PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.852Please respect copyright.PENANA6n51ZBq0ME
He's shaking underneath my grasp.852Please respect copyright.PENANATvvxduIw6r
852Please respect copyright.PENANAt39lrJf1ut
"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.852Please respect copyright.PENANAEnzFB2WaBL
852Please respect copyright.PENANA91PZRNVZTx
I run the palm of my hand down his cheek, feeling the cold tears that have managed to escape without me knowing.852Please respect copyright.PENANAzNU6Se2Zhs
852Please respect copyright.PENANACtK07VOZQt
I smile bitterly.852Please respect copyright.PENANAO9RYN74ymb
852Please respect copyright.PENANAscZfBLZBbA
"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.852Please respect copyright.PENANA6MIxiWjQr7
852Please respect copyright.PENANA0RYSplIvCe
"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.852Please respect copyright.PENANAWAJqWgPJXU
852Please respect copyright.PENANAer0HgL8eqc
I continue to stroke his cheek, trying to ignore the amount of blood coming from his side, where I press my free hand onto.852Please respect copyright.PENANA2RPc7bLcps
852Please respect copyright.PENANAiSVr7XXqCi
"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."852Please respect copyright.PENANAvkK63DOQAI
852Please respect copyright.PENANAlWbIHtbHAO
He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.852Please respect copyright.PENANAw7Bthcs8vk
852Please respect copyright.PENANAXS7kxwput3
I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.852Please respect copyright.PENANA1TjDcksF2h
852Please respect copyright.PENANAwTrThp3q6E
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.852Please respect copyright.PENANA4e2f4rOsUM
852Please respect copyright.PENANAtmnVwnr57o
I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.852Please respect copyright.PENANAtm0saUG6D3
852Please respect copyright.PENANA151gw3FLDg
I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.852Please respect copyright.PENANAkEow7rIUcz
852Please respect copyright.PENANAhYWd2eSSBk
I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.852Please respect copyright.PENANAOCqgML1E1O
852Please respect copyright.PENANAtsl35UhM7Y
I must at all cost keep him awake.852Please respect copyright.PENANABZjHJG7YlJ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAZavErWqWKp
"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"852Please respect copyright.PENANAncoYGlrPxZ
852Please respect copyright.PENANA5z0LPttpeK
Feigning a smile I continue my charade.852Please respect copyright.PENANAVbMfd62eEN
852Please respect copyright.PENANAidfcqna66W
"Not that long baby I promise."852Please respect copyright.PENANAPlYGDXzjYb
852Please respect copyright.PENANAOwnts4x8tz
Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.852Please respect copyright.PENANAnZW1zQgkin
852Please respect copyright.PENANAHJWKGDuJyq
My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.852Please respect copyright.PENANAEYihoKkkMW
852Please respect copyright.PENANAbss9A6AB0r
He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.852Please respect copyright.PENANA9ALrNBpDno
852Please respect copyright.PENANALnFe4OwlBr
But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.852Please respect copyright.PENANA4u3tA36hEQ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAdMZH4E97kl
"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.852Please respect copyright.PENANA1mYmLpkse6
852Please respect copyright.PENANA3lhNLXHT86
I frown at him.852Please respect copyright.PENANAbQKAzK2khT
852Please respect copyright.PENANAogSXAmWBgC
"Don't say that."852Please respect copyright.PENANAqDmYn1E9oR
852Please respect copyright.PENANAcrh8ngLez4
He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.852Please respect copyright.PENANAFktQebFTHr
852Please respect copyright.PENANAtgEusofIAr
I gasp.852Please respect copyright.PENANAsRaMMfaP7j
852Please respect copyright.PENANAI4h0wTCwdv
"Jere stop!"852Please respect copyright.PENANAZVhFnu1Nys
852Please respect copyright.PENANA035Jefr4d8
He goes on.852Please respect copyright.PENANAZjuBDc5MoJ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAkWa9Fcbr34
"I'm better off dead anyway. I've always wondered what it would be like." He says this all dream like, his eyes narrowing.852Please respect copyright.PENANAE65dkjshZ3
852Please respect copyright.PENANApdVeFQKMJ0
Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.852Please respect copyright.PENANAaAlPxbTZ7S
852Please respect copyright.PENANAgSffIfDjvQ
"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"852Please respect copyright.PENANAm3EuotHw02
852Please respect copyright.PENANAhrpJkmtOFE
Jere chuckles a little but his eyes don't. He stares up at me bitterly and reaches to brush away my tears.852Please respect copyright.PENANAdMqBKXqjo9
852Please respect copyright.PENANA5GtJ4ccDjH
"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.852Please respect copyright.PENANAAB95BX1Ua3
852Please respect copyright.PENANAQD8bwePWAD
"I won't."852Please respect copyright.PENANAhQM29eMmKd
852Please respect copyright.PENANAOZBJ5XUZIh
He obeys, watching me soberly.852Please respect copyright.PENANAXUQCWwsTKe
852Please respect copyright.PENANAi8uu0vmtJ8
"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.852Please respect copyright.PENANATTw3h41LlY
852Please respect copyright.PENANAxMurbWz46g
All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.852Please respect copyright.PENANAbwDrLkMtQm
852Please respect copyright.PENANA6JSmF9RdfK
I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.852Please respect copyright.PENANAn1zEMnAZPp
