This Is Forever

Chapter 25

I wake up in the middle of the night to yelling that absolutely makes my skin crawl. I jump up and my first instinct is to look at Chris, when I do, I realize the sound is coming from him.

"Chris!" I yell over him. He grabs fistfuls of his hair. He tries to stop yelling and muffles himself when he leans forward and yells into a pillow through gritted teeth.

"Chris! What's wrong?!" I yell again. This time he looks at me and the look on his face makes my heart break, "It hurts!"

I've never seen him like this. He's always strong, he barley ever cries; even when he's in pain he always stayed strong... This has to be bad.

"Chris, what hurts?" I try to stay calm, but if he knows anything about me he knows I'm panicking. I put my hand on his back and I'm sure he can feel it shaking.

"My head, my head hurts like someone drove a knife through it!"

My stomach drops and I jump out of bed and frantically search for my phone. I hear him groaning and my heart hammers against my chest. It takes everything in me not to break down right now.

I run downstairs to look for my phone and I hear him scream my name. I run back up the stairs, "Baby I'm not leaving you, I'm looking for my phone!"

He tries to nod in response. I run back downstairs and see my phone on the coffee table.

I grab it and call 911 and tell them what happened.

"Just sit with him until the paramedics get there, don't leave him."

"Okay."

"Stay on the phone with me, okay?"

"Yeah," I respond and run up the stairs. He's still leaning forward and trying his best not to scream in pain.

I kneel down on the floor so I'm next to him and I rub his back. "It's gonna be okay.." I try to comfort him even though I'm unsure.

"Nikki," he starts, but pauses, and his next words make my heart break even more, "I feel like I'm dying."

My heart pounds fast and I feel like I'm going to throw up, "Baby, please don't say that, you're okay."

"I love you," he says before trying not to scream. A tear rolls down my cheek, "Chris stop it, you're going to be fine!" I say trying not to start sobbing.

"I love you," he repeats and at that moment I break down.

"Please stop Chris, you can't leave me! Please hold on, I need you!"

He slowly nods and continues to squeeze his eyes shut. I finally hear the sirens of the ambulance and I've never been more relieved to hear that sound.

"Thank you!" I say to the guy on the phone and hang up. I turn back to Chris, "I'll be right back, okay? I have to go let them in."

He grabs my arm as I stand up, "You have to come with me."

"Yes, love. I'll go with you. I'm not leaving you."

He slowly releases my arm and I run downstairs to get the door, falling a few times because I'm shaking and running so fast. I swing it open as fast as I can and point upstairs.

They go up there and my head starts spinning like I'm going to pass out.

Please don't take him

They come back down the stairs with Chris on a gurney and it takes everything in me to stay standing.

Please don't take him, I need him..

"Are you gonna come?" One of the paramedics ask me. I nod and run after them into the ambulance.

They shut the doors behind me and I grab his hand. He's laying on his side, obviously in horrible pain, holding his head with one hand because I have the other.

He squeezes my hand and I cover my face with my other hand to keep from breaking down.

I'm begging you, please don't take him from me

"You're gonna be okay," I whisper to him. I quickly wipe the tears off of my face that never seem to end.

"I love you," I whisper again, "Please stay with me..."

"Nikki, it hurts."

"I know, Chris, but please hold on.."

We pull up to the hospital and they quickly pull him out of the ambulance and wheel him in. I run after him but one of the paramedics grabs me by my waist.

"You can't go back there."

"You have to let me back there!" I scream and try to kick my way out of his grasp.

"Ma'am I'm sorry, they'll let you know what's going on in about an hour."

"You don't understand!" I scream, "You have to let me be with him!"

"I can't, I'm sorry," he holds me back as I continue to scream until I can't anymore and give up, going completely numb.

I might lose him...