Forever In My Heart

Chapter 7

Taevy was still asleep when I woke up the next morning. I smiled at her. I was so glad she was home again. I reached up and stroked her face. Her skin was cold. I didn’t notice it before but her lip was blue. No. Please no.

I shook Taevy, but she didn’t move or respond to me. I felt her neck for a pulse. She didn’t have one. No. She just returned home. She can’t be dead.

“Taevy, wake up please.” I began to cry as I gently tapped her face. “Don’t die on me, Taevy. I love you. Please wake up.”

Taevy never opened her eyes. I buried my face in her chest and cried.

“Liam?”

I sat up when I heard her voice. But it couldn’t be her voice. She was dead. She hadn’t even moved. How is she talking to me? I looked around the room. Maybe she is a ghost or something.

“Taevy? Taevy, where are you?”

“I’m right here, Liam.”

“Where?”

“I’m right here.”

I began to cry harder. “No, you are not. You aren’t here, Taevy. You’re dead.”

I felt something soft against my lips. I didn’t know what it was. It felt like someone was kissing me. Could it be Taevy? I closed my eyes, kissing her back. I felt stupid for kissing the air, but I knew Taevy was right there even if I couldn’t see her.

“Open your eyes, Liam.”

“Why? I won’t be able to see you.”

“Well, you won’t be able to see me if your eyes are closed.”

I obeyed Taevy and opened my eyes. As soon as I opened them I saw Taevy’s beautiful brown eyes staring back at me. I rubbed my eyes, not sure if I was dreaming or not. I must be dreaming because it wasn’t morning at all. Taevy had switched on her lamp and had her hand on my cheek, looking concern.

“Are you okay, Liam?” she asked me. “You were crying in your sleep.”

Seeing Taevy right beside me made me want to cry harder. I was glad it was all a dream, but someday it would be real. Someday Taevy won’t be lying here beside me. I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her tightly. “Thank goodness you are here.”

She pulled away from me, wiping my eyes. “What happened? Did you dream about me?”

I nodded. “I woke up to find that you died.”

I could see the fear in her face. She began to cry and I hugged her tightly.

“I don’t want to die, Liam,” she whispered into my ear.

I closed my eyes, trying not to think about her dying. I thought about what my mother said how I must have faith in Taevy. I had to believe that she will get a donor and she would have a second chance of living. If she gets a new heart, maybe she wouldn’t have to worry about surgery so much.

“You’re going to get a new heart, Taevy,” I told her.

Taevy began to kiss my neck and I could feel her smile against my skin. She slid my shirt off my left shoulder and placed her lips there, continuing to kiss me. I stroke her hair. I closed my eyes as I smelt her hair. It smelt like apple.

I pushed Taevy gently off me and we stared at each other. I stroke her face. Her skin was still wet from crying. “Listen, why don’t we get back to sleep and then tomorrow we will do something together to keep our minds off everything.”

She smiled. “Can we get a Slurpee and sit in our tree?”

I returned the smile. “Yeah, we can.”