The Dream

Kyle was sitting next to Jessi on her bed, she was leaning on his shoulder and Kyle had his arms wrapped tightly around her.

It felt so real he could smell her pure scent, feel her soft skin beneath his fingers but something deep inside his head was shouting at him that this wasn't real.

Kyle stiffened holding Jessi tighter, she looked up at him then startled by his sudden change in posture. Jessi smiled as she saw his saddened face and slowly lifted her hand to his face, gently wiping the tears that were falling down Kyle's sweet face.

"I'm sorry" was all she said and Kyle could tell just how much she meant it when tears began to fall from her eyes too.

"Don't cry, I hate seeing you like this Jessi" Kyle said as he mirrored her moves and tenderly wiped away her tears.

Jessi stopped crying and embraced Kyle, he did the same to Jessi and there they remained for some time. Caught in each others love for the other the couple lingered together knowing a long separation was not far away.

Eventually Jessi broke the embrace she looked into Kyle's eyes and reached up to kiss him. Their lips touched and they kissed deeply their hearts as one, it may not have been a passionate kiss but it was a touching one, a heart felt kiss and a final kiss.

Kyle was crying again when they parted he just couldn't see himself living without Jessi by his side.

"I know none of this is really real, but I'm glad I got to see you again even in a dream" Kyle said suddenly after their kiss.

"Who says this is a dream, this is everything and you are everything and I'm sorry"... Jessi replied as she wiped his tears away again.

"Why are you sorry Jessi, you have nothing to be sorry about" Kyle asked

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry because I died and had to leave you behind" She spoke softly her face made tragic by her words.

"Don't say that" Kyle cried out "You didn't die, you couldn't I wouldn't let you", then Kyle remembered what had happened, Jessi could and had died and he hadn't been able to save her.

"I'm sorry" It was Kyle now who was apologising, Jessi saw the devastation etched on his face and it broke her heart thinking Kyle would blame himself.

"I love you" was all Jessi would say as a reply to Kyle's guilt. "I love you too" Kyle said as he smiled at Jessi's joy when Kyle had said he loved her.

"Kyle I need you to promise me something", "What" Kyle asked, "You have to promise first" Jessi said, "Ok I promise" said Kyle and he crossed his heart solemnly with his hand.

Jessi smiled at his action took a deep breath and said "Live", "What" said Kyle a little confused. "I want you to live, I want you to be happy even if I'm not their with you" said Jessi.

Kyle had a hard look on his face like he was experiencing a deep internal struggle, he saw the obstinate look on Jessi's face and was reminded of how stubborn she could be.

But still it was a difficult decision to make, he knew life without Jessi would be unbearable and his feelings at present were hopeless. Jessi was just like him they were the same so maybe he could carry her in his heart forever.

"Ok, I'll try" Kyle spoke with a determination Jessi didn't recognise and was satisfied,

"Thank you" said Jessi softly as she stroked his face for the final time.

Kyle woke with a start in a bed with clean hospital sheets, his family were around him sleeping in an assortment of chairs.

Kyle looked at them individually, Nicole was the closest to the bed her hand laying on top of Kyle's

Stephen was sat next to her his head gently resting on her shoulder and Lori and Josh were laid together on a nearby sofa. Kyle saw the redness on all their faces and a puffiness unmistakable with someone who had shed countless tears.

Strangely Kyle looked for another person who should have been there, maybe she had just stepped out or she was sitting on a bench outside like she had when Nicole was in the hospital.

Kyle hoped she would come back soon he missed her, then he remembered everything that had happened the night before. Jessi wasn't coming back she was gone and Kyle had promised to keep on living, for her.

Tears were falling down his cheek once more as he remembered the dream, he would try to keep going for Jessi's sake but he knew it wasn't going to be easy.

He still had his family and that thought would help him along the road, he just wished Jessi could have walked the road with him. He would walk alone now but he would walk, for her.