Red. Blood soaked through the fabric of her white tank top. She gasped for breath as she sank to the grimy cement floor of the alley. Her hands shook as she held them against the stab wound in her side. In a panic she fumbled with the knife in her belt and threw. The throw was wobbly but true and she heard the satisfying wet thud as the blade settled into her attackers heart. With one hand still pressed to her side she weakly pushed herself so her back was against the brick wall. Her breathing was more shallow and labored then before when she heard running footsteps coming nearer. She heard her name shouted aloud in recognition and alarm by the only voice she wanted to hear.

"No! No! No! Stay with me!" He pleaded. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall.

He ripped open her shirt and took off his own. She hissed in pain when he pressed hard against the wound using his shirt to soak up the blood. He kept up a constant stream of 'Stay with me's' and, 'You're going to be fine.' And her name always her name.

Pressing hard with one hand he lifted the other covered in blood to push her hair back and put his hand on her cheek.

At his touch she opened her eyes and her breathing slowed. Her expression was pained but her eyes were fierce and alert. She stared at him with a lover's intensity and he stared back his hands still futilely trying to stop the blood.

Her intensity began to dim as she started to give up. He shook her shoulder more roughly than necessary, "No! Don't you give up on me! I love you! Do you hear me?" he said to her angrily tears now streaming in grimy tracks down his face.

Her mouth moved silently trying to form the words. She blinked slowly again and again. She forced her eyes open again and she stared at him again with a fire in her eyes. She opened her mouth once and gagged on the words she couldn't speak.

"You can do this." He said fiercely.

Her brows furrowed in concentration, "I love you." She said in a rough weak voice.

Her eyes slipped closed again. He patted her cheek with his bloody hand and her eyes fluttered open for a second and closed again.

He sobbed watching as she faded in and out of conciseness, quickly he squeezed some of the blood out of his ruined shirt and pressed it even harder against her side.

He looked up at her face just in time to see her eyes open. She gave him a knowing look and forced her mouth to open and try to speak, but she was too weak.

She closed her eyes for the last time. Her last breath came out in a soft sigh and her heart stopped beating.

He dropped the blood soaked shirt to the ground and dragged himself to the wall. He put his hands on either side of her face and closed his eyes the tears stopped flowing for his grief was beyond tears. He touched his lips to her forehead one last time and stood.

"I will never love anyone else like I loved you." He said to the dead girl at his feet.