A few days before Tohru's death, I received news from the doctor that Tohru's days on earth were numbered. It was then that I knew exactly what to do. I had to spend as much time as I could to be with Tohru during her time of need. It was now that she needed me-no me and my friends more than ever. I can just recall, watching her breathe, she would strain so much….just for …one breath of air. I hated watching her suffer…..

It was a Friday morning when I ditched the whole entire school day to see Tohru. I know that ditching is bad, but I really had to see her. Nothing was going to get in my way…..nothing.

I left the house early and told my parents that I had to tutor some first grader. Of course, they had no objection and they knew that I did do some tutoring. But there was no tutoring. It was just an excuse to leave the house, ditch school, and see Tohru. As soon as I was within a few yards away from my house, I used my jetpack backpack to quickly transport myself to the hospital. At that time, I didn't know the surprise that waited for me.

I entered through the hospital doors, entered the elevator, and soon arrived at the level of Tohru's room. I had expected to see her right there on the bed. Her slim hand, her face with those tired, lifeless eyes were always the first to greet me as I entered the room. Yet, today…….they weren't there.

I looked around the room…with quite a puzzled look on my face.

"Where's Tohru?" I asked myself. "They didn't move her to another room did they?"

Well, I guess, that the Tohru's nurse was watching me because she entered the room as if on cue.

"May I help you?" she asked me.

"You sure can! Where's Tohru?" I questioned.

"Tohru…she….she's not here." the nurse stuttered.

"Oh, then can you tell me where she is then. I really would like to see her, ma'am ?" I asked.

"I'm afraid you can't do that." she said as she looked at the ground. "Tohru….is dead."

"Excuse me?!" I laughed nervously. "She can't be dead. I don't believe this!"

"I'm sorry…..uh," she paused.

"Jimmy." I filled in.

"Jimmy, but she is." the nurse said with a solemn look on her face.

I suppose that at that time, I guess that I lost my mind. I grabbed her collar pulling her neck, making her eyes at my level.

"She can't be dead!" I screamed with a sour look on my face. "I refuse to believe it!!!!"

The nurse suddenly pushed me away and replied, "Look, Jimmy, I know that……that it's hard to believe. You may think that it is just a dream…."

"It is!" I insisted as I turned to walk towards Tohru's bed.

"But this is reality. People….they die." the nurse continued.

I wouldn't listen. I just gingerly rubbed my fingers across Tohru's blankets and I placed my head upon her pillow.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" she asked me.

"Yes…..I would like to be left alone." I replied with a straight look on my face.

After the nurse left, the tears came pouring down my face. Why…why… why do horrible things like this happen? It's not fair. She's just a fragile soul caught in the wretched hands of fate! She probably knew that she never had a chance…but she never gave up hope. Tohru never let go of life..until her very last breath. The thing that I hate the most was that..that as that last breath was taken…I wasn't by her side…to say goodbye. To say thank you…for being my friend, to let her know how much I care about her…how much I admired her strength and courage in overcoming fear. Now, she'll never know what I had to say.

For hours…I just sat there with an empty, blank face. By now my eyes stung quite badly by all the crying, but I was too lost in my thoughts to even care. I started to think about how I first met her. How she was an orphan……… I knew that I should be thankful for all the things that I have. Thankful for my parents, my friends, and my health. Tohru taught me that. I wondered if I would ever have the strength to somehow dismiss Tohru's death from my mind. I wanted to trick my brain into thinking that Tohru had found her parents and would be moving to another city.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps and a familiar voice asked, "May I come in?"

It was Cindy.

Without looking up I replied, "Go ahead, no one's stopping you."

She walked in with a few books in her hands.

"I thought you would be here." she said as she set the books down and grabbed a chair to sit next to me. "You weren't at school today, so I volunteered to bring your homework."

I didn't answer, but I was startled when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"You know, I heard what happened..." Cindy started. "How Tohru died."

I nodded very slowly.

"It is true, then isn't it?" she asked.

Yet again I nodded.

"I really learned so much from her….." Cindy stated. "She taught me so many things."

I finally got the courage to speak.

"Yeah, she…she taught me a whole lot too." I replied.

Cindy was a bit startled when she heard me speak and she looked a bit more comfortable. I didn't want it to seem like she was talking to a log.

"I just can't believe that she is gone……. And I couldn't even get to say goodbye!" I sobbed. The tears started to stream down my face again.

"I –I-I-I- can't believe it either!" Cindy sobbed too.

I didn't want Cindy to see me cry so I quickly wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

"She's such a sweet innocent little girl…..she never meant the world any harm at all!!!" Cindy cried. "Now…….she's……..dead!!!!!"

