My eyes opened. A hospital room. I felt terrible, like the hangover you get when you drink ten Red Bulls in one setting. That horrible, insides churning, kidneys hurting, way of feeling.
I looked around. Flowers in a vase. The machine next to me was beeping. I raised my arm and found I had an IV in.
I sighed.
"She's awake!" Ben exclaimed, appearing in the doorway.
I tried to sit up, but fell back. "I-I feel awful."
"There's some bad news," Ben said seriously. "We…we couldn't get you here fast enough."
"What?" I asked. "What's wrong? What aren't you telling me?"
"I tried everything," Ben said. "I-I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?" I exclaimed. "Ben, tell me!"
"You…aren't going to make it," he said finally, sitting in the chair next to the bed.
"I'm…I'm going to die?" I said.
"You aren't supposed to make it through the night," he admitted gloomily.
"Well then, I guess I have nothing to lose," I said, sighing.
I sat up and leaned over, and kissed him.
"I thought…I might never get to do that," I said softly, lying back down.
"Leslie…" he said.
My eyes closed. He touched my cheek. His hand was cool against my face.
The nurse came in.
"Nurse!" Ben said. "She's burning up! Can't you do something?"
"I'm so sorry," she said. "All we can do is make her comfortable."
Suddenly the machine made a steady beep sound.
"Does that mean…?" Ben began.
"I'm going to need you to leave, sir," she said. "I need some help in here!"
Ben was pushed out by several doctors and nurses that came in with resuscitation equipment. He stood in the doorway.
He watched as they put the paddles on her chest and shocked her heart. Her chest arched, but her heart didn't restart. They had an oxygen mask on her, but she wasn't breathing.
They tried shocking her again, but nothing happened. The doctor shook his head.
"I'm calling it," he said. "Time of death, 4:32 PM."
Ben looked down at the ground, a tear falling.
So this…this was goodbye.