Six days ago Warren was unfairly attacked by two students that were seeking revenge over atrocities that had been committed by not him, but his father. On that day I knocked out one of the attackers where she stood and sent the other one through a wall so that his force field would deactivate. I remember turning and seeing Coach Boomer performing CPR to try and get Warren breathing again. Four days later in Warren's hospital room I amiably broke up with my girlfriend and discovered that I was gay and desperately in love with the precious life that was fighting so desperately to live. That same day Warren nearly died on us, the doctors finally made an antidote, which was administered to Warren, and my family and friends discovered and accepted me for who and what I am.
Now two days after the doctors administered the antidote, there had been little change in Warren's condition. He had stabilized and was no longer having the poison-induced seizures, but he was unable to breathe on his own and the only thing that kept his body functioning were the many machines he was hooked up to. The doctors had stated that there was no brain activity left and he was needlessly suffering. Warren was considered legally dead and Ms. Peace's heart was smashed in a million pieces due to having to make the agonizing decision to turn off the machines keeping her son's shattered body alive. I too was in agony.
"Ms. Peace you can't turn off the machines," I begged the recently visibly aged woman in front of me, "You said you wouldn't give up on him. Warren will wake up again. I know it!"
"I would never give up on my son!" Ms. Peace snapped at me fiercely, "But Warren is in a great deal of pain and the doctors feel that he will never wake again. It would be cruel to keep him in this type of existence only because I want him here with me."
"But
he can't die," I whispered harshly, "He wasn't meant to go
like this. I know he wasn't."
"I'm sorry Will,…,"
Ms. Peace said to me grimly as tears ran down her face, "but
sometimes we have to say goodbye to the ones we love. Even if we
don't want to. I know that better than anyone."
Ms. Peace pulled me into a hug and then left to sign the papers that would turn off the machines keeping Warren alive. My friends and family surrounded me and offered me comfort as best they could.
"No! This can't be happening," I thought to myself frantically, "Warren is a fighter. He would never let himself die like this. This is wrong. They are giving up on him too soon!"
Ms. Peace came back sometime later sobbing openly. She had said goodbye to her only son and each of us would be allowed to see Warren one last time in life. I went last. When I entered the room, Warren looked even frailer than I remember. His pale face was pinched with pain but his beauty was still unquestionable. I broke down in tears immediately as I stroked his hair back and tried to permanently ingrain the sensation of his soft locks into my memory.
"This is all my fault if I hadn't allowed myself to get pinned you wouldn't have had to step in and this never would have happened. You'd be safe and sound. Oh God! Warren…I can't do this," I sobbed openly, "I can't say goodbye to you. I have so much to say to you. I need you here with me. Please Warren! Don't die! I love you so much."
The only sound was the exhale of the ventilator. The reality of the situation hit me hard and I knew then what I would do. I stroked down Warren's face and leaned down and kissed his forehead before holding desperately to his hand.
"Warren you have affected every part of my life. I am what I am today by your influence. I will never love anyone else as I love you and cannot live without you. I know that you would not want this, but I can't go on without you. I don't even want to. If you die I'm coming with you. Even if you only want me as a friend as long as I can be near you I'm fine with that. If you can't come back to me in life, then I will go to you in afterlife. I love you Warren."
A knock at the door let me know that the others were ready to come in. I rose from my seat and kissed Warren one last time on the cheek before going to the door and letting the others in. Ms. Peace went to the other side of the bed and held her son's right hand as I was allowed to hold his left. The others fanned themselves around the room with physical signs of grief written on their person.
The doctor walked into the room and one by one disconnected and turned off the machines that were necessary to give life to the precious being lying in the bed. The sudden quiet of the ventilator left an ominous silence in the room that seemed louder than ever before.
"It's up to him now," the doctor said as he left the room.
My crying eyes went to the only machines still measuring Warren's vitals. The sound had been turned off, but I watched the movement of the jagged line that moved sluggishly with each beat of my love's heart. The seconds in between each beat grew a little bit more.
"Oh God!" I thought desperately as I turned to watch Warren's face, "It's happening. He's really dying."
To everybody's surprise, I rose and sat on the edge of the bed pulling Warren's limp form up into my arms for my one and only embrace of my love in this lifetime.
"I'll be with you soon," I whispered into his ear before laying him back down.
I looked at the others with raw pain in my eyes. Ms. Peace reflected the same pain throughout her person and Layla didn't look much better. I couldn't stay here. I couldn't watch this wonderful person leave my life. I turned to run.
To be continued…
Review. What do you think is going to happen next?.