Can't It Just Be A Nightmare?

The End Like A Slap to the Face

Both Tim and Andrea looked to where the voice came from. There was Jett, holding his little sister's hand. Both were muddy, bloody, and scared. Suddenly, Layla collapsed as she tried to walk over to her mother.

"Layla!" Andrea rushed to her daughter's side, picked her up, and laid her down next to Tim.

The little girl's hand brushed her father's; he grabbed and held on tight. Her body quivered as she coughed, mud and blood coming out of her mouth. Andrea held Jett close, while also holding Layla's other hand as she took long, hoarse breaths.

"I... cran't... braig..." rasped their only daughter.

Tim laid his hand over where he thought her heart was. The beating was irregular and quickly slowing up.

Tim couldn't let his little daughter leave. He used what little body strength he had and lifted Layla onto his chest.

"Tim!" Andrea cried out.

Tim felt his own heartbeat waiver as he felt his daughter go stiff and then limp. She had died on top of her father. But Tim wasn't ready to let go. He held onto her body and cried. His eyes began to blur as his own life was ebbing away. He looked at his son and wife as the world began to fade into whiteness.

"Goodbye, my son. Goodbye, my love." and he took his last breath, leaving the physical world forever.

Tim Foreman held his little one's hand and they walked into the light of their creator, together.