But when he woke up the next morning, he rose—and was enfolded in their loving embrace. "You cried yourself to sleep last night," Debbie said, as she held him close.
"Try to eat something," Michael encouraged him, "then we'll go to the hospital."
After shoving down some bacon and eggs, the group hurried to the hospital.
When they got there, they gathered at Brian's bedside. Justin gasped—it was just as bad as his had been. Threading his hand through the bedrail, he took Brian's hand in his own. "I love you," he whispered, his voice shaking, "and always will."
He tried to blink away the tears, but it was no use. They rolled down his face, onto Brian's sheet. "Don't leave me now," he sobbed, "just when we're finally about to start our lives together."
The days crept by, and still no change. Justin was just as faithful to Brian as Brian had been to him when the roles had been reversed. But he wasn't without friends—friends who just hugged him, wiped away his tears, and reassured him of their love—and that even in his condition, they were sure Brian still loved him, too.
