It was silent in the waiting room.

Four hours had passed since Beck's truck was pulled from the river. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

It was the second time in six months Beck's friends had gathered in that waiting room. It was then that Beck had been admitted for overdose of prescribed antidepressants.

Now, here they were again.

James and Margaret Oliver had long ago disappeared with Dr. Samuels to speak in private of their son's condition. A sick feeling of dread overcame Andre the longer the parents were gone.

Jade walked into the room carrying two steaming styrofoam cups. She took a seat beside Andre and handed him one of them. "Here," she said. "You look like you could use this."

"Thanks," he said. His eyes never left the door.

Jade followed his gaze. "He'll be okay," she said.

"Not this time," Andre said. He lowered his eyes. "He'll never be the same again."

A moment later, James walked through the door. His expression was filled with grief. He walked over to Andre and Jade.

"He's brain dead," James said simply. His voice was tight. "Our son, our only child…" He exhaled heavily. "He's entirely dependent on a ventilator, as of now."

Andre's eyes widened. Beside him, Jade released a sob. "What's going to happen next?" Andre said.

James was on the verge of tears himself. "Dr. Samuels encouraged us to remove Beck from life support," he said. "We've made arrangements for such later this afternoon."

Stunned silence filled the room.

"You're welcome to visit him and say your goodbyes."

/ /

Minutes later, Andre and Jade were at their friend's bedside. For a moment, the couple stood there, allowing their new reality to truly settle.

Beck lay flat in the hospital bed, his neck firmly supported by a brace. A thin tube had been inserted through his mouth and snaked down his throat, allowing him to breathe. Numerous breaks and fractures left much of him cast-clad. He lay still, much too still, in the bed.

Andre was stricken.

Jade finally took a seat beside Beck. She brushed her fingers over a large patch of gauze on Beck's forehead. Her eyes glistened. "What have you done, Beck?" she whispered.

He had suffered a skull laceration, as well as inhaled a dangerous amount of water. He had gone into cardiac arrest in the operating room. For eight minutes, the medical team struggled to save him, but to no avail.

"It wasn't real until this moment," Andre said.

"He was finally going to therapy. He was finally getting help," Jade said. "How could this happen?"

Andre scoffed. "Yeah, those antidepressants his psychiatrist prescribed were great, weren't they?" He took a seat beside Jade. "Led to overdose, hospitalization, more therapy…"

"And now this," she said. "We're planning for college, and his family is arranging a funeral." Jade swallowed. "He's dying."

She stood abruptly. "I - I'm so sorry. I can't - " She ran from the room.

Andre followed her.

Jade was outside, huddled near the front doors. She sat with her face buried in her hands, her knees tucked tightly against her chest. Andre sank to the ground beside her. He rubbed her back in reassurance.

"It's not fair," she said finally. She looked up. Her cheeks were streaked with mascara. "He doesn't deserve to die."

"He chose this," Andre said.

"He chose wrong," she said.

"Tori was his life. Melissa was, too. Nothing would have stopped him from this."

Jade sighed. "I can't go back in there."

"It's okay." Andre brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, resting his hand on her cheek. "I don't want you to do anything you're uncomfortable with." He kissed her. "Just make sure you're also not doing anything you'll regret later. He'll be gone very soon."

Fresh tears filled Jade's eyes, but she simply said, "I know." She wiped her eyes in vain. "How can you be so calm about this?"

He smiled sadly. "Beck died with her that night on the bridge." He shrugged slightly. "It was never a matter of if this would happen again, but instead, when. We couldn't have prevented this. He wouldn't let us." He stood. "I'm going back in. Can I walk you to the waiting room, at least?"

"No, I'll meet you inside in a minute."

Andre returned to find James and Margaret standing outside their son's room. Margaret sobbed quietly into her husband's chest.

Andre's heart clenched. He walked into Beck's room and took a seat beside his bed. His throat tightened as he realized these last few moments would be Beck's last.

"Hey, Beck," he said. "It's been a crazy year, hasn't it? And now it's come to this." He paused. "I've got to say, it's incredible what you did for Tori. Most guys would've walked away, but instead, you took on the responsibility of not only Tori, but her daughter as well." He smiled softly. "I know you loved Melissa as your own. I can't respect you enough for that, and I know Tori did, too.

"I can't say I was surprised when I heard you'd been pulled from the river. To be honest, I was more surprised we hadn't received that call sooner." He lowered his eyes. "Even so, it doesn't make this any easier."

Behind him, the door swung open. Jade crossed the room and took a seat beside her boyfriend.

Andre continued. His voice cracked for the first time. "You're the best friend I could ask for. I wish I had been the same. You pushed us away, but no one pushed back. For that, I'm sorry." He paused. "I'm going to miss you." He glanced at Jade. "We all will."

Jade reached out and closed her hand around Beck's fingers. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm sorry we weren't able to support you in the way you needed, and I'm sorry you felt this was your only escape from reality." She paused. "I only hope you've found the peace you longed for."

She squeezed his hand lightly. She stood, then, and Andre looped his arm around her shoulder as they left.

Dr. Samuels was waiting in the hallway. He nodded solemnly before disappearing inside.

The couple lingered just outside Beck's room. Andre sank to the ground and gently pulled Jade down with him. He held her close as only a wall away, one of their best friends breathed their last. An eerie silence filled the empty hallway.

It was over.

/ /

A world away, a young couple were reunited in Heaven.

Tori wrapped her arms around Beck's neck. His eyes slid closed as she drew near, brushing her lips against his own.

"I've missed you," he whispered. "Tori, I love you."

"I love you, too," she said. She rested her head on his shoulder. He tightened his embrace. "I never wanted to hurt you," she said.

"I know," he said. "You were right. Until you've experienced loss, you never truly know the pain of it. It took losing you to realize it." He kissed her softly. "You found your peace. I can never fault you for that."

She looked up, into his eyes. "Now you've found yours."