The Fault in Our Feels
I lay in my hospital bed struggling to breathe. Ever since Gus died, the liquid in my lungs started becoming a big issue. I knew that I was going to die. My mom and dad stayed with me the entire time I was there, begging the doctors to do anything they could. There was nothing left, no more options. But I was okay with that. My mom cried when she thought I was sleeping, I never was. I guess I was a little scared to close my eyes and never open them.
Everyday my mom and dad stayed by my side, afraid to leave me alive and come back to me dead, I assume. I didn't speak, it hurt too much. The liquid continued to increase, my breaths continued to shorten. After about a week I was ready.
"P….ple…" I muttered. My parents looked at me. I tried again.
"P…le…ase." I gasped, started to cough violently. "Let…me…" another gasp, "go…."
They started to cry. My mom kept saying that they'd find a way to help me, that I didn't need to give up. But she didn't understand. It was my time to go. Now. I couldn't stay any longer. Even if they did find a way, I'd still have cancer. I'd still be terminal. A grenade.
"I…..need t-to see….." gasp, "Gus…"
I could feel it. The more I kept talking the more the liquid filled my lungs, the harder it became to breathe. I started to feel light headed, dizzy. I looked at them, my vision blurred. I was crying.
They stared back, mom kept shaking her head as if she didn't want to believe this was happening that it was just a bad dream. To me it was a dream come true. I could feel my vision dulling, lulling me to sleep. Only this time, I wasn't waking up. There was darkness, I could hear people screaming, but it was dull. I knew they were trying to get me back, but I was gone.
I woke up. I looked around. White. Confused, I stood up. Wait. I stood up. I looked around. No tank. I felt my face. No tubes. I took the deepest breath I could. It was amazing. I smiled, and then I remembered. I was dead. I wasn't going to see my mom or dad. Never see a hospital. Never see a doctor. I looked back up.
There was Augustus. Sitting on a bench, a cigarette between his lips. He smiled, waved. I walked over to him, sat down and rested my head on his shoulder. We didn't talk, we just sat there. Then he got up and held is hand out.
"Follow me." I stood up and took it. "We'll be together now."
"Okay." I smiled. He kissed me.
"Okay."
FIN~