"Ray" Deacon's voice broke, calling out to her.
"I'm right here, babe," she called back.
"Baby, please come back. I….I'm not ready. God, please don't leave me like this. I don't know how to do this….to breathe…to live…..to get up in the damn morning without you," he cried to her.
She came over and took his hands in hers' and looked him in the eyes.
"You are. You're ready. It's time. I know you can do this. You already are. I'm so proud of you."
"No, I can't—We're not done, baby. I'm not done loving you, I just got you back. There's so much more left. The song can't be over for us. We still have so much music left in us, to write, to sing, to live, to dance to. How can this be it for us? I can't live without you, Ray. We need you," Deacon pleaded with her.
"Babe, we got to love each other, so deeply, so truly, most people don't ever get that much. And that doesn't just end cause I'm gone. I'm right here with you, Deacon. Every single step of the way. You're not alone. I'll be there. Beside, you have the two best pieces of me with you. Keep them safe. You got to love them for two now, okay?"
"I promise, baby."
"I gotta go now."
"No, please! Please, Rayna. Just one more minute. One more second. Please," he pleaded.
She leaned him and held him tightly to her for a moment, then pulled away, and lightly kissed his cheek.
"It's time. I love you, Deacon." She said, letting go of his hands and walking away.
"I love you, Rayna. Forever," he called out, then she was gone.
And that was the first night he dreamt of Rayna Jaymes since the accident. But it wouldn't be the last.