Oblivion

Prologue

Beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . beep

The room is so quiet; the slow, steady beat of his heart echoes.

Beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . beep

His hand is cool and smooth, lying still on the light blue sheets of the bed. I squeeze his fingers tightly, trying to coax some warmth into them. His pale eyelids are closed, hiding his beautiful green eyes. With my free hand, I brush some of his chocolate curls away from his face.

We're alone, the hum of the monitors the only sound. I let my fingers glide down his face and trace his lips, savouring his warm breath against my fingertips. Each exhalation is a small victory.

My heart clenches, and tears slip down my cheek, speckling his gown. There are so many things I want to say, but I don't have the strength to speak; it's all I can do just to touch him.

I'm startled as the door behind me opens, bringing an influx of new air into the stale room. I glance at the clock. Half-two already? I sigh, releasing his hand, and stand up, allowing his sister, Gemma, to take my chair. A changing of the guard, executed like clockwork.

Class starts in 20 minutes, but I'll probably be late; my schoolwork covers the bedside table, unfinished. I bring it everyday, telling myself I'll get something done, but the moment I sit beside him I can't bring myself to look away, afraid that he'll disappear when I do.

I gather my stuff into my bag and sling it across my shoulder, depositing a kiss on his forehead before leaving. As my lips touch his skin, I think I see his eyelids flutter, but it's probably just wishful thinking.

"Grace, wait."

I pause in the doorway, surprised to hear her actually speaking to me.

"I-I was wrong, what I said before. I'm sorry."

Turning to meet her gaze, I'm taken aback. I recognise the look on her face: her eyes, tired and rimmed with red; her lips, trembling slightly with the effort of holding herself together. It's a face I know well; I see it when I look in the mirror. I offer her a small smile.

"It's alright, Gemma. I understand."

She tentatively returns the gesture as the door closes behind me.

A string of sighs fall from my lips as I walk down the corridor. This is always the hardest part. Leaving. Despite my absence, my thoughts are always with him, wondering if he'll wake up while I'm gone, or what he dreams about in his deep sleep. I'd like to think it's me, because he's the only one to occupy mine.

A loud crash, coming from his suite, jolts me from my reverie. I'm paralyzed, finger poised above the lift button.

Adrenaline floods my veins, and the world around me slows to a crawl. Footfalls echo off of the walls as a team of nurses in turqoise scrubs surge through molasses into his room. My heart is hammering, blood roars in my ears, my body screams for me to move.

What if this is it?

As I spin, my book-bag drops, spewing papers across the linoleum. The pound of my feet against the floor, my hair flying behind me, it all fades away.

My mind is empty, save a single word.

Harry.

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Author's Note:

Any thoughts/comments would be greatly appreciated. :D