I could end it all right now…and would it matter? Brooke Davis considered the sheer possibility as she slowly lowered her body to the ground, tears beginning to form. Would anyone actually care if I was gone?

"Brooke?" Peyton's voice called out from behind the bedroom door.

"Go away."

"Brooke, please. Don't do this, let me in."

Tears streamed down Brooke's face as she struggled to lift herself up off of the floor. It's impossible for you to succeed, Brooke. You know that; especially after what you just found out.

"Shut up!!" Brooke cried out. "Shut the hell up!!"

"Who are you talking to?! Brooke, seriously…let me the hell in!!" Peyton yelled frantically. Her fist made contact with the door several times.

The voices inside of Brooke's head swirled. She tried to control them, but they wouldn't stop. I have to tell her! She's my best friend….

You know she won't care. All she cares about is Lucas and you KNOW that.

That's not true. She's always cared about me….

Did she care about you when she left for Vegas to marry Lucas?

She didn't know then…none of them know.

You're a disgrace, Brooke Davis….

"I'll seriously get Lucas to come and break the door down if you don't let me in RIGHT now!" Peyton interrupted.

The voices inside her head diminished as she slowly pressed a shaking hand into the ground and pushed herself up. I can do this…who the hell are you kidding? No, you can't. Her legs slowly moved, although she couldn't feel them. The numbness wrapped around her entire body, leaving her locked and suffocating. Trembling, her fingers wrapped around the doorknob, and slowly turned. She watched the look on Peyton's face change upon seeing the blood dripping down her wrists. The world titled and began to spin; then all went black...

Am I dead? The thought poured through her mind as she desperately tried to open her eyes. Why can't I move? That's when the harsh reality hit her. The problem was that none of it mattered anymore. She couldn't go back and changed what she had done and she couldn't erase her horrible fate. I thought it would easier to end my life then deal with the pain and now I'm in the hospital…almost dead.

"I should have been a better friend!" a woman's voice sobbed.

Who is that?

"Peyton, you are an amazing friend. You called 911 the second the door opened and you saw her," a man gently replied.

Peyton? Peyton, its Brooke! I'm alive, Peyton!

"But…but I should have done something, Lucas!"

Lucas? Lucas and Peyton! They don't realize I'm here. They can't hear me. If I can just make a noise… anything….

"You did your best, Peyton, ok? We've got this, and when she finally awakes, we'll take care of her…come here…"

"No! You know, one time I yelled at her. Screamed at her that people always leave me and she's a selfish bitch for not realizing it. In reality, I'm the selfish bitch. God, Lucas! I never paid any attention to what was going on with her. She ALWAYS tried to talk to me and I just dismissed it like it was no big deal. Well, NO more…I'm not being that person anymore. I-I can't lose her, too, Lucas…I-I c-can't!!"

She could her friend's sobs as they coursed through her, unable to reach out to her and it killed her even more inside. I should have told her! I should have told her everything!

Did you not just hear her? Even she admitted she doesn't ever listen to you, Brooke…she's a selfish bitch!

Why won't you ever shut the hell UP!?

Because I'm YOU, Brooke. I'm your true self…I'm what you really feel, and until you start realizing it, I'm going to haunt you, even if you die. I'll haunt you in your damned sleep.

Oh…

"Lucas! Lucas, look her finger just moved!" Peyton cried.

"I don't know, Peyton…the doctors said that—

"I know what the hell the doctors SAID, Lucas…but I'm telling you she just moved! Don't you care at ALL about her?!"

"I'm going to go talk to the doctors…will you be alright?"

"Yeah, you can not believe me all you want, but I know she just moved."

"I believe you. It's why I'm going to go talk to the doctors, ok? And for the record, I care a hell of a lot about, Brooke…more than you think."

"Yeah…"

Brooke tried desperately to believe her finger had moved and that her friend was right, but the more she tried to move, the more frustrated she'd become. If she was able to cry, she was sure she'd be hysterical and the tears would fall like powerful waterfalls unable to dry from the hot sun. Damn this all to hell! She suddenly felt something wet roll down her eye. Is that me? Am I crying? Oh, please, God! I'm begging you to give me another chance! Let me see the light again! I'll do better next time…I'll fight! Please…I'll tell her…just please let me wake up from this darkness and I'll tell her!

"Brooke? Oh my God, Brooke, I'm here! It's Peyton. If you can hear me, I'm SO sorry I wasn't there for you like I should have been. But I can't lose you, Damnitt…you can't leave me! Please! I-I-n-none of anything matters in my life if you aren't here…n-n-not even Lucas!! I n-need you…"

"P-Peyton?" Brooke's voice came out raspy and in a whisper. Slowly, but surely a soft light filled her eyes as they slit open.

"Oh my…B-Brooke, I'm so sorry…I-I love you…I-I'm s-so glad you're ok an-and I-I…" Peyton sobbed.

Brooke watched through dark-rimmed eyes and felt Peyton wrap her arms around her sobbing. She knew it would break her best friend's heart when she told her…she felt her own tears finally running quickly done her face. Here is goes….

"Pey..Peyton…"

Brooke felt Peyton lift her head up and watch as she pushed back some of her curly blonde hair. I…I can't do this. It would have been better if I had died like I planned!

"Brooke…w-what is it?"

"I-I…Peyton…"

Just as Brooke mumbled out the words that stunned Peyton to the core, Lucas walked in with Haley.

"I-I have br-brain cancer…it's…and I-I have a year left to live…"

To be continued….

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