"Sam, come on. Open your eyes," A voice said. It was hard to understand, like when you're underwater and you hear someone talking. I can't tell who it is, but I know the voice is familiar. I want to comply, to open my eyes, not only to find out who was there, but because of how desperate the voice sounded. And this feeling. I feel that I need to please this person.
"Sam if you can hear me, please come back to me," the voice was so hopeful. I know that tone. It's the tone that's used when she's trying to be happy and pretend everything's okay. The one she uses when she's about to breakdown. The one that Andy uses. The desire to open my eyes grows tenfold as I realize she's the one with me. She's begging me. That doesn't make sense. Why does she sound so destroyed? She moved on, didn't she? With Nick Army Boy Collins? I guess I shouldn't blame her. I did first with Marlo. But that's not exactly true, is it? I didn't move on. I pretended to. Every time I imagined my future, it was with her. No. Not Marlo. Andy. Andy McNally. My rookie that became so much more. I loved her. I still do. But I pushed her away. I did. I ruined this. I need to fix it. I need her.
But that's not fair to her. Maybe she really did move on. Maybe Nick is to her what she is to me. Maybe I threw away my chance. I need her to be happy. I already caused her so much pain. She's been through too much. Maybe Nick is better for her. I can't just charge my way back into her life saying I need her and I love her. I need to do what's best for her.
"Sam please," she sobbed. Oh great, she crying now. I guess she must care. And then the ambulance ride came back to me. "You're my story," she said. "I love you," she said. She loves me. She still loves me. I still have a chance. I won't let that go.
"Sam please just squeeze my hand," Andy said. With those words, I could feel her hand in my limp one, squeezing tightly. Holding on to that hand like it would stop me from going anywhere. To stop me from leaving her. I tried with everything I had and managed to give the tiniest of squeezes before I was completely unconscious again. As I was drifting away, I thought with all my might, I'm never letting go of you Andy. Not again.