Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

Chapter Ten

Andrew's POV

Andrew watched Rose as she watched the sunset.  Andrew thought she was the most beautiful woman ever.  She made a ponytail and baseball tee the cutest thing ever.  Andrew felt like the luckiest guy in the world to call Rose his best friend.

As the sun was almost gone, Rose turned to Andrew and smiled.  She spoke softly and her voice was like silk.  "I think we better go now, Andrew."

Andrew smiled and nodded his head.  They got into a cab and drove back to the hotel in silence.  Andrew held open the doors for Rose as they walked up to their room.  Once inside, Andrew set the books down and his phone as well.

He watched Rose carefully place her bag on the floor and slip off her shoes.  He then watched her take out her ponytail, her brown hair falling down her shoulders in a cute wave.  Andrew smiled at her beauty.  He forced his gaze away when he saw Rose flicker her eyes up.  

"Hey, Rose?  Do you mind sending me that picture of us from tonight?" Andrew asked.  He wanted it so bad.

"Oh, of course!  Let me do that now," she replied cheerfully.  Not even a minute later Andrew was staring at their adorable selfie.  It was the perfect setting.  You could see the setting sun and the river behind them.  Rose wore an adorable smile and Andrew smiled, too.  It was the first picture they had taken together on this trip, but he knew it would be one of his favorites.

Andrew shook the thoughts of Rose from his head.  He had to stop thinking about her.  They were best friends and nothing more.  He was lucky enough to have her as a best friend.  Andrew shook the argument from his head and headed to take a shower.  When he got out he found Rose laying still in her bed.

He looked in her direction, smiling.  Even though he couldn't see her he could sense her peacefulness.  Andrew crawled into bed and welcomed the sleep.

"Andrew, honey, let's go visit your sister," Andrew's mom, Crystal Perkins, said.

Andrew grabbed her hand as they walked to the car.  They drove to the hospital and went to his little sister, Samantha's, room.  When Andrew walked in, Samantha was asleep on the bed and his father, Bennett, was reading a book.  When Andrew and his mom walked in, his father stood up and walked over to them.

He gave Andrew a hug and his mother a kiss.  The three of them sat down beside Samantha as she lay resting.  While Andrew's parents where talking about Samantha's condition, he reached over and grabbed her cold hand.  She looked pale and her hair was completely gone.  She had a nasal cannula and an IV running up her arm.  

Samantha had been sick with lung cancer for almost a year.  She had been doing alright until the past month.  Samantha couldn't breathe and could hardly eat.  Andrew felt tears in his eyes as he stared down at his fragile little sister.

Andrew continued to hold her hand for twenty minutes.  Andrew couldn't help but notice Samantha's breathing slowing down.  He tried to tell his parents but they thought nothing of it.  When the heart monitor showed Samantha's pace lowering, Andrew started to panic.

He tried to shake Samantha but she wouldn't budge.  He squeezed her hand and poked her arms, but her heart continued to beep slower.  Andrew's parents had left to talk to the doctor when it happened.

Andrew watched as Samantha let out one last breath before the heart monitor started beeping.  Tears were pouring down Andrew's cheeks as his parents and the doctor came running in.  They tried to bring Samantha back, but it was no use.  Andrew watched his little sister die.  He held her hand as she took her final breath.  He didn't even get to say goodbye.