Eighteen

The waiting room, the lobby, the hallways, all passed in a blur as I walked alone to Adrian’s room. My feet knew the way by now, and I didn’t have to pay attention with my mind. Hanna was standing outside the door when I came to a halt in front of her.

She gave me a hug, and I hugged her back, feeling the tears on her cheeks. I kissed her cheek and murmured, “I know, Hanna. I know.” She only seemed more upset by that and Uncle Rob took over.

I closed the door behind me as I entered the quite room. The IV was beeping gently, making me relax to the sounds of his heartbeat. At least I knew that much of him was still alive. My feet moved forward to the chair pulled up beside him.

He looked peaceful. Lovely and peaceful, despite his scars and bruises and lack of hair. I ran my hand over his peach fuzz with a weak smile on my face before I took hold of his hand.

I stared at him, knowing that I’d never see his stone grey eyes open. Or hear the sound of his laughter. I wouldn’t let myself cry again though; he wouldn’t have wanted me to cry over him. This was the last time I would look at him. Look at him while he was still alive.

But he really wasn’t. If he couldn’t laugh and joke and be himself, he was dead already. Leaning forward slowly, I kissed his cold lips, tasting his last breaths.

“I love you.”

As I pulled away I almost thought I heard an, I know you know that I do to. I smiled, stroking his fingers fondly. For a moment, I thought I was imagining it, but then I could honestly feel a piece of paper crumpled into his hand. With trembling fingers I pulled it away and unraveled it.

It was short, only a paragraph and a single sentence left adrift at the bottom of the torn page. I was on the back of a page from the book King Author that I’d given him a long time ago.

Mea, if I don’t see you again, I’m expecting my mom to give this to you as soon as she can. I want to give you something that can’t be put into a will. I know you need inspiration to write your story. But I need you to find a way to write one, for me. I decided to give you a start. Maybe it’ll help you along.

It was an average day. Average as could be.

Blinking, I let out a small, true laugh. I knew that he was gone now, that he would never come back to smile at me, and that I’d never see him again. I knew my heart would ache for him, and that I would be alone in my new town. But suddenly, that didn’t seem so bad anymore, because he’d shown me so much…

With a determined grin I pulled out my notebook and pen from my bag, clicking the pen and putting it to a fresh sheet of paper.

It was an average day. Average as could be.
You know those days when the snow’s been gone for a few weeks and it’s just beginning to look like the worst of the cold is over….