Part 2

ASH'S POV

I was devastated but my pain didn't look like anything compared to Gary's. I could move freely now, I just had a broken arm but it's my left one anyway so it's not too bad. Gary is still too weak to move by himself. It had been 2 days, now. Misty was still alive, hopefully, she was in a more stable condition yet she still hadn't woken up. Gary's face lacked of emotions yet was full of them.

He was like dead. He wasn't smiling or laughing anymore, he wasn't even showing his sadness or concern. His face was filled with anger, deception and hatred but he was awfully calmed when he was speaking or moving. The only time that he'd opened his mouth was to ask news of Misty or eat and drink a little. Nurses were really worried about him; they kept on saying he had made a nervous depression. The last day he had kept insisting on the fact that he should give his blood to Misty, since she had lost a lot of her. The doctor disagreed saying he was too weak and that Misty had all the blood necessary since her blood type was AB positive; she could receive blood from any type without danger.

Personally, I know the doctor meant well, but Gary would have survived; he's strong. And it would have helped a lot, Gary cannot stand his uselessness, he needed to do something for her and now he was so mad that it resulted in making him look like some kind of zombie, scarier that a herd of Beedrill.

May, rushed into our room.

"She woke up!"

"What!" I exclaimed while Gary got up suddenly and used the crutches May had put near his bed to go to Misty.

"Gary, you're not fully recovered, don't move!" warned Drew

"I'm fine, lead me to her" he begged, it was his first emotion in hours.

Drew abandoned; if he wouldn't show him her room, Gary would probably search through the whole hospital. We followed them, eager to take news of Misty.

"She's really weak" told the doctor when we arrived. The doctor was old and seemed sad about something but we didn't wondered what was wrong and went,wasting no time, to Misty. Her sisters were already there, crying their eyes out. Seeing us, they left to give us some privacy, still sniffing.

"Hey guys" Misty greeted us with a very weak voice, making us worrier

May threw herself at Misty, carefully though.

"Misty, you've been so brave, thank you for saving us" we thought she would cry but she didn't

"Thanks to you, too"

"No problem" May smiled

Gary looked confused, he didn't know that Misty had insisted to wear the ring he meant to give her but I'm sure that he guessed a part of the truth when he laid eyes on the ring she had on.

"I retrieved it along with our pokeballs and object" explained May to Gary's curious and surprised eyes

Gary smiled. This smile seemed history to us and put some warmth in our hearts, making melt the iceberg of concern we had. I seriously thought that he would never smile again.

"Misty, are you going to be alright?" I asked her

"I'll try my hardest and I have my family doctor to help me; he knows me quite well" she smiled to us trying to comfort us

Suddenly Gary fell. The nearer nurse called for help, another nurse came and together they carried him to his room.

"It's okay guys, he's just exhausted, he hadn't slept or eaten a lot lately. It must have taken him a lot of determination just to stand up, let alone walk."

The doctor told us to leave and that Misty also needed sleep and we went back to our room. Misty's sister were waiting for us, they had still tears in their eyes.

"Guys, we have to tell you something, really important" Lily said

"It's about Misty" added Violet

We listened to them without any question, Gary, even in his bed, was listening.

"She may not make it" continued Lily while we all gasped in shock

"But the nurse said she was recovering from her injuries!" exclaimed May

"Do you know how our mother died?" asked Daisy

We answered negatively.

"She had heart disease, the only way to have cured this was to replace the heart but you couldn't find one quick enough and she died" replied Gary

Daisy, Lily and Violet weakly smiled

"Yeah, that was how. I'm glad to see that Misty and you were this close"

"Are" he corrected her

"Yes, sorry, you're right" confirmed Lily "Only this sickness" she continued "It's hereditary. One child on five gets it, Misty was a solid child we never thought she could have it. Our doctor, the same one who took care of our mother, said that sometimes, the sickness develops a little late, that exactly what happened to mom"

"So you mean…" I started, my heart, pounding real fast

"Yes, she had been analyzed positive. Misty is strong, she could have stick with it longer and would have stayed alive long enough so we can find her a heart but the 'accident' weakened her."

