The earth turns
The sun burns
But I die
Without you

Though she had stayed out of the sickroom since his death, Blaze finally stood outside the door, hesitating to enter. Inside she knew were several of his belongings that had been left for her to gather, but she never had the courage to enter the room, and forbade anyone else to retrieve the items for her.

Taking a deep breath, Blaze turned the handle and crinkled her nose at the familiar dank smell of the sickroom. She peered in only to see everything in the same place she had left it.

~~~~

"Klopp said I gotta move in here now," Bumlets sighed. He gripped to a cream-colored handkerchief, something that went everywhere with him now since his coughing had become a part of his daily life.

Blaze looked around the dank sickroom. "Well, you'll have yer own space," she pointed out. She slid her arms around him from behind. "And we'll have some privacy," she added.

Turning around, Bumlets pulled her into his arms. "Yer gonna catch dis, by stayin' so close," he frowned.

"Nonsense. Ya hoid what da doctor said. I could remain perfectly healthy, and since we know what it would be if I did get it, den dey can treat it earlier. I ain't stayin' away from you. I don't care if I get sick," she affirmed stubbornly. "Ya ain't gettin' rid of me."

"Well, I don't wanna get rid of ya, so I guess ya ain't goin' nowhere," he managed to say before turning his head to cough.

"Why don't I get yer stuff, and you can relax in dat nice big bed over dere?" Blaze suggested.

"I hate restin'. I do dat all day," Bumlets pouted.

Rolling her eyes, Blaze led him over to the bed. "Be a good boy and sit here until I get back. I swear, boys act like such babies when dey get sick," she teased.

"We do not," Bumlets protested and crossed his arms.

"Yer actin' like one right now," Blaze grinned before she left the room.

~~~~

Bumlets had wanted her to keep his hat, of course, and there were a few items his mother had handed down to him, that he wanted Blaze to have. A small, wooden box held his remaining belongings, and Blaze quickly walked over to the table to retrieve the box and his hat. Giving a quick look to the bed where Bumlets spent the last of his days, Blaze rushed out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Sitting down on the bench in the hallway, Blaze set the cap besides her and the box on her lap. She unlatched the front and pulled back the top, revealing a folded piece of paper. Raising a brow, Blaze couldn't remember that being in the box, and slowly unfolded it.

Dear Gabrielle,

Ya probably ain't sure what this letter is for, but I wrote down where me stuff is goin on the back even though we talked about it. I hope Skitts don't mind havin me stick. I know he was admiring it, even though he always said his was better! I know we went through all the things I owned, but I left out one thing that I wanted to surprise ya with. Look under the mattress of me old bunk. It should be there, unless Snipes got to it. If your reading this, then it must mean I broke my promise of staying around a lot longer. I'm sorry, sweetheart. Ya know you're the only one who could make me see that I wasn't just some fluffy, flop-haired boy. I always wanted ta be strong for you, I hope I didn't let you down. I loved you more den I could ever tell ya. Smile Gabi, I'll be lookin out for that smile of yours.

Love forever and ever,
Your Dominic

Pressing the letter to her chest, Blaze looked down at the small box and sighed. She wondered just what he could possibly have left her in the boys' room, and quietly folded the letter before placing it back in the wooden box.

With his hat and belongings held protectively in her hands, Blaze entered the boys' room and walked straight for Bumlets' bunk, ignoring the questioning looks on the few boys that occupied the room. Kneeling besides the mattress, she lifted it up, only to find a smaller, cranberry-colored box tucked safely in the frame of the bed.

Blaze sat on the floor and carefully wedged the box from the frame. Searching her memory, she couldn't once remember seeing this box anywhere in the possessions he had shown her. What could possibly be in it? Staring at the top, Blaze wasn't sure she could open it without falling victim to crying again.

She turned her head, only to see the boys in the room quickly look away. Sighing, Blaze climbed to her feet and hurried to leave the room. Knowing the girls would watch her as well in the other bunkroom, Blaze climbed out on the fire escape.

Dangling her boots over the edge, Blaze looked up at the sky. "What could you have possibly put in dis box, huh?" she whispered. Fingering the lid, Blaze started to open it, then stopped. What if it just made her yearn for him even more? Shaking her head, Blaze hastily placed the small box inside the larger wooden one and fastened the lid.

"I'll save it for a rainy day," she decided, unable to endure more pain right now. With the box and his hat in her hands, Blaze stood up and made her way to the girls' bunkroom. She placed his items on her nightstand and grabbed his walking stick from her bed before going in search of Skittery.