“I love you,” he rasps out, the force of him talking causing more blood to flow down his chin and onto his neck. “Forever.”
His eyes close, his chest stuttering as Reid shouts, “Fuck! Fly faster! We need that chopper now.”
“Luke,” I sob out, the lump in my throat so big I can barely breathe. “No. No, no, no.” I lift and look at his pale face. His chest isn’t moving, and for the first time since my mom died, I close my eyes and pray. I pray to a God I was sure wasn’t there, but right now I need him more than I’ve needed anything. From all the suffering should come some happiness, but when I open my eyes and look over at Reid, I see the small shake of his head telling me it’s too late.
My hand wraps around Luke’s, so big compared to mine. I close my eyes as I move onto my side, lying next to him just like I did last night after I gave him every single piece of me.
“Take me too,” I plead, my voice a whisper. “Take me with him.”
LILY
These things are always portrayed on a rainy day in the movies, dark clouds storming over as if the world is in mourning with you. But that’s not how real life is. In reality, the sun shines, millions of people around the world laughing and having fun while you stand at the edge of a grave, readying yourself to watch a casket lower down into it.
I’m numb. Every single part of me all cried out.
But that’s not the truth, is it? I’ll never be cried out, I’ll never forget what he did.
A hand grasps onto mine and I look up at Kay, seeing the sheen of tears covering her eyes, but she holds them back as the priest finishes his hymn.
I’m surrounded by people who love me—Kay, Kitty, Charlie, Ty, Evan, Lexi, and Kim. But the most important one isn’t here. He isn’t standing by my side, helping me through this.
They lower his coffin into the ground and yet I still feel nothing. It’s like someone reached inside me and switched off all my emotions, saving me from myself.
People gather, trying to talk to me, to offer their condolences but they’re meaningless. Nothing matters now.
I don’t move, my feet stuck to the ground, just like that day.
“We should head inside,” Kay says softly, but all I can muster is a shake of my head as I watch the grounds men start to cover the coffin with dirt.
“I need to watch,” I tell her, and when I look over at her, she nods in understanding before stepping away and taking Ty’s hand.
Turning back to face the hole they’re filling, I stay rooted to the ground. Long after the sun is high in the sky, long after they finish covering him, long after my muscles start to cramp.
My eyes close as I imagine his arms wrapping around me but it’s just that—my imagination.
“Time for you to let it go, darlin’.” I swallow at the sound of his voice, that trip finally switching back on, bringing with it a sob that bubbles up inside me. “It’s done.”
I shake my head, not believing it as I open my eyes, but when he squeezes my waist, I realize it’s real.
Gasping, I spin around, tears running freely down my cheeks as I look at him for the first time in weeks. “Luke,” I whisper, not believing he’s really here.
“Hey, darlin’.” His lips lift on one side, the blue in his eyes flaring to life as I reach up and frame his face in my hands.
“What are you doing here?” I shake my head before lifting on my tiptoes and pressing my lips to his, being careful of his still healing injuries.
“I told you I’d always be here for you,” he says when I pull back. “Even if that means signing myself out of the hospital and taking a four-hour flight to get to you… to hold you.”
The sob I was holding back finally breaks free.
I was sure he was gone that day. His chest had stopped moving, his breaths not sawing in and out of him. He was dead.
Was.
I have no doubt in my mind had that helicopter not taken him that he wouldn’t be standing here in front of me now, sunglasses on the top of his head, his arm in a sling, and his face thinner than I’ve ever seen it.
“I need you,” he says, his voice broken.
I nod, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You have me.”