I hear a voice come from my side. I open my eyes to see my younger sister standing beside my bed. She's frail looking, with an IV in her hand. Her OZ pajamas are extremely worn and hang off her body.

"You look horrible."

She smiles because she's trying to hide her pain and fear.

"You're not looking too good yourself."

Suddenly I remember I was attacked this morning, yet at the moment I don't feel any pain. They must have given me some great pain killers.

"You ok?"

I can see the tears forming in her eyes. She's more worried about me than herself. She must be adopted, because she's the only one in my family who truly cares about me.

"Yeah, sweetie, I'm fine. I'm going anywhere."

I motion for her to get on the bed and lay down. I want her to be close. I want to smell her hair, feel her skin, and hear her heartbeat. I want to protect her the way I did when we were younger.

"Come on, you can't hurt me."

I feel her gently get on the bed and lay down. Her head rests next to mine and I finally feel safe from harm. I feel like I've become whole again.

"Casey, um, may I ask you something?"

I know that tone. She doesn't want to be rude with a question that is important to our relationship, but she wants an answer. This is a life question for her.

"Sure."

"What did you think of when you were attacked?"

"You…"

I know my answer came out fast, but that's what I though of as I lay 'dying'. My sister is the 'love of my life', the person I would die without. I'll admit I hated her when she was born. Then everything changed when I almost lost her. I was twelve when I found her five-year-old body motionless on the couch. I tried to wake her, but I couldn't. I called 911 and rode with her to the hospital. The said she had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. When I realized how sick she was and that I could lose her, I started to show her I cared.

"Chels, my greatest moments in life involve you. Who else would stand beside me no matter what happens?" You'd bail me out of jail, or better yet you'd be in there with me. I never would have passed the Bar exam on the first attempt if you hadn't helped me. I love you. You're the angel at the end of the dark tunnel."

I pull her head onto my chest and let her listen to my heartbeat. I know she's crying. I can see her body trembling.

"My heart beats strong because of you. You make me live longer than I should. I owe you my life."

I rub her back softly to calm her down. She's so child-like when she's in this state. I use to hold her in my arms to help her go to sleep years ago, when she was in the hospital.

I became a prosecutor six years ago and our time together became scarce, but I always come to see Chelsea on the weekends to tell her what went on during the week. She finds law fascinating and listens to every word I say. She voices her opinion on how I should go about a case. I hate to say it, but I usually take her advice and screw it up. She definitely knows more about law than I do.

"Casey, I'm sorry."

I'm taken aback by her words. She hasn't done anything wrong.

"You have no life because of me. I take up all your free time. You need that time to spend with friends."

I hug her close. I can smell the honey shampoo from her hair.

"Shh… It's ok. You're all that matters to me."

I know she's releasing all sins before she sleeps. She never knows if she might die in her sleep.

"I love you, Casey."

"I love you too, Chels."

I feel her fall into asleep. She's in angelic peace, far from her pain. Her mind is free from thought and her dreams are full of happiness.

Something inside me says to join her in that perfect dreamland. I close my eyes and give one last prayer before drifting off to sleep.