Life doesn't end when you breathe your last. It ends when the hearts of those you love cease beating. Mello didn't remember who wrote this, but it was true. He blinked, trying to fight the burning sensation in his eyes. He glanced once more at the TV. There was no mistaking it. It was his car on the screen, riddled with bullet holes. He couldn't even think his name if he was going to succeed with his no emotional break down plan. Mello tried not to, but he couldn't keep his eyes from wandering to the body lying against the car, the familiar striped shirt now stained with blood. He choked back a strangled sob, refusing to break. Mello felt his mind being assaulted
by memories. Memories of him.
Mello remembered the feeling of being weightless, cradled against something warm. He could hear something beating, a soothing rhythm. He forced his eyes open. The last thing he remembered was a explosion and then…nothing. He looked up, seeing red hair framing a concerned face, gentle green eyes focusing straight ahead, hidden behind orange goggles.. Mello felt a slight rocking motion. Is Matt….. carrying me!, he thought, feeling a slight blush rising to his face. Matt fumbled with the keys, trying to open the door. He opened it and walked in, gently lowering Mello onto the couch. Seeing Mello awake, he frowned. "Mello, what were you thinking! You could've been killed!", he said softly, concern coloring his low voice. Mello glared at him defiantly. "I had it all under control." he said, his voice dangerously quiet. Matt narrowed his eyes, but sighed and took off his goggles. He got up and went into the bathroom, coming back with peroxide and bandages. He sat down beside Mello and began dressing the wound. Mello gripped Matt's free arm, grinding his teeth against the pain. Matt finished quickly, smiling sadly. Mello glanced down, noticing he was still gripping Matt's arm. He looked up into the green eyes he hadn't seen in so long. He spoke so softly he wasn't sure if Matt could hear him. "Thanks, Matt. I missed you.''
That memory was replaced by a sweeter memory of a the first time he kissed Matt. He was curled up on the couch with Matt, his head resting against the redhead's chest. Matt was gently stroking his blonde hair. Suddenly, he had an idea. He tilted his head up, gently pressing his lips to Matt's. He felt Matt tense up, but then relax as Mello licked his bottom lip. Matt opened without hesitation, touching his tongue against Mello's. it was the kind of kiss that Mello would remember forever. The kind you see in movies, but you never think will happen to you. It was a kiss of pure love.
The memories flashed by, torturing Mello's mind. He noticed that his hands were shaking and his breath was just as shaky. He could practically feel his heart crumbling into a thousand pieces. He left the pieces where they fell, because he knew if he even attempted to reconstruct his heart would mean accepting that he was actually gone. Then, he felt his phone vibrate. It seemed odd that something as irrelevant as a text message could come through when his world was coming to an end. He picked up the phone and read the message. His voice hitched in his throat. Four words that rebuilt at least a portion of his heart. I love you, Mello. He checked the sender and sure enough there it was. His name. Matt's last words to him.