Hold On I Still Need You

-A Promise Kept-

Keefe's POV:

The sterile scent of the hospital room hangs heavy in the air, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. Sophie's hand is fragile in mine, her fingers cold, but I don't let go. I can't. Her face is pale, too pale—more than I ever thought it could be—and the faint rise and fall of her chest is the only sign that she's still here, still with me.

She opens her eyes slowly, and despite the exhaustion that seems to swallow her, there's a flicker of a smile, a weak attempt to reassure me. I don't think she realizes how much her gaze is breaking me.

I brush a strand of hair from her face, my fingers trembling, and try to keep the smile on my face, though I feel like it's cracking with every second. "You don't get to leave me yet," I whisper, but even I can hear the lie in my voice.

Sophie's eyes flicker, and her voice is barely audible when she speaks, "Promise me..."

Her words hang in the air, and I lean closer, holding my breath.

"Live," she murmurs, "for them... for the dreams we couldn't... couldn't reach."

And in that moment, I know I'll never be able to live without carrying her with me.

Sophie's hand feels lighter in mine as she gathers what little strength she has left. I can see it in the way her eyelids flutter, in the way her breathing becomes more labored. She's trying to say something important, and I need to hear it. I need to hold onto every word she says like it's the last thing I'll ever hear.

Her voice is faint, barely a whisper. "Keefe... I believe in you."

My heart skips, a jagged ache rippling through me. I squeeze her hand, trying to steady the tremor in my own. "You don't have to worry about me," I reply, though I know I can't promise what she's really afraid of.

"I'm scared," she says, her eyes searching mine, filled with an unspoken fear that tightens my chest. "I'm scared you'll lose yourself... that you'll drown in the grief after I'm gone." Her words crack, and the pain in her eyes is something I can't escape.

I swallow hard, my voice strained. "I won't, Sophie. I won't let the pain swallow me. I... I swear, I won't forget you. I won't let you disappear from my life." I can barely keep it together, but I know she needs to hear this. "I'll live. For you. For the dreams we had."

Her eyes seem to soften, just for a moment. A weak smile touches her lips, but there's something sad about it, like she's not sure if I'm strong enough to keep this promise.

"Promise me... promise me you'll live... make the most of every moment... even if you have to do it alone." Her voice shakes, and I feel the weight of it crushing me. "Follow your passions, love fiercely... stay true to who you are. Don't let my absence turn you into someone you're not."

The air is thick with unshed tears, and my throat tightens. I press my forehead to hers, my voice breaking when I finally speak. "I swear I'll live for you, Sophie. I won't forget the dreams we had, the love we shared. I'll make it count... for both of us."

And as I say those words, I know—deep down—I'll carry this promise with me, through every challenge, through every moment of doubt. I'll honor her memory, no matter how much it hurts, because Sophie deserves nothing less.

I sit in the quiet, feeling the weight of the promise I just made to Sophie press down on me. The room is silent except for the rhythmic sound of her breathing. It's strange, how quiet everything is now. The kind of quiet that fills your head with everything you've ever said and done, every regret, every wish you couldn't quite make come true. And right now, all I can think about is her—the woman who changed everything for me.