PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQGJIO83bb
He's shaking underneath my grasp.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE49CqjBY5G
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"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZWm4Dx9Yg
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I run the palm of my hand down his cheek, feeling the cold tears that have managed to escape without me knowing.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXdqOUqiCY
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I smile bitterly.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8hMDdDJaP
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"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV75YeeErv4
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"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMungAms72a
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I continue to stroke his cheek, trying to ignore the amount of blood coming from his side, where I press my free hand onto.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gdIAr851t
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"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkskYcB2wU
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He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILd47XqlDb
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I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70CPZ5msDN
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I allow myself to drop my calm charade and panic a little. Jere's forehead is beaded in sweat. The life in his eyes that once blazed brightly is now dark and sullen.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG1m2bzMbA
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I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZSeBtli8x
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I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8SIOlUcex
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I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdhIYTFz4G
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I must at all cost keep him awake.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5X0jejQ13
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"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitRW8PMU62
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Feigning a smile I continue my charade.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRgTZP2QqZ
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"Not that long baby I promise."1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu3oL4z92N
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Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiwPVqZSI3
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My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYbNffx0XN
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He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq3IcyktjU
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But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXjPhxBBUu
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"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOXHHlW76G
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I frown at him.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4JFF9ZkOu
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"Don't say that."1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8jqQ4Y01N
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He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFVg2Y2mkx
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I gasp.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40yzG9LmYx
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"Jere stop!"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEObCzWTdHh
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He goes on.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2bidUtZkZ
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"I'm better off dead anyway. I've always wondered what it would be like." He says this all dream like, his eyes narrowing.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ712sp68KoW
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Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qY0IlNpCd
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"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXOb0cn3yi
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Jere chuckles a little but his eyes don't. He stares up at me bitterly and reaches to brush away my tears.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbeM0r03Xw
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"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRZcWVVVwd
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"I won't."1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCwnbpWpxj
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He obeys, watching me soberly.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKs1qZo4fR
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"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9SNybvTow
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All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXR6CLna0s
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I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3azap1FXJS
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSrwWIIcIK
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His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsISkoFFkRa
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"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNidcrTsni
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"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnnmTjfkuS
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He tries to nod but he can't.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYryyiw1C3
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z2hvdKkXT
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I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ThQSfDtxa
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He looks up into mine.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYOJcajg9l
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"Don't leave me." He whispers.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CgSC2SFAt
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"Stay awake." I tell him.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdHn8999Cb
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"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQYVHxpjdL
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The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXpTnwv20p
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"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UcSszj3JF
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He doesn't reply.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdPMEwXStA
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I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfjbqVotQC
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Looking at him, I lay my hand on his cheek again and gently swipe my thumb across it. His eyes are nearly closed.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA926jc1Fk
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"Jere, answer me. Jere!"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAqI1KZBrc
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His eyes open slightly at the desperation in my voice, ready to obey but unable to find the energy to comply.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjNCFNLzIt
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"Stay awake." I told him softly.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJExnMnIUI4
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"I will." His mouth reads, but he closes his eyes anyway. He's smiles briefly as I struggled to see through my tears.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnPye167at
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"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd61Vct72Zv
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I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxbueVJjuJ
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"Kiss me," he repeats.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgoDtPm18x
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I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsGSL2JC8d
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With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wK6BIHJwU
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His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvSQHFqkJK
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I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVcBi8zJPH
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Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWEU3ZYJCF
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He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoWiCUpAqt
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Electricity races through me and lingers.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2jhGS1l64
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I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEmDF9xuoU
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But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uKjefsxck
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I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0DyabLgHG
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He suddenly goes limp in my arms.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeYM8rYaHE
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"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DDdOTBLHa
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"Jeremy?"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Zs3IWNt6
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I shake my head, not believing.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwac4Yycs7
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"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ5l5xqZUr
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Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqSuiCzqFQ
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The siren noises was deafening, but I was too numb all over to hear, or feel what was going on around me.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6dpLvbiRX
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I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.1108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqBGteJI8u
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