Author's note: I recommend listening to The Sixth Stop from Spirited Away. And maybe some tissues while you're at it.
It was only a matter of time now.
The deafening silence of the room was killing Cuba on the inside. That monster; that… Thing. Whatever the Hell it was; it had nearly taken his girlfriend's life. And here they were in the Safe Room, him bruised and cut and her bleeding to death.
He didn't know how much longer she could stay with him. He wanted her to at least live a few moments longer. As he held her hand in his large hands, he let the tears fall from his dark eyes. "Babe… I dunno if… If you're still with me, but… I don't want you to go…," he muttered, his breathing shaky. He breathed heavily and continued, "I can't let you die like this… I should be the one on that bed, not you!" More tears fell from his eyes. "So... Please! Don't…" his voiced cracked.
Vietnam awoke from her trance and saw the tears of her boyfriend on his face. She found the strength to lift her hand and entwine her fingers with his. Cuba snapped his eyes open from the movement and smiled weakly. "Why would you sacrifice yourself for me? You had the chance," she said weakly as she wiped the tears from his face with her hand.
"I had to do what I had to do, babe. I couldn't just let you get killed."
"Yes… But I'm dying anyway-"
"DON'T SAY THAT!" he exclaimed with a cracked voice. "You… aren't… dying!"
The Vietnamese woman looked at him with her tired eyes. "I'm sorry, Cuba… I-" she winced from the pain in her abdomen. He jumped a bit from her painful moan.
"Viet-"
She put a finger to his lips and back into his hands. "Don't worry about me… You have to keep going."
He could put the pieces together but he didn't want to. But he had to face it. And let her go.
He leaned down to meet his lips with hers.
"I love you, Luyen…" he muttered before he gently put his lips to hers. "I love you, too, Montiago…" Vietnam replied after kissing.
And slipped away.
The only sound that fills the Safe Room was heavy sobbing from Cuba.