One Day More

"What happened?" Doctor Whale said as he looked through the EMT's clipboard.

The EMT replied, "Husband was driving home from work, when he got there, she was just lying on the ground. He tried to wake her up, but she didn't move, so he called us. He said they talked on the phone ten minutes before he got home."

"And how long has it been since you picked her up?"

"About ten minutes," the EMT said, "She's still unconscious."

Doctor Whale nodded and pointed to the elevator, "Get her stabilized, or at least try to. I'll be right there. Where's the husband?"

Killian raised his hand; his eyes were puffy and red, his hair a mess, and his face full of fear. He rubbed his mouth as a shot of despair filled him, causing him to fall to the floor. He sat on the ground and began breaking apart, "I tried holding the tears in, but I can't help but think she isn't coming back."

"What's her name and age?" Doctor Whale asked as he helped Killian up.

"Emma Jones, she's only 34."

The doctor patted his back and invited him to sit, before he ran down the hallway and into the room where the EMTs wheeled Emma to earlier. Killian pulled his knees up and hugged them in his chair, his head sinking between them and his heart sinking in his chest.

He sat still for fifteen minutes, thinking of the worst possibilities. She was so young, they were just married. She didn't deserve to die. Emma had a beautiful soul - she cared about everyone in her life and cared about them more than she did for herself. She didn't do anything to deserve to die, especially at such a young age.

Then again, bad things always happen to good people.

Killian stood up and started to pace the lobby, holding back the several tears that were aching to rip away from his eyes. He rubbed his palms to calm his nerves, but nothing seemed to work.

A nurse came out of Emma's room, "Mr. Jones?"

"That's me, yes."

"You can go in now."

At her words, Killian ran past her and into Emma's room. She was hooked up to many machines, half of which he didn't know what they were. Grief overtook him as he ran to her, grabbing her hand and slightly shaking it, hoping that she'd wake up.

Doctor Whale came into the room behind him, "She's not doing too good."

"What do you mean? Is she dead?"

The doctor came and sat down beside Killian, writing something down on his clipboard, "Well, no, but she is in a very delicate state now."

"She's going to die isn't she? This is all my fault," he said, "If I hadn't taken the damn promotion and stayed the extra hours after work, I would've been home and been able to help her. Who knows? Maybe she was calling for me before it happened and I wasn't there to catch her."

"Mr. Jones, I have to ask you some questions," Doctor Whale said, "But it's best if you answer them calmly. Don't blame yourself."

Killian sat down in his seat and didn't let go of Emma's hand, "Sure."

"Does Emma get headaches or migraines frequently?"

"How frequently do you mean?"

"A few times a week." He said.

Killian nodded and bit his lip, "Yes, is that bad?"

Doctor Whale didn't answer; he just scribbled on his clipboard some more. Then, he looked up again and said, "Are you two currently sexually active?"

Killian almost choked on air, "Well, yes, but she's on birth control, so-"

"Just what I suspected." Doctor Whale scribbled some more and stood up.

Killian stood with him and followed him to the door of the room, pulling on his shoulder, "What's that supposed mean?"

"It was a stroke, Killian." Doctor Whale said, "People who have migraines frequently - ones with aura, which I'm assuming she's had - and who are on birth control are more prone to having a stroke. This gives her a higher risk for getting a blood-clot, which causes a stroke."

"Is she going to be alright?" Killian asked.

Doctor Whale stepped out of the hospital room, "Only time will tell."

As he left, Killian felt a part of him break off and flutter into nonexistence. A stroke. He hadn't known about them, except for his little knowledge because of his mother having one. All he knew was that you didn't have to die from a stroke, but it was possible. Something so simple took her just like that. It was in a matter of seconds. Or maybe it wasn't. Maybe it had been building up for so long and it was waiting for the perfect moment to hit - the moment where the couple was their happiest. Killian had just gotten a promotion, they were discussing coming off the pill so they could expand their family, and Emma has just reconnected with her parents. The stroke had stayed quietly under the radar all that time and hit right when it hurt the most.

