:: John’s POV ::

BEFORE

I saw the bullet come out of the gun, and I saw it whiz towards James and I. I made an effort to fall to the ground, but James hadn’t reacted to the bullet. He had only recoiled from the sound of the shot.

“DUCK!” I yelled at him, I knew he had seen it, but something was stopping him from taking action. He had frozen up. I tried pulling on him, but he wouldn’t budge. Slowly the bullet made contact with his back, and I saw it enter him. He then began to fall to the ground.

I wanted to catch him, honestly I did, but all I could see were images of jumpers, letting go off the sides of bridges or off cliffs. He hit the ground and the sirens faded away. I wanted to scream at them to come back, and save him – but I knew this was no use.

What had happened to Jared, was now happening to James and I couldn’t feel any more alone then I did right now. Here. Crying out for help.

The tears rolled down my face more like a hail storm in winter. Each one of them dropping on the pavement and making an imprint. I crawled over to his body, and I turned him over.

I pressed my ears to his heart and I could hear a small beat inside his chest.

Thump. Thump.

I ripped off my shirt and used it to mop up the blood, and I placed it where his wound was, letting him lie on it so it would keep pressure to the hole.

Thump.

I pressed my hands on his chest and tried to do that CPR move thing, trying to maybe keep him sustained until the ambulance got here.

Ambulance!

Thump.

I whipped out my phone and quickly dialed 911, one hand still pressing on his chest. I sandwiched the phone between my ear and my shoulder and delicately unbuttoned his shirt so I could see his perfect, yet damaged, chest. I kept applying pressure, as I waited for the answer.

“Hello, 911 Emergency Services, how can I help you?”

“My boyfriend,” I choked out, “shot.” I told them the road we were on, and I dropped the phone feeling his heart go slower and slower.

Thump.

My “CPR” wasn’t doing him any good. I cried, and continued yelling for someone to help – but for some reason no one heard me. No one at all.

I placed my mouth on his and tried breathing into him. I plugged his nose and took a gasp of air, breathed it out, another gasp of air, more breathing.

Way back in the distance I could hear a siren. Quiet, but sure enough. Help was on its way! Help was on its way!

I gave a final sigh of relief, and kept breathing. I pushed his chest, hoping to revitalize him, but nothing was happening, in fact – it was probably getting worse.

Thu-

I felt his body go cold as one last thump was interrupted by his brainwaves no longer communicating with any other part of his body. His heart no longer pumping blood.

I leaned over his dead body and I pressed my lips against his once more, but this time it wasn’t for the purpose of saving him. It was me saying goodbye.

The ambulance reared itself into a parked position next to me and they came out with a stretcher and loaded him up.

But I knew it was too late. I would have said something to them – except I couldn’t. My own heart had jumped into my throat and was keeping me from speaking. I had extended his life as long as I could, and I never got a “thank you”.

I looked at the spot where he used to be, and slowly I whispered, “I love you.”

I got up and I walked to the sidewalk, dizzy. My vision went in and out of focus, and suddenly everything went black, and I dropped like a bag of stones.

AFTER

I woke up on the side of the street, a blanket strewn across my body. The moon was high in the sky in its mocking full shape.

At least someone’s complete.

I rolled over and remembered all that had happened in the past 12 hours and I began to cry. I shoved my hands in my pockets and felt a rolled up joint and a note. I pulled it out and it read, “Just one of those days.” I fumbled for my lighter and went to light it up, when I realized that I should honor James’ last moments. I shut off the flames and stuck everything back into my pocket and fell asleep.