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.852Please respect copyright.PENANArg9OiYTMdZ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAxCLiAYfjLz
His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.852Please respect copyright.PENANAtvGxY5Mp18
852Please respect copyright.PENANAxWsawVMM27
"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.852Please respect copyright.PENANAxcmyt9DGaP
852Please respect copyright.PENANAkZt1Y7y4t6
"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"852Please respect copyright.PENANAdFZu18rnLY
852Please respect copyright.PENANABEPSvbT4WF
He tries to nod but he can't.852Please respect copyright.PENANAynwXAaPqNn
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.852Please respect copyright.PENANAw2Aq9xjQXw
852Please respect copyright.PENANAD46Px4m2Gf
I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.852Please respect copyright.PENANAEx7Lp7ehDi
852Please respect copyright.PENANAByhSxqLaQZ
He looks up into mine.852Please respect copyright.PENANAetTjMBvAmG
852Please respect copyright.PENANA2mwlLk8IT1
"Don't leave me." He whispers.852Please respect copyright.PENANAs8Y8MUMIhH
852Please respect copyright.PENANARvQoWV8J2g
"Stay awake." I tell him.852Please respect copyright.PENANAxj2ABkpgdr
852Please respect copyright.PENANASyvGs8xFLL
"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.852Please respect copyright.PENANAjbWG3FDbw3
852Please respect copyright.PENANAG2NeLd8CZi
The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.852Please respect copyright.PENANAFK7MzCZJlw
852Please respect copyright.PENANASGh8kxWq07
"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"852Please respect copyright.PENANATDTzfxG2Oy
852Please respect copyright.PENANAjTPK0lDNv3
He doesn't reply.852Please respect copyright.PENANAp3AGNjpWOp
852Please respect copyright.PENANARs147tjlPa
I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.852Please respect copyright.PENANAv0JUnjnvoY
852Please respect copyright.PENANA3hgajuwENg
Looking at him, I lay my hand on his cheek again and gently swipe my thumb across it. His eyes are nearly closed.852Please respect copyright.PENANA0AgKMBQwBQ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAo4exvvgYfX
"Jere, answer me. Jere!"852Please respect copyright.PENANAIXVxq1xmKA
852Please respect copyright.PENANA6KAdfxHcg9
His eyes open slightly at the desperation in my voice, ready to obey but unable to find the energy to comply.852Please respect copyright.PENANA62Jf4ldrBh
852Please respect copyright.PENANAqthvkXtnn0
"Stay awake." I told him softly.852Please respect copyright.PENANAppSxgx8NwX
852Please respect copyright.PENANAUFMZ0bSDsg
"I will." His mouth reads, but he closes his eyes anyway. He's smiles briefly as I struggled to see through my tears.852Please respect copyright.PENANA1LZ8LQ1RMa
852Please respect copyright.PENANA3YimJKmcyb
"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.852Please respect copyright.PENANAxWnASDCgl1
852Please respect copyright.PENANAAFxB6wKI1S
I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.852Please respect copyright.PENANA8kwfwHYdht
852Please respect copyright.PENANAKXErDgaK3g
"Kiss me," he repeats.852Please respect copyright.PENANAZoWTI5LaBJ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAJTdgcWEXfX
I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.852Please respect copyright.PENANAeI59yU2Ko4
852Please respect copyright.PENANADNEAC5udu8
With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.852Please respect copyright.PENANA3H4QyZxDuL
852Please respect copyright.PENANA4nhgUhp8J0
His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.852Please respect copyright.PENANAIy6XuN06OG
852Please respect copyright.PENANAJyv71JFXI7
I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.852Please respect copyright.PENANAt9kx7iXSwW
852Please respect copyright.PENANAFnlemhyb1Y
Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.852Please respect copyright.PENANADel3pwFxJG
852Please respect copyright.PENANAOn1s7Nplel
He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.852Please respect copyright.PENANAillNhFnuDL
852Please respect copyright.PENANActFKOqEq50
Electricity races through me and lingers.852Please respect copyright.PENANAiFOwaEX37o
852Please respect copyright.PENANA1sxuhrrjlB
I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.852Please respect copyright.PENANA2l8d5quJwx
852Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ2x2KN1OD
But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.852Please respect copyright.PENANAhHdRNHPWJa
852Please respect copyright.PENANA9MBBAwg6Ta
I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.852Please respect copyright.PENANAQY4Uycj8Tq
852Please respect copyright.PENANASfiWa0gKhj
He suddenly goes limp in my arms.852Please respect copyright.PENANA8wCX3LbIiZ
852Please respect copyright.PENANAlKMtpws7Xi
"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.852Please respect copyright.PENANAcS1dopZ5yq
852Please respect copyright.PENANA17fnUxuHAi
"Jeremy?"852Please respect copyright.PENANAsgBxQKl28d
852Please respect copyright.PENANAi97wZmFwgl
I shake my head, not believing.852Please respect copyright.PENANAeNxOyvZGCX
852Please respect copyright.PENANAa83ojkHBtP
"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"852Please respect copyright.PENANAU1RpidQezL
852Please respect copyright.PENANAhSPSZrltLB
Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.852Please respect copyright.PENANAg9s9G1mJ3L
852Please respect copyright.PENANAlCFgW4bbc2
The siren noises was deafening, but I was too numb all over to hear, or feel what was going on around me.852Please respect copyright.PENANA7gW94HF6oK
852Please respect copyright.PENANAtXCh8rx4LJ
I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.