PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAiIVKeWK0aF
He's shaking underneath my grasp.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA1Pl6NqwQHW
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"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAHnIndLWPBG
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAcgLNbLR46X
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I smile bitterly.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA62h8FtydBW
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"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAmFuwKGnVHH
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"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAAyvmj6LEOX
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANACJNzRLhMg1
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"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."1053Please respect copyright.PENANAOnMJgr5xeR
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He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAGa6SBHyI6a
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I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAwk7ODuOiok
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANADa99N9FGWJ
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I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAdQU6eoqMfK
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I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAnddfFUlIfO
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I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAl6g8CWQLHO
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I must at all cost keep him awake.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAM3y1u6aUVm
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"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"1053Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0xTaISrcg
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Feigning a smile I continue my charade.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAxJLUTMJTVr
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"Not that long baby I promise."1053Please respect copyright.PENANAt2Q789t4X6
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Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAci3hI3GB3I
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My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.1053Please respect copyright.PENANABZHZdqEasc
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He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA6bfPFwFU1f
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But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAE8x6MmPCyN
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"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAHyOakKZlbA
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I frown at him.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAjlbjUipfog
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"Don't say that."1053Please respect copyright.PENANAw132xFeAvy
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He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAWTf9At4fuG
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I gasp.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAH0gT0ndTl2
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"Jere stop!"1053Please respect copyright.PENANAj0Zq1QZj91
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He goes on.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAvynOCxDnpt
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAo6QigxmiMY
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Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAgXT8H5xeOd
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"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"1053Please respect copyright.PENANA1EHk0zJtAl
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAtq0E8jBekx
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"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA3B7NGlBFZd
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"I won't."1053Please respect copyright.PENANAA8vrhlsUgO
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He obeys, watching me soberly.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA1bxqIkRmfD
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"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.1053Please respect copyright.PENANATEgQ4B6bEU
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All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAI7DrmO0IR2
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I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.1053Please respect copyright.PENANARKXdXIFpbv
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA6fdBDltvkd
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His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAWwKKzxY0su
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"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAotow3vwWh0
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"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"1053Please respect copyright.PENANAiooXzCftsP
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He tries to nod but he can't.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAPtTWyH9wqN
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAXI907WVREW
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I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAHmqmTOnmXE
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He looks up into mine.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAWIC94N9P7B
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"Don't leave me." He whispers.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAVsKdqiUADk
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"Stay awake." I tell him.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAVrY44hSOPP
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"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAq3yWvjZNlK
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The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZdSv0edRg
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"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"1053Please respect copyright.PENANATqYqySJ035
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He doesn't reply.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAXqUCVruYVr
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I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAFWG4w2jbZK
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAh5zOPeqElE
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"Jere, answer me. Jere!"1053Please respect copyright.PENANAbgebLtDkxD
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAsk1p8HD335
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"Stay awake." I told him softly.1053Please respect copyright.PENANARtBhdTungP
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAINt5bFCiWq
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"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAItEkLv50KD
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I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.1053Please respect copyright.PENANARii2CXATJT
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"Kiss me," he repeats.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAThNZxm350m
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I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAXqBso0gvix
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With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAQiFirkmSc8
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His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.1053Please respect copyright.PENANArdqKjUysAm
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I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAU9ET8szH7b
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Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAIgeIea67Yg
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He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAYejdJGXEIV
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Electricity races through me and lingers.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAS7zkIeuaNm
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I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAndxi9URXp7
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But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAI2jLBafd2x
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I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.1053Please respect copyright.PENANA8bBOc75Few
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He suddenly goes limp in my arms.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAy7cVpuUWxd
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"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAittTwS3lpf
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"Jeremy?"1053Please respect copyright.PENANA2bfkdiJu5y
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I shake my head, not believing.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAKg0O0e0oiX
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"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"1053Please respect copyright.PENANACvvZAl3tDf
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Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAbGRDJDLNNq
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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.1053Please respect copyright.PENANAT7UlWQvE1e
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I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.1053Please respect copyright.PENANArOrivXTv4A
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