me this? "I told her that everything would be alright.. and she just smiled.. with her eyes tired, she told me to take Holden.. that she loved me.. then she left me.. she died."
"I'm sorry.. you've never told me.." I said with a worried tone.
He wiped his tears away.. "I got Holden.. then they came back.. and took him from me.. that killed me.. because he called me daddy.. I was his father.. because I asked her to marry me.. right after she told me that she was going to have my baby." Jay got up from my bed and walked to the door. "I didn't just lose one person.. I lost three.. and I couldn't do anything about it.. Connor., get some sleep, and we you wake up.. Riley will still be in that bed. She's not leaving without you. She won't."
@@@@@@-------Riley.
"Riley.. I'm sorry.. I was so mad at you for not telling me.. now you're leaving me.. I won't have you to hang out with anymore.. no more laughs.. no more hugs.. no more long talks.. no more you." I could hear Cassy talking to me.. I could tell that she was crying..
"Cass... I'll always.. be here." I said in a soft sad tone. Breathing hard, I opened my eyes to Cassy smiling down at me in tears.
"Riley? I'm not ready to lose you." Cass said stroking my face with her warm hand.
I smiled. "You're not.. losing me.. you're... letting.. me.... fly."
"I alway's thought we'd fly together.. never thought you'd fly away.. and I won't be able to see you."
"Look.. to the.... moon.. I'll... be looking... down to you. That's.. when.. you can.. say.. what's on you're mind.. I mite not... answer.. but... I'll be listening.. always." I closed my eyes.. smiling. "Just.. be.. happy.. live.. without worrying.. and when you fly.. I'll be waiting in the garden.. with mom."
"Riley.. you can't go right now.. there's other's who need to meet you.. you have be in my wedding! You have to hold my hand when I find out that I'm going to have a baby! You have to be there when my daughter goes out with the player, telling me how to handle it! You can't leave.. without living.!" Cassy whispered in a harsh voice.
"Cass.. I'll be there.. even if you don't know it.. I'll be there.." She held my hand crying.. I started to fall to sleep.. saying, "I.. have lived.. now... it's my time... to...."
%%%%%%-------Zack.
A Week Later.
Today was the day I first met Riley. I can't believe it's been a year. I remember it like it was yesterday.. is it bad that I wish I could go back? To see her smiling.. and joking around.. where she was healthy.. well looked healthy anyway. I wish I could just go back.. where I could spend more time with her... I would do anything just to have her standing.
"Hey man.. how you feeling?" William's voice came out from behind me.
I turned around and gave him a hug. "I'm alright.."
"So.. are you coming today? To the dance? We always go.."
"Nah.. I'm going to stay with Riley.." I stared down at my
Will shook his head. "Alright.." He was walking before he stopped at the door. "Connor.., what will happen when she's gone? You can't stay by her grave forever.. she wouldn't want that.."
***
I sat by Riley.. thinking about all we've been through. Thinking about what Will said.. was he right? I gleamed down at Riley, kissed her on her forehead and stood, walking to the door.
"Zack.?" I heard a soft, weak voice and I turned to see Riley looking at me. I smiled.. going to her side.
"Hey.. are you okay?" I asked.
She nodded her head. "I'm fine." Riley smiled. "Were you going somewhere? Because... you don't... have to stay with me... I don't mind."
"No.. I was going to get some water..that's all."
Riley reached for my hand. "I'm sorry...." Her eyes pleaded for forgiveness..
"Why are you sorry?" I questioned. Giving her a confused look
"You're here.. because of me.." Riley closed her eyes. "I don't want you to stay here everyday..I want you to have fun... what will happen when I die?" She laughed a sweet melody. "It's not like you can stay at my grave forever..."
"That's just what Will said..right before he left for the dance.."
"He wanted you to go with him to a dance? What dance was it?" Riley questioned with a weak smile.
I kissed her cheek. "Riley.. do you know what today is?" I wondered.
She laughed. "Zackary.. you're talking to a girl who doesn't even know what year it is.. more less day.. it feels like I've been here for years..."
I smiled.. "Today's the day we met.. a year ago, which is the night of the Winter-Fall Dance."
"Remember.. when you came in.. with blood running over you., because you tried to stop a fight, ended up getting in your own." She laughed. "I flirted with you.. so.. bad!.."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry.. I flirted with you too.." I gave her a wink which made her blush.
Riley's gave a sad look.. "This time, last year.. everything was so different.."
"I know.. " I heaved out a breath. Everything was perfect then.
@@@@@-------Riley.
I was looking into Zackary's eyes. I know he hates this. I know he wishes thing's to be like they were.. I feel horrible for not being able to make it perfect as it used to be. I put my head down, giving a sad look. I felt tears starting to fall, as I tried to hold them in. Zack looked at me and lifted my head up with his soft, strong hands.
"Hey.. what's the matter?" He looked into my eyes. "Did I say something wrong?"
I shook my head lightly. "I was just thinking about how you should save the best part about yourself, for the person who deserves you.." I held my eyes tightly closed.
"When are you going to give that up?" Zack's words pierced through my heart? I gave him a heart-broken look.
"What?" I whispered.
"For a single moment I want to feel like the universe isn't about to crush me and my heart isn't about to explode! I want to kiss you and tell you not to go.. and you would smile.. and tell me that you're fine! That you won't leave me.. that you won't die of the face of the Earth!" Zack's voice kept getting louder.
"I want to hold you in my arms and know that you're not going anywhere! Riley.. I just don't want to lose you.." His voice went soft.
I placed my hand over his face. "Zack.. nothing last forever." I let the tears fall.. "Not happiness, not sadness, nothing.., not even this moment.."
Zackary started to say something before I started again., "I promise.. I will never forget the day we kissed or the day we met. The sky may fall.. the earth may burst into flames, but in the end I will still love you.." My eyes started to get heavy.. I shook my head.. "But.. you promise me.. that you'll move on.. that you'll grow old.. with your beautiful daughter, your handsome son's.. that will look just like you, and your grandchildren running around to drive you crazy.. and your amazing wife., that you'd be lost without her.. When I say goodbye promise me you won't cry., because the day I say it.. will be the day that I die.. promise me that when I die.. that you won't forget all the other people who loves you."
"Riley.. I can't.."
"You.. have to.. Zack.. promise me.. please.."
Zack leaned down and kissed me. "I promise.."