Part 6

"Don't . . . leave me." Breathing was difficult, talking even more so, but there were things that needed to be said.

"I won't. I'm right here."

He tried to smile, tried to reassure her, but failed miserably. She knew the truth, just as he did. It was mirrored in her face – the face that had so entranced him that he had memorised every feature; every line, every dimple, every nuance – and now, when it was too late, he finally understood why.

"Promise . . .?"

It hurt. She couldn't bear to look at him, but she couldn't bear to look away.

"I promise, I promise. But you have to promise me the same thing."

"I . . . "

The light was too bright. It stung his eyes, and they fluttered shut in protest.

"Bobby! No! Look at me."

The screams of the ambulance grew closer, but they weren't close enough.

His eyes remained closed, and yet, his lips were moving so she strained her ears to listen. Even then, she wasn't sure if he actually said the words, or she heard only what she wanted to.

". . . promise."

The pain was excruciating; both hot and cold, it stole his breath and left him choking for air. He was dimly aware of a stickiness that coated his body but the pain left little room for other observations. His last memory, before he mercifully lost consciousness, was of Alex's drawn face hovering over him, and a feeling of deep regret at what might have been.

He never felt the agonising pressure of her hands as they tried frantically to stem the bleeding. He never saw the helplessness that consumed her as the blood kept seeping through her fingers. He never tasted the warm saltiness of her tears as the fell unashamedly onto his cheek and pooled in the corner of his mouth. And he never heard her last ditch appeal to a God she had never believed in, begging Him to intercede on his behalf.

When they finally arrived, she moved aside for the paramedics, but she wouldn't relinquish his hand.

Later, as she was being led away from the emergency ward, she looked at the dried blood caked under her fingernails and began shaking. The nurse was used to dealing with people in shock, but even he had no idea what she meant when she whispered, "This is why we can't be together."

TBC....

**Just to be a total feedback whore...Bobby's will to live depends on the amount of reviews I get. Bwahahahahaha!