Kisses of Fire (boyxboy)

Chapter 60 - Death and Remembrance

A loud repetition of a heart monitor was heard aloud the cold hospital room. It was way after visiting hours and had just turned midnight; the lights were on, and both the couch and chair were occupied by the parents of the unconscious boy lying in bed. His skin was pale; his body laid stiff with wires and tubes everywhere. His room was decorated in get-well cards and balloons with flowers from multiple people, and visitors had come and gone with family members getting on the first plane they could when they heard of the accident.

His health wasn't getting any better, and soon it would be proven as the heart monitor changed from one beep after the other to one long beep.

.

He opened his eyes and looked around at the bright basketball court in front of him. He was at the entrance, looking down, and he seemed confused for a second until the sound of laughter and a ball dribbling caught his attention. When he looked up, he saw three boys playing and a young girl who looked to be 17, sitting on the bleachers watching. He knew exactly where he was; he was in the same gym where it all started back in August, and it could only mean one thing.

Hearing another laugh, that one laugh, in particular, caught his attention, and he started walking over, almost running to get to the boy who just shot a three-pointer.

"Dad would be proud of that one." The boy who laughed said as he caught the ball.

The voice he knew too well made him run over, calling out his name. "Cooper!" He yelled.

At the sound of his name, Cooper turned and the biggest smile ever suddenly etched on his face. He ran over and yelled out as well, "River!" Finally reaching each other, River took him into his arms and hugged him so tight that his feet were off the ground. "Haha, I missed you too."

River took Cooper's face in his hands and looked him in the eye. Cooper never looked away, and River knew whatever place he was, wasn't his reality. Not caring, though, he bombarded Cooper with questions, "Where am I? Why are you here? Who are all these people?"

Cooper gave him a small smile and ran his fingers through the tall boy's hair, "You shouldn't be here."

"I don't even know where here is." River once again hugged Cooper, and he didn't want to let go.

Cooper pulled away, though and his small smile turned into a sad one. "You need to go back. You're not done yet."

River still didn't know what that meant. "I don't want to leave you."

They held each other's hands, and Cooper played with them like he always did. "I'm not going anywhere, silly; I'm right here." He said, touching Rivers heart that wasn't beating. Cooper sighed and removed his hand, "Mines not beating either."

His words almost made River break down right there as he interlocked their fingers and kissed Cooper's hand. "I know, and I'm so sorry."

Cooper smiled once again and laughed, "It's not your fault," he reassured him. "You're not done yet, River; I know you think you are, but you have a little more to go. Remember what you said? We'll always have each other right here," He said, running his fingers through Rivers hair, indicating he meant his head before letting it fall to his heart, "and right here."

River just shook his head, and he wasn't even trying to hide his tears, "No, Cooper, I want to be with you. I'm supposed to protect you."