Misprinted Lies (Alice in Chains/Bruno Mars)

My Angel

A shock to my stomach woke me up in the middle of the night. I tried falling back asleep but it kept getting worse. The shocks moved further up my chest and even to my arms. I spent a couple minutes deciding if I should act on it.

"Bru," I said, very quietly. "Bruno," I tried again, grabbing his arm forcefully.

"Wh-what is it?" Bruno asked, rubbing his eyes.

He stared at me for a while but I was suddenly frozen.

"N-nevermind. Go back to sleep. Sorry."

I laid my head down and felt the mattress move. Bruno quickly put on some sweatpants and got to my side of the bed. He grabbed my arm but I refused to move. He knew how bad it was just by looking at me.

"Come on, Lil. We're going to the hospital."

"No," I cried quietly. The pain was getting to me and he knew it.

Bruno kept pulling me but I refused to move. "Please."

I wasn't moving but Bruno wasn't giving up either.

"Damn it, Lily. Stop being so fucking stubborn," he said harshly.

I started crying. "It's not that bad. I'm fine."

It was such a lie. I felt so weak. The shocks were so strong I felt like I was being electrocuted.

"Baby, I love you," he said with a soft voice that started cracking.

"I love you too," I cried.

He smiled and took both of my hands. "You always put your walls up. You want to be tough. You want to be strong, and you are, Lily. Please believe me when I say that. You really are."

He paused for a second.

"Even superheroes need sidekicks. Let me be your sidekick. Let me catch the grenade," he smirked. "Let me help you. Please?"

I smiled back, laughed a little, and slowly nodded. I could barely see through my tears, even though he just wiped them.

He put my arm around his shoulder and an arm around my waist. I didn't make it five feet before I couldn't feel my legs anymore. I shrieked, in fear and pain.

"It's okay," he said, picking me up. "I gotcha."

The intensity of the pain was steady in the car. It wasn't getting better, but it wasn't getting worse. I was afraid of what worse might feel like. Worse would push me to the other side.

"Lily?" I heard.

I couldn't believe it. It was him; I'd never forget that voice. I'd never forget Dad's voice. It was so faint though. He was bringing me to the other side.

Bruno...his face...his eyes...everything looked different as he tried to focus on the road. He was trying so hard to keep to it together; I feared that he'd have to let go of me but wouldn't be able to. I used my last couple of words to convince him that that was what he needed to do.

"Bruno..." I gasped.

"Baby you're doin' great...keep fighting. We'll be there in no time."

"Bruno...listen to me, okay? I might not make it this time..."

"No," Bruno sobbed.

"You're gonna find a girl who you can laugh with, a girl who's absolutely beautiful, a girl who takes care of you and a girl you'll take care of too. She's going to love you and you're gonna love her too..."

"No!" he yelled with tears in his eyes, slamming his fist on the steering wheel. "Lily you're that girl. Please don't talk like that. I can't lose you."

I ignored him. "You're going to find her, okay? She's out there. If this beats me, I want you to let go."

He burst into tears. I was too weak to even cry. "Lily I love you so, so much."

"I love you too Bruno. I always will and I want you to be happy, okay?"

The shocks took over again. I looked out the window, trying to concentrate. His hand reached into through the window. It didn't have the needle marks anymore. I hesitated just looking at it.

"It's okay, princess. Take my hand," he said. 

I missed his voice so much. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me out of the car. We stood in front of each other again in a huge, white, empty space. It seemed like a dream. He squeezed my hands tightly. It was him; it had to be. It was so real.

"D-dad?"

He nodded his head with the biggest smile I'd ever seen him give. He looked so good and so healthy. The needle marks were all gone. His hair was full of color and strength. His teeth were perfect. He was finally at peace. I swallowed hard and started crying.

"Hey," he said, pulling me into him and kissing my cheek. I missed being in his arms. "Don't cry Lily."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, sweetheart," he said, pushing me away for a second.

His expression changed a little bit.

"I'm sorry that you had to see me like that and I'm sorry that I left you," he said, tearing up himself. "Whenever I saw you missing me...and crying for me...I was listening, Lil...and I'm sorry...I didn't wanna leave you."

"It's okay, Dad," I said smiled. "I know."

"It wasn't your fault, not one bit," he said, wiping my tears.

Everything was starting to get fuzzy around us. He was still clear.

"Wh-what's happening?"

"Lily it's not your time yet."

I held onto his hands and arms for dear life. "I'm not ready yet. When...when I go back it's gonna hurt," I cried.

He ran his fingers through my hair.

"I'm so scared Dad," I whined.

"Lily, listen to me. I know it's scary and I know it hurts. It's okay to be afraid sometimes. I'm very proud of you, baby girl. You're so smart and talented. You're so strong," he said, grabbing my head with both hands, kissing my forehead. "and beautiful. You really care about people. I was...I am... so lucky to have you as a daughter."

I swallowed hard. "It's because I had the best dad in the whole world. I'm sorry I didn't help you...and that I wasn't there...and that you were alone when you died."

"Sweetheart, what did I tell you? It's not your fault. It was mine," Dad said, putting his hand over his chest. "I should have been there to protect you more. You got hurt so many times and..."

"I know you would have if you could," I grabbed his arms and smiled.

His hands...his face...everything was starting to look and feel less real.

"No I'm not ready yet. I don't wanna say goodbye again," I pleaded.

Dad was smiling so bright. I'd never seen him so happy before. "Let go. It's okay. Don't be sad. You need to go and be with Bruno. He's waiting for you. He really loves you and cares about you. I know you really love him."

"I do," I smiled.

"Let him help you," Dad said, wiping my tears once again. "You're so much happier now. It wouldn't have worked the way it was before. I wasn't getting better and it wasn't safe for you to be around me. You're livin' the beautiful life that I always dreamed about. No matter how old you get...no matter how long it is until we see each other again...you're always gonna be my baby girl...my princess. I love you, Lily...and I always will."

"I love you too," I said with tears forming once again in my eyes. 

The kiss on my forehead slowly faded away. I wasn't sad. I was happy. I finally got closure; I got to say goodbye to my angel and he was happy and finally at peace. It was going to hurt when I woke up, but I knew Bruno would be there waiting at my side. I couldn't wait to see him again.