I could only stare at the arrow in my chest. I couldn't feel anything. I looked up at Jack, who was frozen, about to bring his sword down on him. I coughed and blood sprayed my outstretched hand. The King growled and spat something at the archer who'd shot me. Jack dropped his sword and ran to me. I was falling down. Everything was in slow motion. I felt arms underneath me and I was pulled to someone, maybe Jack's, chest.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
It felt like a bad dream. Maybe if I just closed my eyes, I would wake up. Jack's arms tightened around me, and I cracked my eyes open. His face was above mine, and he was hugging me, saying sorry over and over again. And it felt so nice in his arms, I didn't want to wake up.
Sleep tugged at my eyes.
"Someone, please help her!" someone shouted. I don't know. All I tried to focus on was Jack. Everything was starting to blur, and this dizziness settled over me, like my brain was going around in circles. I could register one thing clearly, though. Jack. His apologies had stopped, and he was shaking me. But sleep...
For Jack. I forced my eyes to open. He had lifted me and was placing me down on a stiff surface. His face started retreating, others coming into view. My hand grabbed at his shirt sleeve.
"Please," I whispered. I didn't have the energy to add stay. He looked away for a short while, someone was talking to him. I heard snippets.
"...help..."
"...too late, Jack..."
"No, no, no..."
"...hold her..."
Tears further blurred my vision. I was going to die. I was...going to die ...
I felt a pressure on my chest. Then Jack looked back down at me. I couldn't see his expression. His face went lower...
...and he was kissing my forehead, my nose, my cheeks. I think I was smiling. Then his lips went to mine. Things were fading a lot by now.
The last thing I heard was Jack's, "I love you, I'm sorry, I love you so much, I love you, don't...go..."
He said it.
The feeling of his lips on mine. The feeling of complete happiness. Of completeness.

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Background Noise
Short Story"He's the melody, and she's background noise." A collection of stories. --- Updates are irregular. --- Cover photo from WeHeartIt.