PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.562Please respect copyright.PENANA5SCNnv5LNX
He's shaking underneath my grasp.562Please respect copyright.PENANAqzRvKQOhYz
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"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.562Please respect copyright.PENANAYeeseyqGEm
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAT4xYopx0ev
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I smile bitterly.562Please respect copyright.PENANA33FJnonpsX
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"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.562Please respect copyright.PENANApeRI8QXJXS
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"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.562Please respect copyright.PENANAq6kB5FA7zM
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAAHkRuukCko
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"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."562Please respect copyright.PENANAKpNsRRyErI
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He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.562Please respect copyright.PENANAPjdq42BHt5
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I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.562Please respect copyright.PENANA9RZfmzDp6t
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANA8Qia1TpgzS
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I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.562Please respect copyright.PENANATXJper1X7K
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I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.562Please respect copyright.PENANAkWUH23A9z5
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I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.562Please respect copyright.PENANA2kuVQACSLt
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I must at all cost keep him awake.562Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5nF0GVksw
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"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"562Please respect copyright.PENANAAoRjOtwWgc
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Feigning a smile I continue my charade.562Please respect copyright.PENANALmlc1dLGKq
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"Not that long baby I promise."562Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ph3GnYKcS
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Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.562Please respect copyright.PENANAzvvasnVSG0
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My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.562Please respect copyright.PENANAM4OfKnTjRX
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He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.562Please respect copyright.PENANA4euGeBD6Gu
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But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.562Please respect copyright.PENANAoBNpLFJ77S
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"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.562Please respect copyright.PENANAAAhJMdV1Zl
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I frown at him.562Please respect copyright.PENANAsZgKquFNeH
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"Don't say that."562Please respect copyright.PENANAIznFZKfhPO
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He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.562Please respect copyright.PENANAxWEgCUUVKg
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I gasp.562Please respect copyright.PENANASaYRCvylHD
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"Jere stop!"562Please respect copyright.PENANAr43UsRVyeo
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He goes on.562Please respect copyright.PENANABIOPUDRvmx
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAbb3LKK3a10
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Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.562Please respect copyright.PENANAokCGMvVwar
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"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"562Please respect copyright.PENANAlPKhgWZ99u
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAMhFfUpGpT5
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"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.562Please respect copyright.PENANAYx6GmmFBkB
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"I won't."562Please respect copyright.PENANAw9c9lEg7s2
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He obeys, watching me soberly.562Please respect copyright.PENANA2mNSwk5mSB
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"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.562Please respect copyright.PENANAkK6qbwQbQU
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All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.562Please respect copyright.PENANALQdMK9nEoU
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I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.562Please respect copyright.PENANAeJ9lejmcNy
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.562Please respect copyright.PENANAKWnRHGJy1N
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His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.562Please respect copyright.PENANAq68l1hcgSi
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"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.562Please respect copyright.PENANAspkmmzVgKK
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"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"562Please respect copyright.PENANA1cNs1sh93k
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He tries to nod but he can't.562Please respect copyright.PENANAv2era0lU31
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.562Please respect copyright.PENANADh71jaSNSQ
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I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.562Please respect copyright.PENANAzxvygBisi6
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He looks up into mine.562Please respect copyright.PENANAT6oCkUOjKl
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"Don't leave me." He whispers.562Please respect copyright.PENANACosM6Xo2nT
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"Stay awake." I tell him.562Please respect copyright.PENANANA4dZAQLaF
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"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.562Please respect copyright.PENANAIjSCaMnlCN
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The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.562Please respect copyright.PENANAWd7EMIa4c1
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"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"562Please respect copyright.PENANAkcyS1NUBdW
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He doesn't reply.562Please respect copyright.PENANABRA55pMcJA
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I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.562Please respect copyright.PENANATBRMmV948U
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAaQtWKLqfbS
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"Jere, answer me. Jere!"562Please respect copyright.PENANAgNlYqEITeL
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAHGkN6Sv5jx
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"Stay awake." I told him softly.562Please respect copyright.PENANAJujtbDUXmf
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANAi4AsN8JcHu
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"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.562Please respect copyright.PENANAYW02dM63Fx
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I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.562Please respect copyright.PENANAMHdbm00aPw
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"Kiss me," he repeats.562Please respect copyright.PENANA4Vx2n6U8Sj
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I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.562Please respect copyright.PENANAU424j91z5C
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With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.562Please respect copyright.PENANA82I20xo0wG
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His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.562Please respect copyright.PENANApz7DwLJ80z
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I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.562Please respect copyright.PENANA9j7rWYUl5a
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Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.562Please respect copyright.PENANA1Q8JCCWnIU
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He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.562Please respect copyright.PENANANtLShOcqHW
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Electricity races through me and lingers.562Please respect copyright.PENANANDHGnC3HLW
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I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.562Please respect copyright.PENANAkH1Am8FQVg
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But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.562Please respect copyright.PENANAP24lgQqEwg
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I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.562Please respect copyright.PENANA9uc0hGNoGU
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He suddenly goes limp in my arms.562Please respect copyright.PENANA7kZbvMrOHu
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"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.562Please respect copyright.PENANAGGzSqjrcXg
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"Jeremy?"562Please respect copyright.PENANAVvedEiKGnD
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I shake my head, not believing.562Please respect copyright.PENANA8LJU34Xxyk
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"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"562Please respect copyright.PENANAvcTARTaos2
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Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.562Please respect copyright.PENANAgmNxnhc9U8
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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.562Please respect copyright.PENANA9AChITVfRL
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I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.