P.O.V Tomoe Tachibana
After hours of waiting, Dr. Cunningham told me the news. He pulled me aside and I was shocked. They have done everything to save him but it's too late. I have to tell Maria but I don't have the strength.
My hands tighten on my oriental kimono. This is my ultimate test of honor.
"Tomoe? What happened?"
My body feels nervous and I don't know how to tell her. My mouth moves but not a word comes out.
"The kid's not going to make it."
\I turn my head quickly to the voice. "Gabe, what are you saying?" Maria asked with disbelief.
"You know what I just said! He is not going to hold up much longer!"
Maria sinks to the floor as his words echo in the hallway. "He wants to talk to you, Maria."
She quickly gets up from the floor. "I can't see him! I don't want to watch him die!" She starts to runs and I tightly grab her wrist.
"Let's go of me, Tomoe!"
"No! Maria, as his friend you need to be with him in his last moments! If you were going to die today, won't you be scared? He has been alone all his life and the least you can do is be by his side. This is not the
way of honor! I know he doesn't blame you. He told me himself! It's not your fault! Things happen for a reason! Don't ever abandon your friends under any circumstance!"
I let go of my grip as the room was filled with terrible silence. Maria slowly brings her hand to her side and she starts to tremble.
"I'm sorry. I'm just really…..scared."
I walk closer and hug Maria in a friendly embrace. "It's alright, let's go see him, ok?" She nods and we walk toward his room.
P.O.V Maria Torres
I slowly open the door not knowing what to expect. I'm shocked to how weak he looks. He has wires coming from everywhere possible. The vitals slowly beep in my head and I hear his weak breathing from his
oxygen mask. I grab a chair in the room and sit next to his bed. I manage to say, "How are you feeling?"
He slowly opens his eyes then turns to me and all I see is pain. "I've been worse."
I nod my head and stare at the tile floor. The room is so silent that all you could hear is your own conscience.
"Maria, I'm sorry."
I left my head up in disbelief. "Why are you apologizing? It's my fault you're going to die."
He turns and stares at the ceiling.
"My life as been a failure from the start. Everything that I have ever done was causing others pain and sorrow. My parents were always angry at me. What happened at Cumberland Collage might be my fault. I'm
not sure if I killed those people and that guilt kills me everyday. My parents said that I was always a burden and they might be right. But now that I met everyone at this hospital, I never have been this happy in
my whole life. I have friends and I don't have worry about being alone. Maria, I have been always causing you trouble. I'm so sorry."
Is this how he truly feels? That he has is the only one who has caused me problems?
"You have never caused a burden on me."
He quickly turns his head to me. "Most of the time, you make me worry about you. You never killed anyone and I know it. Forget about your parents. They never realized what a great person you are. No one has
ever blamed you for their problems especially me. You are more than what a friend could ever ask for."
For the first time, he actually smiled and he was truly happy. I see the tears fall from his eyes and he slowly places his hand on my face.
"I'm really scared to die but I'm glad everyone is here especially you."
My eyes begin to water and it's harder to see. CR whispers,
"Promise me, that….. you won't blame yourself …..because of me. Live life better than… I ever could. Thank you…Maria for being my…friend."
He smiles for one last time. Suddenly fireworks go off and everyone stares at the window but me. His hand falls off my face and onto the bed. I quickly pick up hand and grip on it for dear life.
"No! Please don't die! I LOVE YOU!" My tears fall onto his arm. I look at his face. He is so pure. My tears then fall onto his smiling face and I whisper, "I promise that I will live life to the fullest! For the both of us, I
will save patients everyday of my life!"
You meant more to me than a friend and when you died, a part of me was gone.