Falling For Brady

Disclaimer: I own nada.

The Promise

I could feel the cold rain falling on my face. I was in too much emotional pain to open my eyes. I didn't care if I died on the asphalt of the parking lot of the cemetery where my brother's remains had been laid to rest. I felt numb, broken and practically anesthetized by the loss of my twin brother.

Everything started turning dark and ominous. I didn't know where I was anymore. It all seemed eerie and strange. I got to my feet and started wandering through the thick fog of shadows that surrounded me. My eyes could not determine or discerne what I was seeing. Everything was covered in shadows.

"Hello!" I shouted, placing my hand on my chest. "Anybody there?"

I continued to trudge through the unknown path, until I heard faint whispers. I followed the sound, until I came across a hallway. The lights had been dimmed and there were many unopened doors. I tried to open the first door to my right, but it didn't budge. The sound of different voices continued to get louder.

I ambled closer to the reverberating sounds and opened the fourth door to my left. It was where all my memories of my brother were hidden. They played like a motioned picture… I was recalling how happy I was with my big brother.

I walked inside and was mesmerized by the smile that was displayed on our lips; we were happy. Giovanni was alive and we were just careless children running around without a single care in the world. I would forever miss those times.

The door slowly slammed shut and all the memories of my brother vanished. They were all gone. The room began to elongate, until it became a long narrowed path. Suddenly, a bright light appeared at the end of the hall.

"Hello!" I said scared, walking down the hall, following the light, just like a moth in the night. "Anybody there?"

The light died down and everything got pitch black again. My heart was beating fast. I didn't know where I was.

"Leslie… Leslie…" I heard the soft voice of Giovanni calling out.

"Giovanni?" I asked loudly.

"Leslie, go back!" the voice said harshly.

I ran towards the voice, not caring where it would lead me.

"Leslie, don't come in to the darkness!" it pleaded. I didn't care, I needed to see if it was my brother.

"Gio, where are you? Where are you? Giovanni!" I shouted, walking through the gloomy hall, where there was no light to guide my steps. "Don't leave me!"

"Leslie! Go back! Please, go back!" he begged, his voice breaking and sad. "Please, go back! It's not your time."

I ran through the vacant hall, following his voice. I tripped and fell into complete obscurity. I could feel as I was falling down in to a dark precipice and the cold wind blew across my face. I tried to open my eyes, but the dimness that surrounded me wouldn't let me see anything. I started to drift in total darkness. It was calming and warm as I fell. I landed on a bed of dark feathers, when I saw a bright light shining at the end of the hall. As I got near it, I saw him. Giovanni stood near a light, his hand extended. His green eyes looked sad as he gave me a poignant smile.

"Why are you here, Leslie?" he asked, as I reached for his hand. "You should be in the other light."

I wrapped my arms around her and cried on his shoulder. I missed him. It felt right to be beside him. It was like old times. It was just Giovanni and Leslie, the Ruiz twins. His hand was cold as he gently stroked my hair. I looked up at him and felt safe.

"I have to go, Leslie! It's my time to exit this world." he said softly, smiling down at me, as he slowly pulled away from our embrace. "You have to let me go, little girl."

"No! Please, take me with you! I need to be with you! You can't leave me alone! Not again, Giovanni! I feel alone without you. Please, I beg of you… take me with you, big brother!" I supplicated, clutching at his suit. He had on the same black dress suit he was buried in. I must be dreaming. I must have hurt my head when I fell.

He shook his head and started to turn around, facing the light. I hated that light. It was going to take him from me. I would never see him again. I needed to be near him. Please, don't go! Stay with me, brother!

"I want to go with you, G. I'm not selfish! I am hurting, Giovanni. I am so sorry that I wasn't the sister you wanted." I cried, kneeling on the floor and grabbed his slacks. "I apologize for everything that I said or did that would have hurt you. I was stupid and naïve. I won't ever disrespect you. Stay with me, Gio, don't go again. I need you! I didn't know that you were leaving me so soon. You can't leave me again, now that I found you! You and I were born on the same day; at the same time… we need to die together. I want to die and be with you."

"You can't come with me, little girl." he said, facing me and smiling brightly at me. "You have a life to live! You can't be so selfish, Leslie. There are people that need you. Have you thought of mom and dad? What about your hunky boyfriend?" he laughed.

I laughed behind my tears. I had forgotten about Brady. I felt so empty and having my brother so closed to me was the best thing. It was calming, but at the same time, I felt dullness surround me. I missed Brady. I would miss my mother, my father and even Joshua. I thought of Haliee Christina and the rest of the gang.

"You can't leave your boyfriend." he scolded. "You can't be selfish, Leslie. He would die if you leave him."

I shook my head and sniffled. "He's leaving for a year, Giovanni. He won't die without me."

"You are wrong! He's slowly dying. You need to go back in to the light of life and be with him. I am already gone, Leslie. My body was buried and my soul needs to rest. You can't hold me down. I have to go. You need to go back to where you are needed." he said frustrated.

"Don't say that! I need you, big brother." I sobbed.

"You can't come with me. You have to live the life that was taken from me." he muttered, clasping my hand in his. "I want you to live your life, the way I would have lived mine. Leslie, you need to go back. This is not the light that you need to follow. You need to leave, before you fall in to the darkness and never find your way back home."