Killian sat down in the chair next to Emma's bed and grabbed her hand, sinking down and not letting go, but then fell into a deep sleep.

"Killian." Her voice rang through the air.

He spun around, looking for her everywhere, but she wasn't in his view. He cried for her, "Emma, my love! Please wake up, please come back to me."

She appeared in front of him; she was dressed in a white gown that had light pink flowers scattered on it. Her hair, all curled into a beautiful masterpiece, her eyes, a light green like the spring leaves, and her smile, genuine, happy, and sad all at the same time. She reached for his cheek and whispered, "I wish I could."

Killian reached for her, but his hands went right through her image, "You really are gone, aren't you?"

"It's my time, Killian." She sighed and rubbed his cheek with her thumb, "I'm sorry I could make a future with you."

"Don't be sorry, wake up." Killian begged.

All she did was shake her head, but he continued to beg, "Please wake up! I can't live without you."

"Wake up, Killian." She said.

He shook his head, "No, don't make me. I won't unless you do, too."

She smiled sadly and took her hand off his cheek, letting it skim down his arm in the process. Then, she blinked a couple of times and blew him a kiss, "You have to continue your life, Killian."

"I can't, Emma."

"Wake up, Killian." She said.

He shook his head once more, "I won't say goodbye."

"You know how terrible I am at goodbyes, so let's just say this is a new beginning," she smiled and stepped back, "A new beginning for you."

Before he could respond, she was disappearing from his sight. She disappeared in ripples like rocks skimming in the water. He reached for her, his heart and hands yearning to hold her once more, but she was gone.

She was gone for good.

"Mr. Jones? Wake up."

He'd never see her again, would he?

"Sir?"

The love of his life was gone.

For good.

He was shaken awake by Doctor Whale, who was sweating a bit and seemed a little overwhelmed. Killian cocked his head to the side and opened his eyes to see a few nurses surrounding Emma. He stood and was immediately held back by Doctor Whale, "She's gone, Killian."

"No, Emma!" He struggled to push past the doctor and through the group of nurses. Emma was unplugged from all of the machines, and she was just lying there, a lifeless body. A lifeless body that meant more than the world to him, that created so many memories with him, that was supposed to be his future.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jones." One of the nurses said.

"There's nothing more you could've done?" Killian said as he turned back to Doctor Whale and grabbed his lab coat. Killian eyes filled with water as he clenched the doctor's collar tighter.

"We've done all we can."

He pushed the doctor away from him and ran back towards Emma, who was lying still on the hospital bed. As much as it pained him to do so, he grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles - the last time he would ever get the chance to.

"There has to be something else you can do." Killian begged.

The doctor placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezed it gently, and then whispered, "I'm sorry Mr. Jones."

A single tear fell down his cheek and onto her face, and then suddenly, time froze.


"Killian? How about you skip work today?" Emma yelled up the stairs.

He laughed as he tightened his tie and came down the stairs, "You know I can't do that, love."

"Please?" She said, combing her fingers through his unbrushed hair, "Just today?"

"Emma, this is my job we're talking about." He said, brushing a piece of lonely hair behind her ear.

She made a pouty face and then patted his chest, "If they really want you to take that higher position, then they'll be fine with you taking one day off."

"I guess so," he said before slipping the tie off his neck, "But not one day more."

She pulled him into a savory kiss, something she knew she'd never experience again.

Something she knew she'd never share with him ever again.

Something she knew she'd miss after she passed away again later that night of a stroke, at the age of 34, while he's on his way home from work, ten minutes after their phone conversation, because of her migraines and her use of birth control.

Something she wouldn't do in the dream he has of her, because she knew if she did, he'd never let go.


A/N: Hello all! This is based on this prompt I found online somewhere:

"I died and came back and now I get to relive my last day with you knowing I'm going to die and you know nothing and I can't prevent this and you're just so happy I'm here and you have no idea what just happened and your heart is going to be crushed all over again" au

I hope you all follow me on this story ;) It's going to be a rough walk from here.

XOXO