Laney's heart monitor was the only sound in the otherwise silent room. Kin, Kon, and surprisingly Larry, had all come to see her. The doctors didn't want to let us in to see her. They said she was in really bad shape, but when we wouldn't go home they finally let us in. Now, we were all just sitting here in silence. No one dared speak, and that was fine with me. We sat that way for about two hours until Larry piped up.

"Hey, I'm gonna go to the cafeteria. Anyone want anything?"

"Actually, I think I'll go with you." Kon quickly replied, jumping up.

"Yeah, me too." said Kin.

"What about you Corey?" Larry asked, emotion showing on his face for once.

"Ghhhn…" I grunted.

"Ok, then. Let's go, guys." They all turned and left. I turned my attention back to Laney. Suddenly, the time between beeps became longer. Oh no! Her heart was slowing down!

"Laney," I pleaded, "please don't die on me…please…" The beeps became gradually more distant until, finally, it stopped altogether. She flat-lined on the table. "No!" I screamed. She was gone. This was all my fault. "Laney, I'm so sorry. Sorry I was so blind. Sorry that I never told you how I felt before. I…" I paused, searching for the right words. Lyrics started formulating in my head.

"Young Laney Penn,

Born from darkness and gloom.

Oh, how I wish,

It was me instead of you.

Poor Laney Penn,

I found you in the dark.

You lived in oppression,

And always in our hearts.

Sweet Laney Penn,

Freed by hard sacrifice.

You did what you could,

Wipe those tears from your eyes.

Lost Laney Penn,

Longed for freedom above.

Compassion or friendship,

wisdom or love.

Strong Laney Penn,

Risking freedom and health,

Went back to her father,

But I could not help…"

The emergency staff came rushing in. I sat there, numb. Why her? Why now? Laney she was so young, so caring, so…everything. And now she's gone, and it's all my fault. The minutes passed slowly as they tried to revive her. Then, I heard the words I was dreading the most. The doctor shook his head.

"Mark it. Time of death, April 13th 5:27pm."

"No!" I shrieked.

"Someone get him out of here."

"No! Laney, please! I'm sorry! Please just…just don't go!" I cried as they carried me out and slammed the door in my face.

"Safe Laney Penn,

No more are you alone.

Once you were lost,

and now…you are home."

I sat there for what seemed like hours. Awake, but not really there. I still couldn't believe that she was gone. Eventually I got up and headed to the lobby. I had to get away from the room. Maybe this was all just a dream, and I would soon wake up and everything would be okay. I would go and hang out with Laney and the guys and-

"Well, look what the cat dragged in." Oh, no. Not now. I turned around to face none other than The Newmans. Great.

"Aww, would you look at that, girls! Sissy boy Riffin was crying! What's the matter? Did your little girlfriend get a boo boo?" Carrie said as they all started laughing. I clenched my fists in anger. I was sick of them. How could they be like this? Now of all times! I opened my mouth to say something, but I was cut off.

"Carrie what the fuck?! Larry screamed.

"What?" Carrie asked confused. "What are you getting so worked up about?"

"What am I getting so worked up about?! Do you honestly think I asked you here for the fun of it?! Laney is dead, Carrie! Dead! Do you understand that?! As in she's never coming back!" Larry screamed. Carrie's face dropped, shock written in it. She turned to face me. "R-riffin…I'm-" She started, but that was all I heard. I left the lobby, tears threatening to fall again. I didn't want to see Carrie or anyone else. I just needed to get away. Maybe this was all just some horrible nightmare, and when I went back home, I will wake up. Yeah, that's it. It has to be.

As I climbed the stairs to my house, I could hear the sound of my dad sobbing, and that's when it finally hit me: I had lost her. For good. And no amount of tears or apologies would ever bring her back. I would never get to see her again. I would never hear her voice, or feel her hugging me, or speak to her ever again. I would never be able to tell her how much she meant to me. I took a deep breath, finally gaining enough courage to face my new reality.

~o~O~o~

The funeral came three days later. It was crowded, people filling every available seat. Even the Newmans had come, which had surprised me most of all. Nobody said a word, but I knew we were all thinking the same thing: How could we not have known? Laney had never shown any signs of being depressed. At least…none that I noticed. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this was all my fault. If only I had been a better friend, or listened more, or been kinder to her, or anything…Laney would still be here. It pained me to think that all that was left of her was this shell. And now, as they lowered the casket into the grave, even that shell was leaving us, too. Laney was my concrete angel, and that angel has crumbled.

Laney's POV

I sat there, watching everything. It was weird seeing my own funeral. Everything looked so…fancy. As I was looking around at all of the grieving faces, one stood out to me. There, sitting all the way in the back, was Corey. Has eyes were bloodshot, and he didn't speak. Not even to Kin or Kon. My heart broke. I never intended for this to happen. I was just supposed to leave, and nobody was supposed to care. Man, even in death I keep screwing things up. I walked up to him. "Corey," I began, "I'm so sorry…"

"He can't hear you, sweetie," a woman said from behind me. I sighed

"I know mom. I just…"

"I know, sweetie, but it's time to go now." she said, extending her hand out to me. I took it, intertwining my fingers with hers. Then, we set off. To where, I wasn't sure. All I knew was that I would be facing it with my mom, and as long as we were together, I knew that we could get through anything.

One step at a time.