PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.759Please respect copyright.PENANAat3kFj91Re
He's shaking underneath my grasp.759Please respect copyright.PENANA9j7QMFU5fe
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"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.759Please respect copyright.PENANAy6JftKCN3o
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAdwo5uVVVfd
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I smile bitterly.759Please respect copyright.PENANAEwbb0abrs1
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"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.759Please respect copyright.PENANAho0aC4joPq
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"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.759Please respect copyright.PENANAGcZuO2khhR
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAKhrooCrCeS
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"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."759Please respect copyright.PENANAvTZiewTMCJ
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He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.759Please respect copyright.PENANAR5xS944XIr
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I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.759Please respect copyright.PENANARRKaShK5W3
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAik1a6ZCyIJ
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I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.759Please respect copyright.PENANAJRtmn0dMbz
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I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.759Please respect copyright.PENANAxgvcacD8hV
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I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.759Please respect copyright.PENANAtcyzSTikWG
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I must at all cost keep him awake.759Please respect copyright.PENANA5mueatD6Ga
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"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"759Please respect copyright.PENANAc5gDJQjIl8
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Feigning a smile I continue my charade.759Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ6pIdAXjA
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"Not that long baby I promise."759Please respect copyright.PENANABizE5RVdQ6
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Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.759Please respect copyright.PENANAbAH50Z8PqS
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My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.759Please respect copyright.PENANA6P0XWoh7Nc
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He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.759Please respect copyright.PENANA1DZG50bXhI
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But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.759Please respect copyright.PENANANeDDfJYjHY
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"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.759Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7dSTD0c33
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I frown at him.759Please respect copyright.PENANAKbTJ29QwYx
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"Don't say that."759Please respect copyright.PENANAzi93FR0Lza
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He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.759Please respect copyright.PENANAyrsNUe3BWR
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I gasp.759Please respect copyright.PENANA5xbKXUttbv
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"Jere stop!"759Please respect copyright.PENANAoc25uFAiTm
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He goes on.759Please respect copyright.PENANAUGYbMeXdYk
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAxIA1LS278B
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Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.759Please respect copyright.PENANADl9s4Lb5TO
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"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"759Please respect copyright.PENANAfW2noWH4Q3
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAsxGhJLPwvZ
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"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.759Please respect copyright.PENANA3bFtWdPj3h
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"I won't."759Please respect copyright.PENANAjhpiy9ydJM
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He obeys, watching me soberly.759Please respect copyright.PENANAMxxA4tWffz
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"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.759Please respect copyright.PENANAjpayWETJGB
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All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.759Please respect copyright.PENANAs0Ixufc7hI
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I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.759Please respect copyright.PENANAGmYk9887QH
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.759Please respect copyright.PENANAmaRAdA9drs
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His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.759Please respect copyright.PENANAWg7j444c6N
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"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.759Please respect copyright.PENANAbImoEpQj9B
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"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"759Please respect copyright.PENANAk4UgYMKLBB
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He tries to nod but he can't.759Please respect copyright.PENANA7i9RUwdg1R
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.759Please respect copyright.PENANAYowQtTKjVI
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I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.759Please respect copyright.PENANADqRqnhTawf
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He looks up into mine.759Please respect copyright.PENANAkYc58yF3aQ
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"Don't leave me." He whispers.759Please respect copyright.PENANA9gbKef0qX8
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"Stay awake." I tell him.759Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZH9i2e7sw
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"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.759Please respect copyright.PENANA49euZBY0Zy
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The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.759Please respect copyright.PENANAbzAiWTDzA2
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"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"759Please respect copyright.PENANAwRHOCjzWef
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He doesn't reply.759Please respect copyright.PENANAwgoYq8byAX
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I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.759Please respect copyright.PENANAnwz11edr9o
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANARinPkF40wo
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"Jere, answer me. Jere!"759Please respect copyright.PENANAm6leGQRhtu
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAAoyUPAqiWQ
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"Stay awake." I told him softly.759Please respect copyright.PENANAtwRv6wOvr0
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAEhHtfSI9wT
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"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.759Please respect copyright.PENANAlQNAcuoAVU
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I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.759Please respect copyright.PENANA7OxJScLfyS
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"Kiss me," he repeats.759Please respect copyright.PENANAoiN0kebzPX
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I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.759Please respect copyright.PENANAaGyhEpUmZX
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With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.759Please respect copyright.PENANAyzyCkDdghp
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His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.759Please respect copyright.PENANAmxR6tcXfsf
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I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.759Please respect copyright.PENANA5xrXYvdXhM
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Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.759Please respect copyright.PENANAdbrxZOS42J
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He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.759Please respect copyright.PENANArCQqd4Yz5d
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Electricity races through me and lingers.759Please respect copyright.PENANA6S8xSGhlxL
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I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.759Please respect copyright.PENANAuutfQpiYBy
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But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.759Please respect copyright.PENANAyvuyeAv6Ef
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I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.759Please respect copyright.PENANAWukh0kbifN
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He suddenly goes limp in my arms.759Please respect copyright.PENANAhGViOJa9lL
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"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.759Please respect copyright.PENANAvyOyusU8Cv
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"Jeremy?"759Please respect copyright.PENANAbUrHtLbFYq
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I shake my head, not believing.759Please respect copyright.PENANAijaSKnzV4P
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"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"759Please respect copyright.PENANAW2IWk9DkaP
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Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.759Please respect copyright.PENANAJPY6ZZLhp6
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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.759Please respect copyright.PENANAvGZibCScWo
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I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.