Joe had become frozen with fear to the bed. He had heard one gunshot and it did not come from outside but with a horrible lurch in his stomach he thought it came from his own living room. His mind thought of Melody watching the TV downstairs and Joe frantically searched her spot in the bed; his heart fell as he realized that she was not there. He threw the covers off and raced out of the bedroom door. A million horrible thoughts raced through his head.
"MELODY" He yelled running downstairs. "Please let her be okay" he mumbled to himself and any higher power that would listen. He reached the bottom of the banister and the living room came into view. He saw that glass and blood where everywhere. Even the T.V was covered in it. He became frightened.
"Melody?" he whispered quietly looking around quickly. He then saw to his relief Melody lying on the couch, her hands lying gently across her stomach and a blanket covered her legs. Joe laughed to him self, thinking that someone had surprised Melody.
He knew that she wasn't somebody who would just go into shock and get herself killed, oh no. She probably got up and then beat the shit out of him (explains the blood) and the he ran out a poor and broken man, limping all the way home with his tail between his legs. Joe laughed a deep laugh at that though.
He looked down in all glass and saw that there was a pool of blood. Blood would spatter with punch wounds like it was on the TV, but the only thing that would make a pool of blood was a major injury. He raced over to the couch, and a let out a scream of terror. He saw the two wounds Melody had received and a searing pain of guilt ripped through his mind. His stomach churned, and he felt really sick. He bent down gently beside the couch.
"No…please God no, not her, not my Melody" he said. He brushed back some blood soaked hair and saw her beautiful face, a face that wore a mask of terror and pain.
Joe put his head in his hands and started to cry. Suddenly he felt a hand softly touch his. Jerking his head up he saw to his surprise that it was Melody who had touched him. She smiled softly at him.
"Joe…Thank God…I wanted to see you just one last time." She whispered faintly.
"Don't you dare talk like that. You're going to be fine" Joe said strongly. The truth be told he was feeling weak and powerless, his hands were beginning to shake and he grabbed hers to steady them and he wanted so much just to throw up. He knew this was the end, he just couldn't admit it, he couldn't let her see his sadness he wanted her to know he loved her. Despite himself, he let out a smile to soften the words.
"Joe, my love, I know who did this to me. He had on a black mask but I know who he was-"she stopped short and coughed. Blood oozed out of her mouth, she could taste its awful metal taste. She looked up at Joe whose fear was beginning to show but swallowed it and spoke anyway.
"Darling there must be something I can do for you, maybe the bullets aren't to far in, maybe I can get them out for you" he said. He raised his hand to do it but she stopped him.
"That would only hurt me worse, besides, the first one he shot into me went all the way threw…I heard it hit the wall over there. Just listen to me Joe, I know I don't have much time." She said painfully.
"Don't say that, I won't let you die, I'm supposed to protect you forever." He said trying not to cry.
"You did the best you could no one could have known this was going to happen, please just listen to me thought. I know who did this it was-"this time when she coughed she was choking on the blood. Frighten Joe turned her head to the side so that she could breath. After she could breath again he looked at her unable to hide his tears anymore.
"Maybe if I call now …" Joe wept as he went to get up find the phone. But Melody lifted her hand shakily and grabbed his to stop him.
"Don't leave me alone to die Joe," she whispered. She had abandoned all hope of telling her husband who had done this to her, she just wanted to spend her last moments with him. Joe looked at her, also abandoning his small hope that she was not going to die. He wiped away his tears, he had put away his own sadness for the time being. She should see him like he had always been, stoic and brave. In other words, the man she had loved for the last two years of her life.
"Oh Melody" he sighed sadly. He then lifted up her head and sat on the couch. He rested her head on his chest and held her really close, just like he had done that first night on the lake. Within a few seconds he could feel her warm blood flowing down his legs and over his hands, it made him sicker and any minute he knew he would pass out. Despite his feeling he looked down at her and smiled. She was wincing with every breath and kept grabbing her stomach in pain. Joe took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. In the minutes that followed he could feel her breath get short and shallow. Suddenly she wasn't moving at all and her grip on his hand had slackened, Joe became panicked.
"Melody?" he asked timidly. He didn't know what he'd do if there was no answer.
"Joe, you were my first crush. I never imagined you'd be my last real love" she said softly.
"Darling, I'm glad I could be that for you" Joe said more loudly then her but not by much.
"Kiss me" She whispered. Instead of an answer he pulled her really close and pressed his lips gently to hers. With her last bit a strength she managed to kiss him back hugging him tightly around his waist. They kissed for a few moments before she broke away with a sharp intake of painful breath. Joe felt her begin to shake and knew this was the end she grabbed his hand again in fright.
"Joe, I can't leave you…not now. I found love…I finally found it." She cried. He pulled her into a tight hug. She had been calm the whole time, it hurt him to see her panic now but he knew he had to keep her calm. She started breathing rapidly through her gritted teeth and she squeezed his hand as tight as she could. She looked at him tears running down her face.
"Honey, relax I'm right here. Don't fight it, that will only make it worse. Let go it's ok. I'll be alright" He said. Had he really just say that it was ok to die? He didn't want that but he knew there was no other choice now.
"It hurts Joe, God, it hurts." She winced, she was shaking violently now, he had to hold on tight.
"Just let go Melody, it will be over soon" he said. She nodded as more blood trickled out of her mouth.
"My beautiful lover…I will miss you. I love you so much…don't forget me Joe" She whispered with her final breath.
"I'll love you forever, my sweet Melody" he whispered in her ear. He saw her smile and then her entire body just seemed to relax and go still. Her hand slid away from his and her head slumped against his chest.