"I don't want you to attend counseling at the hospital," Carlisle told Adam "It would only be counter productive with your sister here." Adam nodded numbly. "I really am sorry Adam," Carlisle said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. It had no effect. That night he went home to his wife, Annabelle still in the hospital, waiting for her death, and he cried. He cried tears of loss, of pain, of grief, and cried out for a hope he wished for in vain. He felt helpless in that there was nothing he could do to save his younger sister and he no longer knew what to do.

Carlisle had scheduled an appointment for Adam after his work at an office space not too far from Adam's work. It was as though he had become a grown child and Clarrisa didn't know what to do. She held him as he cried though, listen to his ranting and mumblings. She let him get the things he had on his chest of his chest, helped him battle the hysteria. She did all she could and she knew she would have to accept that, but it hurt. It hurt for her to see the one she loved so torn up and in such pain, she only wished she could take it all way.

Clarrisa went to Annabelle's hospital room in Adam's place, to assure her husband that his younger sister was still in fact living, and she delighted in the days where she could tell him that she seemed better, seemed like she wasn't hurting. She knew Adam would not be able to hold up if he went back to the hospital to see his sister, on her deathbed as it was. She knew it would hurt him deeply.

Unbeknown to Clarissa though, Adam did go to see his sister one last time. They had called in the middle of work on the 7th day of his absence from the hospital. They told him her heart was failing, and that they didn't know how long they would be able to keep her alive, they didn't even have hope she would make it to the night. When Adam heard this he left from work right then and there. He would not leave his sister to die alone, he couldn't do it. He hadn't been able to see his parents and say what he had want to them before they had died, but he was determined to make sure he told Annabelle everything he wanted to tell her.

Adam raced down the road, thankfully bare of any cars. This place was a ghost town now in his mind. When he arrived in Annabelle's room she really did look like a ghost. Her face was ashen, her skin almost as white as snow. She was sickly gaunt her face seemed like it had sunken in, and it wasn't made any better by the florescent lights. He gasped as the sight before him, running to her bedside but afraid to reach out and touch her. "A-adam..?" Annabelle asked, her voice breaking from disuse. He reached out his hand and smoothed her hair down. "I'm here Annie, I'm here." Adam whispered, using her nickname for the first time in many many years. Annabelle teared up. "A-adam," she tried to exclaim "Adam I'm so sorry." she said choking on her tears. "I-I'm sorry" she hiccuped, "Its all my fault they're gone, I'm so sorry." Annabelle cried, breaking down. Annabelle breaking down catalyzed Adam's own break down.

"What? Annabelle, no." He said recovering slightly from the shock. "What happened was not your fault Annabelle." He whispered to her fiercely holding her face gently with both hands, one cupping each cheek. "Don't you even believe that it was for one second. I swear to you it's not your fault. Another car hit you, there was nothing you could've done." Adam told her, his own tears stinging his eyes.

Annabelle couldn't bear to look at her brother, her heart clenching, though she ignored it as best as she could. A whimper escaped her throat as her eyes closed. "But daddy would still be alive and here if I hadn't been in the car. If I hadn't been there at the very least daddy would've lived. It is my fault Adam" she exclaimed, waiting for the hate she was sure to come as she looked back at him with complete and utter despair in her eyes. "It's all my fault." Annabelle whispered dissolving into sobs. Adam pulled her tightly to him.

"Annabelle, none of that was your fault." He whispered in her ear, his own tears beginning to mix with hers. "None of it" he emphasized, holding her tighter. "I love you so much Annabelle. You were the best little sister anyone could ask for. You still are. You're an amazing person and you're always to nice to everyone. I love you Annabelle" He repeated. "I'm going to miss you so much" He sobbed with her. "Please don't go Annabelle, please." Her brother begged, sounding just as broken as she had. She embraced him tightly and just cried, holding each other tightly, neither wanting to let go.

After a while her grip got looser and looser, the heart monitor slowing down at the same rate. Adam pulled back quickly. "Annabelle." he commanded. " Annabelle!" He shouted, shaking her in an attempt to wake her up. Get her heart to speed up. "Annabelle..Annabelle! Annabelle!" He yelled continuously shouting her name and shaking her even after the monitor flat-lined.

story's not over yet :)