Just This Once
She sat quietly in the corner of the hospital waiting room wishing for her usual drink of vodka and soda and her cigarette. The chase was over. She doesn't hold back her tears as it rapidly runs down her cheeks, mascara smearing her makeup. She seems to be reminiscing of days gone by.
Jarod was her best friend when they were ten years old. A "DNR" sign in dark print is attached to his chart.
"And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." (Kahlil Gibran)
As she walked into his room, Miss Parker begins to tremble. He can almost feel her hand in his, fingers interlocking the warmth of her hold. He feels the love she's been holding in for so long finally coming into surface.
He is fearful that he can never reciprocate his feelings out loud. She holds on to his hand, afraid of letting go, for fear if she does, he will die. Her blue eyes filled with tears as it slowly falls down her face and onto the white coverings which covers his body.
"Jarod," she whispers so close that he can feel her dark hair brush against his face. "I love you," she murmurs into his ears. He lies there lifeless. She sees tears in the corner of his eyes and gently wipes it away with a kiss.
"Just this once, tell me you love me." Her voice cracked as her cries deafens the sounds of the monitor reading his heartrate. "You run, I chase. Who won?"
"Do not leave me here all alone. You hear me? Say something, say anything." But, she thinks he is unaware of situations taking place at that very moment. Yet, she talks to him, caresses his face, runs her fingers through his hair and gently plants soft kisses on his forehead, cheeks and lips.
He seems to be screaming inside. Yet, no one can hear him. "Melissa. There is nothing more I want to do than to hold you in my arms and tell you I love you." She can't hear him. Instead, her head is leaned down onto the bedrail and she sobs quietly. "Don't you know? Don't you know I love you? Don't you know that by now?"
Take me now in your arms
And hold me ever so tight
Promise to never let me go
I want you for all of my life
Hold me, take me
Love me tonight
With you by my side
I will love you for all of my life
"I'm sorry," she spoke gasping for air. "I'm so sorry I never told you how much you mean to me. You are my life. I don't know what I would do without you. Tell me what happens now?"
"Melissa. Oh, Melissa. Can't you hear my thoughts? Can't you feel my soul? I'll always be around. I won't be going anywhere. It's just that I'll be hard to see sometimes."
"If I could tell you "I love you,"...just this once...If I could hold you...just this once."
His last thoughts are of her. Then, in a split second, his mind goes blank. The monitor blinks into inactivity.