The Key To My Heart

Chapter Eleven

                Collins POV
                     This was....awesome. My brother's girlfriend got the golden buzzer. She definitely deserved it. Of course, I still wished that Devan could see it right now. I'd gotten so many people who supported #WakeUpDevan, it was insane. And so many people had also sent cards and money to help, which was also awesome. I had been in bed, asleep when I woke up to hear Leah playing. She was at the piano, and playing something familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. I grabbed my crutches, hobbling out, and paused in the doorway. Then, I recognized the song. My Immortal. I watched the tears pouring down her cheeks as she played and sang.

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

All of me.

All of the sudden, I just wanted to start crying. I didn't know why, but I wanted to.

     "That was beautiful. Why that song?" She looked up, her eyes red and bloodshot.
     "I......It's pretty much how I feel now, with what happened....." Her voice trailed off, and a tear trickled down her cheek. I was really confused and slightly worried now.

      "What? Leah, what happened?" She gave me an almost sympathetic look, but I saw the pain and sorrow.
      "Collins, Devan......he died last night. He's gone." I took a step back, shaking my head, and then the room started spinning a little.

       "Wait....he's....he's dead? Devan's gone?" She nodded, and I shook my head.
      "No....no, this isn't real. He's not dead! He can't be! He can't!!" I dropped to my knees, and then slid against the wall and to the ground. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. I simply sat there, sobbing. My baby brother was dead.

      "I'm sorry, Collins. I'm so sorry....." Leah's voice sounded far away now.
      "No....No, no, no!" Suddenly, my eyes flew open, and I sat straight up in my bed, breathing heavily. It took me a minute to calm down, then, my brain slowly caught up.
    
    "It's a dream. He's not dead. It was a dream." I caught my breath, and lay back down. It was a dream. It wasn't real. Devan dying.....it was just a dream. I lay there for a few minutes, shaking and soaked with sweat. Then, I got up, changing into something dry. I headed downstairs, and saw Leah sitting at the kitchen table, munching on a chocolate chip muffin.

      "Hey. Any more of that?" She nodded, pointing to a plate on the counter. Then, mom came in, giving me a worried look.
     
      "Collins, are you okay? I heard you yelling. What's wrong?" I sighed, hopping over and getting a couple muffins. I hopped back and sat back down, and then looked up.

      "Nightmare. It's nothing." She sighed, kissing my forehead. She didn't ask any more about it, and went to go get her phone, which had started ringing.

      "What happened?" Leah's quiet voice surprised me a bit, but I took a bite, looking at her.
      "It was.....you were playing My Immortal. I was listening, and then you said it was how you felt. In the dream, you......You said Devan....he died." She looked down, blinking away tears.
      "I know he's a fighter, and I'm sure he's going to make it. But....I can't help be scared that he's not going to make it." I scooted over, wrapping my arms around her. We both sat there, quietly crying. My baby brother just couldn't die. He had to make it. If he didn't.....I wasn't sure what would happen to me.....or Leah.

Hey! Sorry about the late update. We had our Christmas play this weekend, and I was the narrator, so between that and school, I haven't had any updating time. And as soon as I finish a couple more books, I'll be starting another Key Bros fanfic. I'll put the description below this, and I'd love it if y'all could give me title ideas. Thanks!- Becki Lynne

Emma Grace Key is the youngest in her family, and she had two older brothers, Devan and Collins. Emma is pretty normal, but she avoids the sibling tag videos for a very important reason. She was born deaf. Now, she's 17, her brothers are getting more protective, and she's not happy about it. So, when she explodes at her brothers, and then a nightmare scenario happens, guilt overwhelms all three of them. Can her brothers help her see that, despite her handicaps, their baby sister is still irreplaceable? Or will the physical and emotional scars she now had overwhelm her completely?