Drowning

More Sad Stories

I let Emmett use my shoulder as his tissue, but in all fairness, it was his shirt. He stopped crying soon after his confession. If I could take away his pain, I would do it in a heartbeat, but the real world doesn't work that way, and a lot of people have to learn from these misfortunes. Once he had calmed down and was composed, I asked the question that he must have known was coming. "Emmett," I started, making sure I was okay to ask another question, "how is it that you still sail, and are in the Navy, knowing that..." I let my sentence drop off, knowing he got the point. "I knew you would be curious." He allowed a small smile to creep its way onto his face, but his eyes showed that it wasn't going to be that simple to get over what he just told me. "That's actually why my dad isn't all for my being in the Navy. The sailing though," he added, looking at the pictures of his mother again, "I do that to remember her. I feel closer to her when I'm out on the water."

I was astounded. He took me out on the water, somehow knowing that I would love it, even though it was such a sacred place for him. My near death experience came back to me, and I remembered hearing that Emmett stayed as much time with me for as long as he could. "The day I fell over," I said aloud, "that's why you were so concerned. Oh, Emmett I wish I would have known! I don't know what difference it would have made, but I probably would have gotten ahold of you sooner!" I was so upset with the idea of Emmett reliving his mother's death while he sat next to me in my bed that night. He laughed this time at my ridiculous request, immediately lightening the mood.

"You know," he said, reaching around and pulling on my arm to bring me closer, since we had moved apart from each other in the last few minutes, "a cup of cider sounds amazing right now." I knew I should have gotten him something before he started talking. His voice was rougher now, and his words were coming a lot easier. "That sounds great."

The afternoon passed quickly, and since we were alone and void of any plans, we lazed around all day and watched whatever the movie channels were airing. Emmett fell asleep a few times on the couch, but I didn't bother him. I probably dozed off a bit myself. He said my name a few times in his sleep, along with his mom's. It pulled on my heartstrings each time he mumbled her name. But, of course, the usual ramblings occurred. My favorites would have to be: "Joey I swear if you don't leave", "Grace, the bananas", and "Someone get Gram away from that reindeer". I swear Emmett was your stereotypical sleep talker. It was so entertaining; I had to cover my mouth a few times to keep from waking him up with my laughter.

By the time we were both up it had been dark out for a few hours, and I realized that I never ran by my apartment to get some of my things, one of those being a new shot. I didn't want to tell Emmett why I needed to go, since that isn't the best way to reveal that his girlfriend has a chronic illness that he was completely unaware of, but I had to think of something. "Hey, Emmett?" I looked up into his pale eyes, the television glinting off of his irises in the dark. "We never went and got my things." He smacked his forehead with his hand, as if he meant to remind himself. "Well, do you need anything specific or can you go another night in my t-shirt?"

"You know, as much as I love the smell of your shower gel, I don't particularly like it on me." He caught on quickly and got up to grab his keys. At least I didn't have to lie, since I really was missing smelling like mango. The drive seemed short, and I told him that he should go get take out while I got my stuff together, another quick idea so that he wouldn't see what I was planning on packing.

As soon as he pulled away I frantically got all of my diabetic supplies together, refilled my bottle of insulin, grabbed a few extra shots, and even refilled on strips and prickers. Then I went on to get the normal things: a few changes of clothes, shower supplies, a toothbrush, etc. I didn't know how long I would stay at Emmett's, but I wanted to hang around as much as possible in the little time we had left. There was only about two and a half weeks between saying goodbye to him for six months.