PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsGvKoSa40
He's shaking underneath my grasp.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jIVMgcQf1
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O1YAtqzhM
"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJUicPXNSC
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzCyQulnlu
I run the palm of my hand down his cheek, feeling the cold tears that have managed to escape without me knowing.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX8Op7f2GP
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp3XaI4eky
I smile bitterly.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnXZ0ubNQ6
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtQCt7CCQQ
"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMIRxk1Jhd
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuS7ypmUNS
"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ198W9yL4Gx
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnsiu9400N
I continue to stroke his cheek, trying to ignore the amount of blood coming from his side, where I press my free hand onto.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Ayiim7fh
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfDqKrsMZv
"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE6pBlJvSj
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswyBI2U1LL
He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLvLolzSjH
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaeW1PRVMB
I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2TO9jTkG9
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTFkxDMA6g
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2PpFoPkqF
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZRdHtuX1H
I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpDcDTKtuC
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x6BDcgUG0
I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zHFL19Btt
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUjLI0M0pl
I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgQ8AOilTM
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1oeBc94PD
I must at all cost keep him awake.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjboCTUpETG
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fbcGecvBm
"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMAMzyaPqE
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXILhYizmfr
Feigning a smile I continue my charade.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsT1ktyVtZ
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH2jV7H6Sc
"Not that long baby I promise."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC5OlsGjY5
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0t6SpeCtq
Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyYDTSvRKs
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyFSjUIJ1r
My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7d0lKI9rN
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9o0TMZRYf
He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmQZ7SsNIj
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3umGGWgx2
But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU27mUA8GTu
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VEu64faUL
"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxQI7DzuKT
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW89vMQxHlr
I frown at him.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsagAJ9h0nS
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSvzhMJSI9
"Don't say that."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpseuMeiE5
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBtt9mjRFw
He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x2SoK0S9b
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaAh5O6Ori
I gasp.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS0ru3ovoi
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P2o3kcEOj
"Jere stop!"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckfITQb1UC
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6htl97VAIb
He goes on.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuXStUE1qc
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Vz4HclKe
"I'm better off dead anyway. I've always wondered what it would be like." He says this all dream like, his eyes narrowing.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwYlxV6REp
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ861B6vdS
Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHUR4449Cx
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6MMGm5JCU
"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip62pjPWlF
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEL03XcCbE
Jere chuckles a little but his eyes don't. He stares up at me bitterly and reaches to brush away my tears.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxyjvI5Lwx
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjwSAJRohJ
"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ0dYfc46w
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZweJF0rTw
"I won't."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEgjFd1ZRY
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEUKV8Hesa
He obeys, watching me soberly.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xODsECUIX
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkjVbMfvbb
"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmx3uufgB6
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgu8Uq4BJM
All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tjQ9SaJ36
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PYGwUM6uI
I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaEaBQgB92
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9c5Tx8olf
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIk17iQvyW
His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuk3u31U6I
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTj7qSK117
"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGKVPyOoXi
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z8gxSEZhY
"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn5Jln5kOp
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ7u2KArYF
He tries to nod but he can't.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmdtZDcOuF
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImWxBVbRBP
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqY9Aczrba
I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWW08g2KXN
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKtlOPmdC2
He looks up into mine.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8lwTvgn29
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBmjBtk0eN
"Don't leave me." He whispers.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVKbJdSNHH
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWgq2pdYIz
"Stay awake." I tell him.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYPVDuB4l4
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uTylhhiOw
"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEXqkeR94B
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgsfy8tiPU
The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSxWce6WQ4
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtk31zqGLR
"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk5vHORdHb
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCRBDG4Btx
He doesn't reply.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YZq1WzP6K
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRFCLxtGAc
I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLsBu4uTeV
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNaVwGvVah
Looking at him, I lay my hand on his cheek again and gently swipe my thumb across it. His eyes are nearly closed.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn8Eti28DP
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4gMMbcHiu
"Jere, answer me. Jere!"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6tiBMUORW
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJdhgVYrXy
His eyes open slightly at the desperation in my voice, ready to obey but unable to find the energy to comply.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW8pLkhbvl
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIqOFqtMuj
"Stay awake." I told him softly.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqvC45bf2V
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmC7rd0CH5
"I will." His mouth reads, but he closes his eyes anyway. He's smiles briefly as I struggled to see through my tears.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o7oL66TOQ
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl59jIgviTU
"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPoA8Xrvbc
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DcsUFjql9
I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNhSX8W9bu
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH90WeNclyS
"Kiss me," he repeats.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHpzpn2b42
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMHAlrSmlr
I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULjpBTVVOT
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSkO3nt7s3
With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RfAfAqeTF
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWKE7saJdT
His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3zvTPaA30
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlns9WBbknA
I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13ff7O0B1A
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSfIeCIrSJ
Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyh3C6AWyK
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qs2DiXlBU
He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmjrGOmKmh
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw8Ob0t93m
Electricity races through me and lingers.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KbAQ8eD15
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9CsfkwbFh
I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZRxkbPlfd
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu59gS0peJ
But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3KmqLPAss
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpcHd4SIEf
I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMb380n9Ds
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEBFJl477e
He suddenly goes limp in my arms.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6JwcM056n
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSG1M2fGVE
"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJfdh3UdZg
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR1WFuaqlg
"Jeremy?"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSpjracuZi
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MRPRTDDxN
I shake my head, not believing.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACGIDpSTAn
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8ttsewQRy
"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDsR5DHlmG
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18vRRviPCF
Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6crjM2dXi
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDo9a5SD9E
The siren noises was deafening, but I was too numb all over to hear, or feel what was going on around me.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoLAqjxBu5
831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI2ZBYeXFP
I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.