"Cindy…..please….please don't cry! It really hurts me to see you cry." I assured her as I gently caressed her hair. "She's in a happier place now…..and even though we weren't there to say goodbye………maybe she's watching us right now..you know?"

Then I realized it…I realized that the strength that I needed to forget Tohru's death was all in my heart. I started pouring out comforting words to Cindy trying to calm her down and at the same time…I was comforting myself too.

"If Tohru were here right now." I continued. "She probably wouldn't want to see us cry like this. Tohru would want us to be happy…she would want us to celebrate that the pain that she endured is finally over! Cindy, everything will be okay……trust me. Tohru's memory will always remain in our hearts, but as for now….well, we have each other…"

Cindy looked up. Tears were all over face and her eyes were a bit red from all of the crying.

"You're right, Neutron. I guess….that we really do have each other." Cindy said as she smiled at me.

Right there!!!! There it is….A smile of Cindy's that I can call my very own: Cindy's Jimmy Smile. It just seemed like a dream. Cindy actually gave me my very own special smile.

"Jimmy……there's something that I've been meaning to tell you for many years." Cindy said.

"Yes, what is it?" I asked.

"Jimmy, throughout all these years…… you know how I've made fun of you…..I've only done that to hide my true feelings….The thing is…that I-I-I- l-lo……….I would……tell…you, but I just can't say it." Cindy stuttered.

"Well, you don't have to tell me now." I assured her.

"No! It's got to be said. I don't want to waste time……" Cindy sighed. "I may not know how to say it….but I'll try my best to show it."

It was then that Cindy…..gave me…a kiss right on the lips. Her soft arms were wrapped all around me and I slowly wrapped my arms around her. It felt weird kissing her…but, in all due honesty, I really liked it. For a few moments, I felt like I was in heaven and I almost forgot where I really was. I suppose that no words in the dictionary could explain how that kiss felt. I wish that it could continue…..but as all good things come to an end..so must the kiss.

We let go and I saw Cindy's face. She was blushing all over and didn't know what to say. I smiled back to make her feel comfortable.

"Cindy…..I forgive you, for all those years…….see the truth is that I've had the same feelings for you ever since I laid eyes on you." I replied.

"Thanks, Jimmy." Cindy said as she smiled at me. "I'd better be going now…..but before I go…"

Cindy grabbed my hand and shook it.

"Let's promise to never fight again, okay?" Cindy asked with an anxious look on her face.

"Let's!" I replied.

Cindy didn't want me to walk her to the elevator. She told me that she would be okay and that I didn't have to worry

I watched her leave the room and I turned to walk back to Tohru's bedside. Then I noticed something. Something that had not been there before. It was an envelope that was addressed to me that lay on the bed. I opened it up and read what is said:

Dear Jimmy,

I just want to thank you so much for all that you've done. No words can express how grateful I am having you as a friend…Even though you couldn't be by my side to say goodbye…you and your friends were always there…there in my heart. I really loved all the little presents that you gave me; I love each and every one of them.

Although I was never able to give you anything in return…let me promise you this. Just as you remained always and forever by my side so will I be with you. I don't want you to ever feel alone or afraid. Just remember that I will always be with you just as you have been there for me.

P.S. Give my regards to the future Mr. James and Cindy Neutron.

Your friend always and forever,

Tohru

This note that I received was not a lie. From that moment on…I never felt alone. Tohru was always there and I really like that. Sometimes…at night, when I couldn't sleep, I would often talk to Tohru and for some strange reason, I really felt that she was there..listening to me. Just patiently listening to my every word. When I look up at the sky, I can still see her sweet smile.

Carl was able to over come his fear of some things…like spiders and worms with the help of Tohru as inspiration. But we are still trying to help Carl get over his fear of dead stuff.

Sheen and Libby sure got close. They're even further in their relationship than Cindy and I are. Sheen agreed to only wear his Ultralord shirt for at least one day a week and for the rest of the days, he would wear only the latest styles picked out by the gang's fashion diva, Libby. As for Libby, she agreed to watch at least two episodes of Ultralord a week and to attend only some of the Ultralord Cartoon Conventions.

You can call me crazy, but I think that Tohru was an angel sent from above. She was probably sent to help Cindy and I share our true feelings for one another. After our hand shaken promise, Cindy and I never fought anymore. In fact, we're starting to think about going steady. But I'm still trying to figure out what Tohru meant by "give my regards to the future Mr. James and Cindy Neutron".

Well, if there's one thing that I've learned from Tohru, its that in life there are only two types of people that you will ever meet: friends and people that you will never forget.