I shook my head, my hands couldn't let go of him. I didn't want to let him go. It would be twice in one day. I didn't have the desire or the strength to let go.

"Leslie," he said sternly. "It's not your time. Don't be a fool! You have a life to go back to. You have a future that will be awesome. Just go back and live. Love with intensity, Leslie. Laugh with such carefree, that other people laugh too. Make the most of your life. Make everyone around you feel special. Have a contagious loving spirit. Make friends and leave a legacy of happiness behind you, little girl."

"How? How am I supposed to live carefree and feel happy, when you are not with me? I can't Giovan!" I shouted, letting the tears fall copiously down my face. "You are dead! A piece of my heart died with you! Please, take me with you."

He wiped my tears with his thumb and kissed my forehead. "You aren't alone, Leslie. You have so many people that love you. My time in this world was short, but I had so much fun. I lived many lifetimes in such a short span. I had you as a sister. I would never trade the happiness you gave me, little girl. I had a wonderful mother and father. I would never trade the memories you and I made together. I loved you and I will always love you. I will always be with you, Leslie. I don't know when or how… but you and I will see each other again." he said, taking my hands in his. "Go back, please."

"I love you so much, Giovanni. I want you to know that you were the best brother in the world." I sobbed, looking down at the dark floor. "I will never forget you! I will always keep your memory alive!"

"I know you loved me! I always knew. Remember that life must continue with me or without me. Leslie, promise me that you won't let anything get you down. My demise was necessary; it was the end of our journey together... My lifetime was short, but not yours. Promise me that you will fight. Don't ever give up. I love you!" he said grinning at me, as he kissed my forehead again.

We held each other for a few more minutes, before he let go of me. This was the last time that I would be with him. I would miss him. I felt the same pain of his loss start to bubble inside me.

"Promise me that you'll live and fight for your dreams!" he whispered in to my ear. "Your dreams and goals were always similar to mine. I wanted to be a doctor and help others in pain. You and I were never that different. Promise that you will have a happy life." he said, pulling away from me and turned towards the bright light.

"I promise!" I said, hugging myself as I watched him amble towards the bright, luminous light.

"I left something for you, Leslie. It's under my bed. I hope you like it. I was going to send it to you, but I guess… well, you be good to mom and dad. Take care and be happy with Brady. I know that he'll love you for an eternity. I'll see you someday, little girl." he said over his shoulders as he got closer to the light.

"I hope to see you again, big brother. I pray that you find peace and comfort wherever you go." I whispered, waving sadly at his departing figure.

He stopped and turned around, the light surrounding him, making him look like an angel. "Leslie," he paused.

"What? What do you need?" I asked, behind my tears.

"Forgive our parents. Forgive our father. He didn't know he was our father. It was long ago and he lost contact with mom. They are humans, little girl, they make mistakes. Forgive them and you'll find the solace that your heart desires. Be happy, sis."

I sobbed; I fell to my knees and felt the pain in my heart, surge through my body like a giant wave, crashing against me. "I will! I promise."

"Oh, before I forget… you can keep the money that is in the night table drawer of my room. It's enough money, so use it wisely. I was saving up to buy a car next year. I guess I won't be needing it anymore." he smirked, and turned around.

I watched him leave and the light engulfed him, creating a starburst of different colors. He was gone. I was alone, but this time, I had a chance to say goodbye. I had a chance to…

"Leslie, baby wake up! Please, sweetie." I heard a husky voice said worriedly. I felt warm hands shaking me softly. "Baby, it's me, Brady."

Brady! It was so sweet to hear his voice. I didn't like to make him worry, he sounded so sad and dejected. I was his imprint and to him, I was his world. But I couldn't stop the pain of not having my brother beside him. I didn't have the strength to live a life that would not have him near me.

"Baby, wake up. Please, wake up!" he cried in to my ear. I felt his warm lips, kiss my cheek softly. "Get up, princess."

"Someone call an ambulance!" I heard my mother shout.

I wanted to open my eyes, but the darkness felt warm and the pain wasn't as bad. I didn't want to face the light, it would bring all the anguish and suffering like a tidal wave. I didn't have the strength.

"Leslie Alexandra Ruiz… please, don't leave me!" Brady said in to my ear. His breath was warm and it tickled my neck. "I promise that I won't leave you. I won't go to Europe with my parents in December. I will stay with you. You'll grow tire of me! I'll be like your shadow! I promise that I will not leave you; I'll never leave you. But please, wake up, sweetie." he cried, burying his head on the crook of my neck.

"Leslie Ann, the ambulance is coming." I heard Joshua say with concern. I could picture him, holding my mother and caressing her in such a protective way.

"She's not responding." my mother cried. "She fell hard on the ground. There is blood coming from that gash on her forehead. I don't want to lose another baby." she sobbed. "I don't want to lose my baby girl."

Mom, I am alive! I won't die. I made a promise to Gio! I can't falter on a promise. He'll be sad if I don't live a full live! I can't leave Brady, either. He's my life. I have to live for them and for you, Mom!

"Don't worry, sweetie. Our daughter will be alright." Joshua said.