AN: Obviously, according to the title, Leslie never dies. This chapter starts of with Chapter 11 of Bridge to Terabithia: No!. Most of it (the recognizable parts) was written by Katherine Patterson. I just made a few changes.

Something whirled around inside Jess's head. He opened his mouth, but it was dry and no words came out. He jerked his head from one face to the next for someone to help him.

Finally his father spoke, his big rough hand stroking his wife's hair and his eyes downcast watching the motion. "They found the Burke girl this morning down in the creek. She's in a coma and it's virtually impossible that she'll ever wake up."

"No," he said, finding his voice, "Leslie wouldn't drown or anything. She can swim real good."

"That old rope you kids have been swinging on broke." His father went quietly and relentlessly on. "They think she musta hit her head on something when she fell."

"No," he shook his head. "No."

His father looked up, "I'm real sorry, boy."

"No!" Jess was yelling now. "I don't believe you. You're lying to me!" He looked around wildly for someone to agree. But they all had their heads down except May Belle, whose eyes were wide with terror. But, Leslie, what if you die?

"No," he said straight at May Belle. "It's a lie. Leslie can't be dying." He turned and ran out the door, letting the screen bang sharply against the house. He ran, trying to run faster and faster, until he would cease to be mortal and earthbound, until he would fly. Then his spirit would join Leslie's in a place beyond death, beyond hardships and loss, in Terabithia. Then they would be together, and Leslie would not be dead. Ever. But as he blindly ran on, he felt himself tripping over stones and his own feet and anything else in his path. He stumbled on, somehow knowing that if he ran enough, he would reach a place were Leslie Burke was still alive and well, not lying in a hospital in Arlington, slowing drawing her last tortured breath.

The rest is the same until Jess finishes eating breakfast the next morning.

"Your mother and I thought we should go down to the neighbors and pay respects." His father cleared his throat. "I think it would be fitting for you to come too." He stopped again. "Seeing as you're the only one that really knowed the little girl."

Jess couldn't comprehend what his father as saying to him. He felt so stupid. Why did he feel so strange? "What little girl?" He mumbled it, knowing it was the wrong thing to ask, but what could he do? He didn't know any little girls other than May Belle and Joyce Ann, and why would his parents have to go to the neighbors' to pay their respects for them, especially since they weren't dead?

His father leaned down to the table and put his big hand on top of Jess's. He gave his wife a quick troubled look. But she just stood there, eyes full of pain, saying nothing. Ellie and Brenda looked at him in disbelief.

"Your friend Leslie is about to die, Jesse. She's gotten worse. She won't survive. You need to understand that." Jess got up from the table. He went into his room, returning with a windbreaker on. "I know it ain't easy-" His father's voice broke. "You ready to go now?"

AN: This chapter is not really like the ones that I usually write, but the next one will be. It'll be longer and won't be exactly like the original with a few changes. It will be mostly me.