Disclaimer : I own nothing other than story plot and story idea…
A/N : This chapter was written at a very sad point in time for me…my mood may have made its way into the story itself and if that is the case I apologize now for any inconsistencies that maybe found here in and after this chapter…my heart goes out to all who have recently lost loved ones or friends.
Dedication : To my school friend and pal thereafter : Steve Lee Kepner, you will sorely be missed my friend and hope that in the times to come your family and Mandy will find the guidance they will so badly need in the coming months. My heart is forever with you and your beautiful Mandy…you know if she ever needs anything, send her my way, I will help in all the ways I know how. God Bless you my friend and may your trip be a safe one now…Good bye.
My friend was killed in a car accident Monday January 21, 2002...I found out about in on the internet from my niece…I tried to convince myself once I had heard the news that it was another Steve Kepner, but sadly that was not to be the case. After his death, I thoroughly rethought the story and found I could not go on any further with it…this will be my attempt at doing so and if it is not up to its usual standard you will know ahead of time why. I am sorry if this chapter disappoints you in anyway…but my heart is no longer in this story, it is somewhere else in another time, remembering things from what seems an eternity ago.
As always, please read and review…I will try to finish the story if you ask, but I will be unable to guarantee anything. Maybe continuing to write will help ease the pain…Thank you and please enjoy what might be the last chapter to this story…
THE POWER RANGERS IN :
THE HARDEST THING I EVER DID
Chapter 9
I looked up at him, my heart in my chest. How could I explain all that had happened, the loneliness and every thing else that I had felt then? My heart beat faster till I was sure I was going to faint…The tears welled up in my eyes and fell from beneath my lowered lids, I couldn't meet his gaze any longer. "I'm sorry Tommy," I said so quietly. "So very sorry…"
He was on the bed in an instant, his arms wrapped around me in a solid hug, trying to ease some of the pain I was feeling myself. I needed to talk then, and he was the only one there with me, but I needed to talk to him…he needed to know how I had felt, the feelings, everything. I never blamed him for the break-up, he had to understand that…it was me, all my fault. He had nothing to do with it. "I'm sorry Tommy…" I said again, my heart felt like it would stop beating at any time.
"Shh," he said against my hair, his arms wrapped so securely around me. "When you're ready Kim you can tell me everything…when you're ready."
I was ready, more ready than I had ever been before, he had to know the truth. "She died that day in that car accident…" he looked down at me, but didn't open his mouth, he would wait until I was done. "I felt for the longest time like it had been my fault, like there was something I should have been able to do…" I sighed deeply. "I know now there was nothing, God wanted her then and so he took her…I couldn't have stopped it if I had wanted too. There was nothing I could've done, nothing at all."
He smiled sadly through his own tears. I took a deep breath and continued with the tale, "I woke up in the hospital, I immediately wanted to call you, but I couldn't move. My spinal cord had been bruised, and very badly. They weren't sure if I'd ever walk again. Everything was so screwed up, I don't know what I was thinking…"
He smiled sadly and drew me into his arms, "It's ok Kim, you can tell me later." he said and held me even closer to his body. "You can explain all of this to me later…right now I just want to hold you. You could've died in that accident."
"Tommy," I looked up at him. "One last thing," I said quietly.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I remember one thing I have never told anyone else, not even Kristin…"
"What is that?" He asked.
I looked down at the bed sheets than glanced up to meet his gaze. "It was before the ambulance had gotten there…I was still conscious after the accident…I never told no one." I grabbed hold of him tighter, burying my face in his chest. "Vicky was still alive, or at least I believe she was…I was holding onto her…the blood was everywhere…" I paused not sure if I could relive it after all this time, but I knew I had too. "I held her in my arms…she took three deep breaths, exhaled them…shuddered and I believe then was when she died…" I broke away from his grip and looked up into his face. "I held her when she died…I was the last thing she knew of before she passed on…"
The End.
I'm sorry for cutting this the way I did, the ending of this…what happened to Vicky is what I was told was what Steve's last few minutes of life were like…I dedicated this to him, for friends lost and love never to be known again. Mandy and he were engaged not that long ago and their time together was cut short.
I will continue this story at a later date when I'm not quite so emotional, but I will not redo this chapter, this will stay the same I will rebuild the story from this chapter on…Steve's death has made me reevaluate everything with in my life…all that I hold dear and my priorities. Godspeed to him on his last journey in this life time and I'm glad that there was someone there with him at the end even if he wasn't a friend and even if Steve didn't know he was there…but someone was with him when he passed on and for that I am grateful for. Thank you and I'm sorry again for the dramatic turn this chapter in particular has taken…I will continue it at a later date, I can guarantee that.
