Annabeth cried out in agony as she heard his heart stop beating. She looked at her agenda for the day and cried out again as she saw his name. PERCY JACKSON was written in clear letters. Annabeth wept and put her head on his chest. She closed her eyes to block out the bright green color of his shirt—they reminded her too much of his eyes. She had never felt this way about a patient before. Her heart had never torn this way. But this time, with this particular patient, for once, it wasn't the patient who had a wrecked heart—it was Annabeth.
He had asked her out, it was true, but Annabeth, like an idiot, had refused. She had vowed to herself that their relationship would be on purely professional terms. Both of them knew that it was impossible… they were much too close for that. But Percy, like the selfless, loyal, person he was, had played along. He never again tried to make a move on her. They had been through so many happy times—most of those times involving laughter. Despite having a failing heart, Percy always stayed cheerful. He knew he was going to die, yet he kept the attitude of living every single day as if it was his last. Annabeth knew this fact as well as he did, but she had never expected to be hearing his heart sputter and die. But life was harsh. She did hear his heart, and she also heard his last words:
"Annabeth, don't feel bad. I know you will. But you tried your best. Your love is what kept me alive—I hope my love for you is enough to keep you alive, too. I love you." And then.. the only sound she heard through her stethoscope was silence. No beating heart. Nothing. Just silence. And the roar in her ears of anger. Her body burned as the fire within her rose to her head.
Annabeth felt the anger in her spread throughout her head. She hated life. She hated everyone and everything. She hated herself the most, though; she was the one who had failed someone she cared about. Her heart began to beat faster and faster as she recalled all the happy times she and Percy had shared—and now they were all gone. All because of her failure in being unable to save him. She heard, through her stethoscope, the unhealthy pace of her heart, but for once, she welcomed that sound in her stethoscope. Finally, her heart hitched. Her heart skipped a beat, and she recognized the signs right away. Annabeth had never expected herself, the best heart doctor in San Francisco, to have a heart attack and die, but it was happening, and as it happened, she felt relieved, as the fire within turned to ice.
