Their Scars (COMPLETE)

Chapter 39

Collin felt his heart sink, but was doing all he could to keep himself together for Kayla.
"Keep talking, baby. Keep talking to me, ok? What happened?"
"I don't remember...........the color of my nightgown. I wasn't wearing it very long."
"Because we took each other's clothes off. Remember me holding you, making love to you, for the first time?"
"Yes. I remember."
"That night, I made love to you for the first time," Collin said, smiling. "And I remember thinking I wanted to spend every minute of my life loving you. That night, all I ever wanted was to love you, to take care of you and protect you, and watch you grow and live happily, with a happy future, for the rest of our lives."
"You did! You did!" Kayla whispered, her voice growing weaker with each word.
Collin smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you more than any person I've ever known, Kayla. I love you more than anyone I've ever met. I love you more than anything in the world. I love you, Kayla."
"Mmmm..." She said her grip on his hand loosening. "Are we at the waterfall?"
"Yes, baby," Collin said, trying to sound happy. "We're almost there."
"Can I have some water?" She asked.

"I'll get you some water, baby." He said, trying to sound strong. He held his canteen to her mouth and she drank a few sips. Her breathing was labored and her head fell back.

"Please hold on Kayla," Collin begged, kissing her hand.
"I love you, baby. You have to stay with me." He begged, kissing her hand.
"No...." Kayla whispered. "It's too late, isn't it?" She gasped, as her eyes stared past him, into the darkness.

"Kayla, please," Collin said, kissing her forehead. "You can't give up, Kayla. You've been through worse. "
She let out a shaky breath.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," Collin said, trying not to cry. He couldn't keep her safe, and now there was the real danger that they would both die.
Collin tried to lift her. He cradled her in his arms. He tried to wrap the blanket around Kayla. Her skin was so cold.
"Please, make the pain go away...." She whispered. "I can't feel you anymore."
Collin kissed her, trying to warm her up. "I love you, Kayla...."

"It's freezing." She said, shivering. Collin was sweating from the heat. Collin held her head to his chest.
Collin closed his eyes, holding her tight. "I'm not going to let you go."
"I'm sorry....." She whispered.
"Shhhh...." He soothed. "Shhh.....don't be sorry." He looked back to see Kayla's eyes wide open, gazing at the stars.
"You showed me those stars...." She said, her voice sounding weak.
"Don't die...don't leave me. Shhhh...it'll be okay, baby." Collin said.
The base lights came into view.
"I love you, Kayla. Hang on, baby." Collin gave the biggest push he could afford on the accelerator; the engine whined, and the ancient truck sped forward.

"I can't breathe," Kayla muttered. She let out a single, faint sob. "I can't see you."
"I'm so sorry, Kayla," Collin said, all his hope lost. "I'm so sorry. Shhhhh... it's okay. I'm going to take care of you." He tried to say. It hurt to breathe. He knew how it felt. Collin had felt that pain.
Collin hugged her to him, trying to warm her. Kayla's skin was cold and clammy. Kayla had stopped shuddering.

"Hang on, Kayla." Collin kept talking to her as he drove. He would never let her go. "Hold on for me, please." He kept one hand on her shoulder. Collin was sobbing now.

"I love you....please stay with me, Kayla."

"....I guess I'll just close my eyes...." Kayla whispered.

"Don't go. Please don't go." Collin sobbed. Tears streamed down his face.
"Hold my hand..." She begged, her voice fading. "Please hold my hand."

Kayla grabbed his hand with the last of her strength.
"I won't let go." He promised. Even when his face was wet with tears, he held onto her hand, not wanting to let go.

"I'm almost there. I love you, Kayla." He whispered.
He kept his eyes open, straining to see.
"I don't want to die," Kayla said. "I don't want to die." She tried to pull his hand closer. "....I'm scared."

"I promise....I'll keep you safe," Collin promised. "I love you."
"I love you back," Kayla said, weakly.

Collin held her hand to his mouth. He knew that he couldn't do this on his own. He wiped his eyes. The tears were blinding, but he couldn't stop them.

"Hang on, baby." He said, trying to keep his voice strong.

Collin closed his eyes and just held her.

"I love you, Collin," Kayla said, her eyes opening. "Don't let go of me...I love you."

"I want you to live... I want so much more." Collin said, whispering so only Kayla could hear him.

It was close.
"Hang on, baby." He said. He drove as hard as he could. "Hold on for me. I'm almost there." He wouldn't let her go. He had to save her. It wasn't fair.

"Please, stay strong. I can't lose you." Collin said his voice breaking.

"I hate this. It just keeps getting darker." She said, her voice unsteady.
"I'm so sorry, Kayla," Collin said, trying to hold her hand. "I promised you."
" I don't want to be alone...." Kayla said, closing her eyes. He held her tight.

Collin shook her. "Hang on, baby! Just wait for me. Hold on."

"I can't. I can't." She said. Kayla went limp. Her breath was quick and shallow now.
"I can't hold on anymore...I can't anymore....." Kayla's voice was weak.
Collin kept holding her.

"Don't be scared, baby. I'm here, Kayla."
Collin began to cry silent, stifled sobs.
"You almost there?" She asked, looking at him.
"I'm holding you," Collin said, squeezing her hand. "I won't let you go."

"I don't want to die." She squeezed his hand. "Please don't let me die."
"It's okay, Kayla," Collin said. "I know. I know." He was crying again.
"Please, hold my hand." She begged. "Please tell me that you love me."

Collin drove as fast as he could. "Almost there....just hold on. Hold on, baby. Hold on for me. I promise I won't let go."

"It hurts..." Her voice was so weak. "It hurts so much." Her hand was so cold.

"It's almost over." He choked on his tears.

"I'm so scared, Collin. Please don't let me die." She begged.
"I won't, Kayla," Collin said, kissing her forehead. "I won't ever leave you."

Between sobs, Kayla's breathing slowed. "Please...hold me." She begged, holding his hand.

"I won't leave you," Collin promised.
"Hold my hand... " She said, trying to touch him. "I can't hold on...." She was so weak.

"I love you, Kayla," Collin said, trying to hold her.
"It hurts."
"I know," Collin said. "I know it hurts."
"...I love you.... so much...." She persisted.
Collin could only say her name, keeping it between them.

"It's so cold," Kayla whispered.
"I'm scared..." Kayla said, starting to cry.
She was slipping away.

Collin could see the lights in the distance.

Collin started to cry. She was his whole world. He wouldn't let go. "I'll keep you warm. Don't you go anywhere. Please, Kayla...just hold on."

He was shaking; his eyes were red from crying. He tried to wipe the tears from his face. He reached over to put his hand on Kayla's cold skin.

"Almost there. Hold on, baby." He said, his voice unsteady.

Collin couldn't stop the tears as he turned the wheel; praying that the truck would hold together. Collin closed his eyes, trying to imagine a better future. Just a few more moments.

He refused to let go of her hand. Even through their tears, he held onto her. He could taste salt on the back of his throat.