Always

Part 12

"Hello? Mrs Wyatt?" I said, hoping it was good news, "Is everything alright?"
"Honey..." Mrs. Wyatt trailed off, "he woke up." I could sense her crying, and I realized that I was starting to tear up as well. I ran downstairs and told my mom the good news. She hugged me and offered to drive me to the hospital.
"No, thanks, mom," I said, "I'll be fine." I went out to my car and drove straight to the hospital. When I finally got there, I burst through the front doors and tore through the hallway to get to James room. I stopped short when I saw him, lying awake in his hospital bed.

I rushed to his side and grabbed his hand.
"Long time no see, Aubs," he said with a grin as he leaned over and kissed my forehead. I couldn't contain myself anymore, I burst into tears and cried into his chest. "I missed you so much," I said in a muffled voice.
"I know, but I'm here now," he said as he wrapped his arm around me. I looked up and smiled at him through my tears. I was so caught up with seeing James again, I barely acknowledged his family.
"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt, Mia, how are you?" I said, standing up and walking in their direction.
"We're quite alright Aubrey," Mr. Wyatt said with a chuckle. James' family and I were at the hospital for hours, just talking to James and catching up. A nurse checked in periodically to make sure James was doing well. Everything was fine until all of a sudden James grabbed his chest and started gasping for air.

"Help!" I screamed as I ran into the hall and looked for a nurse. Within seconds, a nurse came running into the room.
"He's going into cardiac arrest," nurse said as she frantically rummaged through the room. She grabbed a defibrillator and Mrs. Wyatt nearly fainted.
"I'm going to try to restart his heart," the nurse said. "CLEAR!" she shouted and pressed the defibrillator onto his chest. You could hear the 'zap' and James' body lurched violently.
"It's not working!" the nurse shouted, Mia started to bawl, "CLEAR!" the nurse tried the defibrillator again, but it was no use. James was still gasping for air.
"I'm sorry," the nurse said as she put the defibrillator away, "there's nothing I can do." I fell to James' side, sobbing.
"Please don't leave me," I begged, but I knew what was about to happen.
"I love you Aubs," James said, between laborious breaths, "no matter what."
"I love you too," I said as tears streamed down my face, "always." James closed his eyes and took one last breath before he was gone.