"The doctor gives her a week, from then, she can die at any moment" said Violet

"Your family called and wanted to visit but we forbid them to, we don't want the paparazzi to find out about it and tell the whole world, we're sorry about this"

"It's okay, we understand" I managed to say

"We have to go inform our father, I know that he won't be able to come home from wherever he is but we have to inform him, bye" they left

Silence was all that was left, we were torn apart.

"So how are you feeling?" it was two days after we learned the terrible news, Gary was now okay, he could used his crutches and move on his own. Misty, too, was feeling better and could talk more. Unexpectedly, Gary seemed calmer today that he had been the past two days. It was making everything easier. He had left today; it was surprising since the way how usually he was passing all his time with Misty. He just said that he needed to take care of really important things and he just wouldn't change his mind about it.

"Better, where are the others?"

"Gary left I don't know where and May and Drew are seeing a therapist right now, it's too much for May and Drew couldn't let her go alone" I could see that there was a paper on her table and I realized it was her will. I fought the tears that were coming, she knows it, she knows she'll die yet she stays strong, strong for us.

We talked a lot during the rest of the day, we even manage to laugh when reminiscing our past together. I almost slipped out that I loved her ever since I met her, but I knew that as much as I needed to tell her that before she 'leaves' it will only caused chaos so I shut up. Trying my best to convince me it was for the better.

The next day, I went back to visit Misty this time with May, Gary and Drew.

Misty greeted us again, as if nothing bad was happening. We talked again, the five of us. Gary suddenly asked us to leave. I was mad, how egoistical was that? Misty was going to die and he wanted her to himself, alone. He pleaded us to and May and Drew accepted. I didn't and faked to exit the room. They didn't realize I was still there and I could listen to their conversation. As wrong as it was, I was too angry at Gary to let my reason win over so I stayed.

"Gary? What was your wish?"

"I wished that you'd marry me"

"You shouldn't have wished but known" she said making Gary give her a tiny smile

"Misty, no one asked you to be strong"

"If I'm not everyone would be embarrassed and worried, I don't want that"

"I won't, I promised. Tell me what's wrong please, c'mon your pillow is wet and your eyes swollen; you cried for a long time."

"I'm scared, Gary"

Gary didn't answer and let her continued

"I'm so scared, mom died the same way, and I remember seeing her everyday in this same hospital. I can't bear it anymore; I can't bear all those sorry looks, all this coldness, this solitude I cannot bear it. I see pity or sadness everywhere and the worst is that I don't want to lose any of you. I really wanted to marry you Gary, to bear your children to see May's, Drew's and Ash's marriage and family, my sisters' and friends' too. I'll miss all this while you'll miss me..."

Gary took her in his arms, she was now crying. She wasn't being brave anymore, she was just Misty again. A human with fears and sadness like anyone else. Gary dropped kisses on her. But comforting as he may have seen to anyone, it seemed to me that he was doing it more for his selfish self than for her. He was enjoying his last moments with her and not as much trying to make her feel better. I was a little madder at him, what was he doing? Misty had opened her heart to him and only him.

"Misty, I cannot promise you that we'll get married someday or have children together but I'll try my hardest to give you as much happiness as I can"

"You'll stay with me?" Gary seemed taken backward by this answer. He obviously hadn't planned it.

"During the week, yes"

"Thanks" she hugged him

"I love you"

He replied to her hug with a last kiss and held her until she fell asleep

"I love you, too" she muttered before falling fast asleep

"I cannot live without you, Misty" Gary sighed to himself

He was getting out when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't leave; you have no rights to keep her to yourself!"

"Ash…"

"Stop it! You're being a complete asshole, you're taking precious time we could all pass with Misty too for your own self person and yesterday you had better things to do that comfort her like you just did today."

"I…I…Ash have you ever loved someone so much that you'd give her your heart? I gave her my heart"

"I did it with Melody and I could do it again for Misty and what's so special about that? She also gave you her heart. She even opened it for you so you could enter, with no difficulty!"

