Life goes on
But I'm gone

Cause I die

Unable to sleep, Blaze tossed lightly in her bed. Her body still ached, and now she felt an incredibly high fever festering within.

Opening her eyes, Blaze tried to focus on something in the dark room and failed. I deserve dis - all dis pain, she thought sadly. She hadn't really informed anyone of how much agony she was still in, regarding it as something she would just have to deal with on her own.

"I'm sorry, Bumlets," Blaze whispered into the dark, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry I broke my promise. I'm sorry I lost yer baby."

Shutting her eyes tightly, Blaze gasped as her body continued to inform her of how much pain she was in and she softly cried herself to sleep.

~~~~

"Blaze. just hold me hand. It's okay," Bumlets mumbled. His sickness had advanced to the stage where the doctor forbade Blaze to lie in bed with him any longer. He wasn't at all pleased that she had spent so much time with Bumlets in the first place, but as the end of Bumlets' life was nearing, the doctor had informed her of the high risk she imposed on herself by being so near.

"Bumlets," Blaze whispered, gripping to his hand. "Bumlets yer gonna be just fine, ya hear? Just fine. It's just a bad day. Tomorrow you'll be better." She desperately wanted to hold him now, not just his hand, but even Bumlets wouldn't let her crawl into that bed.

"Yeah, yer right," he smiled slightly. Turning his head, Bumlets looked into her eyes. "Blaze, I love you. I love you and our baby. You should be restin' in yer bed, not stuck sittin' by me."

"I ain't goin' nowhere. You. you just get some rest, and tomorrow things will be fine. I'm gonna sit right here," she stated. "I'm not lettin' dis hand of yers go."

Knowing there was no way to change her stubborn mind, Bumlets squeezed her hand. "Okay. I love you," he repeated.

"I love you too," Blaze whispered and watched him close his eyes.

Though she was exhausted, Blaze struggled to keep her eyes open, watching for his chest to rise and fall. She knew in her heart it was unlikely for him to make it through this night, but she had to hold on to the belief that he would awake tomorrow, and they'd have another day together.

Hours later, Blaze finally gave in to her body's wish of sleep. Leaning over, Blaze kissed Bumlets' forehead before letting her head rest upon the mattress.

"Love you, she whispered. "Yer my everythin'." She kept the tight grip on his hand and her eyes finally shut, leaving her with the last image she would have of Bumlets alive.

~~~~

Jack stood protectively in front of the door, his eyes downcast.

"Jack, why ya standin' dere like dat?" Autumn asked, her arms full with a bowl of soup and a glass of water for Blaze.

Looking up, at first Jack didn't know what to say. "Auty. Blaze, she's, she's."

"Probably incredibly hungry and if ya don't let me through she's gonna whine," Autumn interrupted.

Jack took the bowl and glass from her hands, placing them on the bench. Holding her arms, Jack shook his head, then pulled her into a hug. "Autumn, she's gone."

The words taking a moment to register, Autumn stepped back, shaking her head in disbelief. "Gone? Like, for a walk? She's not well enough for dat yet, stop jokin' around. I gotta get her fed before."

"No, Autumn, she's gone. I went in dere ta check on her, and she wouldn't wake up. s-she's gone."

"How could dat be! She was gettin' better!" Autumn protested.

Jack hugged her tightly again, stroking through her hair as she cried against his chest. "We did eveythin' we could, Autumn, everythin'."

"But. we promised Bumlets we'd help her," she mumbled into his chest. "Why couldn't we at least get her through dis?"

"When Bumlets died, a part of her died along wid him, ya could see it missin' in her eyes. Her only hope was his baby, but when it died, maybe. maybe it was just too much dat not even we could help her den. Her heart wasn't in stayin' alive anymore, it was wid Bumlets and da baby she lost."

Feeling her knees go weak, Autumn pulled Jack towards the bench, and curled up in his arms. "She said she failed Bumlets. I told her she was wrong, dat it wasn't her fault." she whispered.

Jack kissed the top of her head. "And ya was right, but maybe Blaze couldn't see past da pain anymore, no matter what anyone told her. We did all we could for her, and she told us how thankful she was dat we was dere for her. Whatever pain she was carryin' around, she won't have dat no more. She won't suffer like she was."

Sighing, Autumn snuggled closer to Jack, her mind reeling with thoughts of Blaze and Bumlets, to thoughts of her relationship with Jack, and their upcoming marriage. "Jack. I love you," she mumbled into his chest.

Squeezing her body closer to him, Jack leaned his chin atop her head. "I love you too."

Without you

Without you

Without you

Without you