We drove in silence until we got to his house. I grabbed his hand and turned to look at him. "Andy, I will be right here by your side through everything, especially this." He took a deep breath and we walked in, holding hands.
"Allie!" I heard Angel yell as she bounded down the steps.
"Hey, princess. How are you?" I asked, hugging her.
"I'm okay. I missed you so so so much!"
"Yeah? Well, I missed you and K so so so so much!" She smiled and hugged me tighter.
"K missed you, too! He's been asking Andy when you were coming over."
"Aww, where is he?"
"In here." She pointed and dragged me into the living room.
"Hey, bud. How are you feeling?" I asked as sat down next to him on the couch. He looked so thin and pale. He had dark circles under his eyes. You could tell he wasn't sleeping very well. He was up to his chin a several blankets, but he was still shivering.
"I'm okay." He smiled weakly, reaching for a book on the floor.
"Oh, no, bud. I'll get it," I said helping back onto the couch. I bent down and picked up his favorite book, Clifford The Big Red Dog. "You want me to read to you?" He nodded. As I read, he grabbed my hand and smiled. It amazed me that he could still smile evem though he was in so much pain. If only I could do that.
He had me read the story over and over again. I did so faithfully every time he squeezed my hand until he fell asleep. I sat next to him, watching him sleep, until I too, fell aslepp.
"Allie, are you ready to go home?" Andy gently shook me until I woke up.
I looked down at Kayden. He was still holding my hand. "Not really. I don't want to wake K. He's got quite a grip on my hand." I smiled.
"Okay." He smiled back. "Do you need anything?"
"Just some water, please?" He walked out of the room.
"Hey, Allie." I looked down to see Kayden staring at me. "Do me a favor? Take care of Andy? He loves you and I know you love him."
"Of course, Kayde," I said, tears forming in my eyes.
"I love you, Allie." He weakly smiled.
"I love you, too, K." I hugged him tightly. I let go, still holding his hand, I couldn't believe he was saying goodbye.
"You can let go now, Allie." I began to refuse, but his eyes were almost pleeding, so I did. And he was gone.
I was bent over with my face in my hands silently crying when Andy and his mom walked in. Mrs. Collins knew right away. Andy rushed over, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me to the floor with him.
The three of us sat on the floor next to Kayden's body, only moving for the paramedics. I held onto Andy as his grip tightened when they carried Kayden's lifeless body out the door.
