PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.593Please respect copyright.PENANA0jGmo8i90Q
He's shaking underneath my grasp.593Please respect copyright.PENANAKR3I70nfAb
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"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.593Please respect copyright.PENANATMYIi6FYhT
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAWDHMjF6A0Z
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I smile bitterly.593Please respect copyright.PENANAFITwCqZqrh
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"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.593Please respect copyright.PENANAZxiFaKsSam
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"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.593Please respect copyright.PENANArZGwSdzhJo
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAPnC7LKNMgA
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"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."593Please respect copyright.PENANA696oL97g0T
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He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.593Please respect copyright.PENANARLzekLa4Rx
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I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.593Please respect copyright.PENANAB9LGMEQeCr
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAhn37SRelRq
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I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.593Please respect copyright.PENANAIuMbHYGzE2
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I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.593Please respect copyright.PENANAgZr7y18zQj
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I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.593Please respect copyright.PENANAUCAgpZdtc9
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I must at all cost keep him awake.593Please respect copyright.PENANAbzHlVOgwiA
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"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"593Please respect copyright.PENANAGzkf5pNO2E
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Feigning a smile I continue my charade.593Please respect copyright.PENANAAvtfyeVNNe
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"Not that long baby I promise."593Please respect copyright.PENANA7VT3uFMFoU
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Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.593Please respect copyright.PENANAMlFW6BZlBk
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My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.593Please respect copyright.PENANA70ZwxFE91n
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He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.593Please respect copyright.PENANAYkPmUbhu8u
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But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.593Please respect copyright.PENANA5kkjaBUy4H
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"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.593Please respect copyright.PENANAPDkYQIwXEi
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I frown at him.593Please respect copyright.PENANAz9lfWOPfKf
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"Don't say that."593Please respect copyright.PENANAvkyLVYlJSR
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He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.593Please respect copyright.PENANAkxz6TbEBuV
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I gasp.593Please respect copyright.PENANAznYhYIVECv
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"Jere stop!"593Please respect copyright.PENANACVGx66Qqi0
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He goes on.593Please respect copyright.PENANAakRLdD1K0H
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAEcYLP4Y4Um
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Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.593Please respect copyright.PENANA3OVquT3thQ
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"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"593Please respect copyright.PENANAX60TtojZxY
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mv2jObXul
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"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.593Please respect copyright.PENANAWjfADCLVcd
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"I won't."593Please respect copyright.PENANAisc3xVJiYD
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He obeys, watching me soberly.593Please respect copyright.PENANAqcHTcqGpj6
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"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.593Please respect copyright.PENANAsebB6PRMpz
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All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.593Please respect copyright.PENANAxt6hymAWAP
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I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.593Please respect copyright.PENANA68t7kjswhw
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.593Please respect copyright.PENANAseY4ih73ZB
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His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.593Please respect copyright.PENANAwvQvio0MEK
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"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.593Please respect copyright.PENANAziRuzgRt8g
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"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"593Please respect copyright.PENANAz14TAk9pT4
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He tries to nod but he can't.593Please respect copyright.PENANA8urKVIUHDF
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.593Please respect copyright.PENANAsjvDXoBBbr
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I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.593Please respect copyright.PENANAEoA0S1jztB
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He looks up into mine.593Please respect copyright.PENANAPE8IrmfJLu
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"Don't leave me." He whispers.593Please respect copyright.PENANAQvx1FBPf9g
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"Stay awake." I tell him.593Please respect copyright.PENANABP0sxBtEx7
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"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.593Please respect copyright.PENANAtIeHzqluwe
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The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.593Please respect copyright.PENANAarsHKxfWyY
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"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"593Please respect copyright.PENANA9qS1Bvd76Z
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He doesn't reply.593Please respect copyright.PENANAubZaEvVmvh
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I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.593Please respect copyright.PENANABW77LtIpFg
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAfUsHR9Tqqc
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"Jere, answer me. Jere!"593Please respect copyright.PENANA5qGmNekb4A
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA2QfVYgudmj
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"Stay awake." I told him softly.593Please respect copyright.PENANALqs6jZTj1c
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAXw5fxQLt86
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"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.593Please respect copyright.PENANASxJesRmNQ9
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I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.593Please respect copyright.PENANAudx159Yj4y
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"Kiss me," he repeats.593Please respect copyright.PENANAQz3eBnoRWy
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I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.593Please respect copyright.PENANAukiIQWXj5f
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With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.593Please respect copyright.PENANAqppqQM6pMx
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His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.593Please respect copyright.PENANAvRJFCSKnke
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I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.593Please respect copyright.PENANAbbFSVRqoii
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Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.593Please respect copyright.PENANATPMxwkOFDL
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He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.593Please respect copyright.PENANA9OqoOntd0V
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Electricity races through me and lingers.593Please respect copyright.PENANA6x3ljpVxin
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I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.593Please respect copyright.PENANA3XKahTSOwB
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But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.593Please respect copyright.PENANAo9jwyCJn2M
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I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.593Please respect copyright.PENANAG0QlZpNOBe
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He suddenly goes limp in my arms.593Please respect copyright.PENANAqFgVfDKGzF
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"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.593Please respect copyright.PENANAdzUe8WRJDL
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"Jeremy?"593Please respect copyright.PENANAOYKFehBPh4
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I shake my head, not believing.593Please respect copyright.PENANAl62mZK4jR0
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"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"593Please respect copyright.PENANArJclm2BEEC
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Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.593Please respect copyright.PENANAazdyItUogw
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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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA38pqWu8GkZ
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I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.