"Never mind…Ash, I never asked you a favor in my whole life but please let me those moments"

"I can't do that, I also need them"

"You really love her right?"

"Yeah but not as much as I thought you once did"

"Ash, stop would you? Look I'll make it up to you I promise"

"No"

"We're Wednesday, right? Give me the next two days with Misty and you guys will have the whole weekend. I have something to do anyway"

"You told Misty that you'd stay with her during the week"

"I didn't say the whole week"

"What are you? Heartless!" I cried, outraged

"I guess…at some point" Gary sadly replied

Curse him, the sadness in his tone made me accept. Gary was passing all his time with her; he even was sleeping with her. He insisted on to be the one feeding her, taking care of her and even bathing her. Misty didn't refuse even though she was a bit shy about it and the few people who knew about what was really happening were shocked and disapproving. But when you'd see how happy they were, everything was forgotten and forgiven. Misty had told me that she didn't remember feeling this much loved before. That Gary was very soft, comforting and patient with her. I believed her. It was now Saturday, Gary had left and now May, Drew and I were trying to please Misty and replace Gary. Even when Gary was with her, we were sometimes visiting her like her sisters were but Gary seemed to take the biggest of her attention. She was a bit disappointed that Gary had left the hospital for awhile while she didn't have a lot of time. Gary came during Saturday night. He kissed Misty deeply and gave her two gifts. He asked her to open them Monday night. I was shocked that he'd ask her that, who knew if Monday she was still going to be alive but Misty really enjoyed it as she knew that Gary truly believed that she could make it until then. Gary stayed until midnight, he had cheated on our deal taking all Misty's attention, I was so mad at him. Only my sorrow could overcome my frustration but unfortunately it wasn't any better... He told us bye and surprisingly hugged us all and left for good, we didn't see him Sunday. Misty took it bad. Her condition worsened and the doctor told us that tomorrow, it was sure she was going to die except if some miracle would happen. Misty was faithless, all the courage she had was gone with Gary. I cursed him for not being there for her, what could it cost him?

"C'mon Misty, you can do it" I cheered her

"We all know I won't Ash, don't bother"

It was so sad yet so true

"Ash, what was your wish this night? I'd really like to know"

"I don't think I should tell you"

"C'mon Ash, could you please"

"Fine, I wanted the same thing as Gary"

"To marry me!"

"Yes, I love you Misty and I don't want to lose you"

Misty was shocked by this

"I-I…"
"I know you love Gary, now"

"I'm sorry, Ash"

"You don't have to! It's my own fault, you did love me I was just too stupid. Anyway I don't believe in wishes anymore, look at how it turned out? No one will ever have you, what was your wish?"

"I wanted…I wanted to be a great part of Gary's life and that he'll be part of mine as long as we both live" she had hesitated to tell me but since I had been honest to me she chose the same thing

"It's okay, do you want me to call May and Drew, you could ask them what they wished for"

Misty didn't answer; she had fallen down on her bed and wasn't moving nor breathing

"Help, Doctor!" I yelled, panicked

We were all around Misty, by all I meant her family's doctor her sisters Drew, May and I.

"She's waking up!" exclaimed Violet and everyone was relieved

Misty turned her head, and while waking up, the first thing she saw was a picture of Gary, smiling, she had put on her table.

"Is this heaven?" she asked stealing a smile out of a lot of us and our concern

"No you're alive" told her the doctor and explained to her questioning eyes "At the last minute when we were going to lose you, a compatible heart arrived. We made the operation and it succeed, so now you're cured, congratulation"

"Where's Gary?" she asked

"Misty…Gary…" I tried to tell her but my voice trailed off when I saw her worried eyes.

"Is he alright?" she asked me, knowing I couldn't lie to those big curious emerald eyes

Misty was more worried about Gary than herself, I was touched by so much affection and envied Gary but at the same time cursed him for what he was doing right now to Misty.

It was a simple question yet too hard to answer so I chose silence…