Shannon's P.O.V.

I look around, feeling confused. Where am I? Am I awake? Did I die? What's that noise? Who's voices are those?

I realize that I failed at killing myself as I feel my heart start racing. I sigh and pull the cover up and over myself. Great…. Now it's time to face the music… What will I say? What kind of an explanation do u give for trying to kill yourself? Oh um mom… I decided I wanted to die because I'm a pathetic loser… oh yeah.. That's just great family table material there… NOT!

I'm brought out of my own thoughts by someone's voice. The voice sounds so familiar… "Shannon?" the voice calls out.

I look out from the covers and spot him… Jeff looks at me, sitting in the chair across from my bed. Tears stain his cheeks.. His eyes sparkling with hope. Has he been here the whole time?

"J…J…Jeff…." I mumble, my voice sounding hoarse..

Jeff moves his chair closer to me and carefully takes my hand. He smiles a little. "You stayed with me…" he says softly.

I nod silently, tears stinging my eyes. Jeff looks at me with his jade green eyes, "Shannon… I don't mean to pry… but, why did you feel so miserable… like this was your only solution?" he asks.

There it is…. The heart aching question always followed when I do something like this. WHY? How do I answer this? Tell him the truth? Ok, Jeff… I tried to kill myself because I miss my dad and I'm gay, and no one accepts that I am? No, that's not right…. Ugh…. Ok… just think Shannon…. Just think then speak.

"I, was… broken…" I say trying to avoid his gaze. I catch a glimpse of his reflection in the window. He sits there thinking, my statement processing as he sits in the silence. Finally he breaks the silence.

"What do you mean broken?" he asks. I sigh. "I was miserable without my dad, and I've been bullied about losing him… and about some things that I just discovered about myself. I just got tired of feeling like a zombie." I explain as a tear slips down my face.

Jeff tilts his head a little and looks at me. "What kinds of things did you discover?" he asks innocently. I take a deep breath, feeling a lump in my throat.

"Th…that I'm umm… gay…" I confess.. I sit there half expecting Jeff to turn and run for the door. To my surprise, he just held my hand.

"What's wrong with that? There are a lot of gay people in this world.. There's nothing wrong with it… it's just something that happens in life sometimes." he says softly.

"But people made fun of me about it, made me feel… wrong… unwanted… unloved…" I cry. Jeff gets up and curls up with me on the hospital bed, wrapping his arms around me. He holds me tight and whispers in my ear. "You aren't unloved.. Or unwanted… Shannon… I love you.. I want you… don't you ever let yourself think otherwise.."

I can't help but to cry harder.. yeah right… you're just saying that… you'll turn your back on me just like the rest of the world has.

Jeff rubs circles in my back and whispers soothingly to me. "Shhh… sleep now… you'll be okay Shannon.."

I try to fake a smile, but I can't find any happiness in any of the recent events of my life. It's been such a long time since I was truly happy, however, I did feel something while I was wrapped in Jeff's arms. A little warm feeling began to take over my body as my eyes slowly grew heavier.

I finally know what to call this feeling… I feel safe..

Jeff's P.O.V.

I hold back the tears, fighting to be strong as he falls asleep in my arms. I reach up and slowly stroke his cheek with one hand, not letting him go with my other. There's no way I'll leave him now. The bullies cannot win. I'll do anything to make Shannon feel loved and wanted.

Shannon snuggles closer to my chest as I pull him close. I smile holding him and go back to my thoughts. I know first hand what it felt like to lose a parent, and what it felt like to be so close to them. I look up at the monitor and notice Shannon's heart rate is still a little higher than it was. I pull him close and notice that his heart rate settles down as he moves closer to me. His breathing softens as he lays his head in the crook of my neck. His warm breath sending chills down my body. I smile and kiss his head before closing my own eyes, still holding him close. No intent on letting him go. Shannon's P.O.V.

As the morning sun rose and could be seen through the window my eyes flicker open. For the first time in a long time I smiled when i feel Jeff holding me tight. I turn over and cuddle back up into him, closing my eyes. I finally drift off to sleep with a smile on my face. He really did mean it. He truly cares about me.. He'll be here for me. My best friend.