Lying on the bed was an old man. He was thin, flesh sagging, a few hairs still survived in his head, pale translucent skin that you could see his blue veins, hollow cheeks, bony fingers. I went closer to him sitting on the bed. He opened his eyes and looked at me. Even though he was old and unrecognizable, those eyes always stayed the same. I could never forget those wonderful eyes.
He stared at me with those marvellous radiant eyes. It seemed like forever. I could not believe that he has changed so much. His life has also dramatically changed. He lives with his family; he has two children, a wife, grandchildren. A perfect life. He had lived my dream life.
Behind me, John stood beside the doorway. "Excuse me," he said.
I turned to face him. "Yes, sir?"
"Would you mind staying here for a while? Mother and I will just be going to town."
"No, I do not mind. Please, do whatever you need to do. I will be glad to take care of your father for a while."
He smiled thankfully before he left. His smile reminded me of Tristyn's sweet smile.
I turned my attention back to Tristyn; he was still looking at me. His expression was surprise and disbelief. "Skye?" he reached his frail hand up; I took it in mine. His skin felt odd to mine. It was soft and wrinkly and fragile. His whole body was fragile, if I accidentally held on to him too tight, he would break into pieces. "Skye, is that really you?"
His eyes searched mine. He put his hand on my cheek caressing it with his thumb. "Yes Tristyn. Yes I am." I whispered. If I could still form tears I would be crying a river now.
"I thought I would never see you again." He croaked. Even his voice has changed. It was raspy and dry. From a childish girly voice to a manly stoic voice then to an old croaky raspy voice.
"Me too Tristyn. I thought I wouldn't see you. I've missed you so much." I gently rubbed his forehead going into little circles.
"You haven't changed a bit." He coughed badly. I didn't know what to do. I just let him cough till he stopped. He wouldn't survive for long. My heart was slowly breaking into pieces, I knew he wouldn't last forever like me but he could.
Hope sprung into me. I can do it. I know the procedure even though I haven't done it myself. Just let my blood drop onto his mouth and it would work itself out. After a few moments he would be like me. He could live with me forever. I wouldn't care if anyone criticized about our look and age gap. I wouldn't care if he looked like my grandfather, he was still Tristyn. Not even time could change him.
His eyebrows pulled into a frown; cracked, dry lips pressed together in a straight line. I had a feeling that he knew what I was thinking. He shook his head barely moving an inch. "No Skye" his voice barely a whisper "I've lived my life."
I could feel my body trembling. Something wet was going down my cheek; Tristyn wiped it away with his thumb. He put his hand in between us. A familiar red liquid stained his thumb. The smell filled the small room. It wasn't sweet like the others; it smelled bitter like coffee with something bad in it.
I was crying my own blood.
"I'm so sorry, Skye." His voice was fading away with his life.
I have known that he would never agree. Why join your enemy? Why be one of them? I didn't choose this life; I never wanted to be this kind of creature. My own life was taken away from me. My own dreams vanished. Even my family slipped from my fingertips; I couldn't even do anything to save them.
"You can't escape your destiny." Tristyn's words suddenly rang into my ears. I could remember them as clearly as they were said. It was as if all the years between my childhood and today has been erased. Time stopped for us. "Our paths are laid out for us when we were born. All we have to do is follow it. We have no choice."
His heart thumped slowly, every beat was a knife through my heart. I wanted something to deafen the sound. He only had minutes left; I only had minutes with him. Tristyn was growing weaker and weaker by every second; his hand fell down on his chest. He had no more strength. Even his breathing was starting to slow.
One... two... three...
