Stereo Hearts (and other short memories)

The End of it All

Cecil knew that Carlos' time was coming soon. He had known that he would always outlive his perfect scientist. No matter the preparing he did, no matter how many midnight breakdowns he had in the bathroom, he still hurt when he was finally gone.

"Do you remember when we first met?" Carlos asked, his voice weak and wet.

"Of course I do. You were so beautiful, and I fell in love instantly. But I think that you have become even more beautiful since that day." Cecil brushed a lock of hair out of his loves face and smiled sadly at him. Carlos laughed, and it turned to coughing, then silence. a silence that left only the beeping of the heart monitor audible.

"I thought you were completely insane. I was right." He smiled at his Cecil, his teeth visible. His teeth, which had started falling out when he got sick.

The sad smile still on his face, Cecil said, "Oh, Carlos. I'm going to miss you." Tears started brimming in his eyes, a shiny streak formed an even line down his cheek.

"Don't talk like that. I'm not gone yet." The laugh again. The coughing was more violent, and blood flew from his lips, speckling the white sheet covering his frail body. Cecil couldn't control his tears and they flowed freely down his face.

"Why does it have to be so short? Why do you have to leave so soon? Why do you have to leave me?" Carlos smiled again, and the heart monitor started slowing.

"I'm not leaving, Cecil. I could never do that. I'm still here, aren't I?"

beep.

"I can't do it without you!"

beep.

"Don't leave me!"

beep.

"I- I love you! Don't go!"

"I love you, t-"

The monitor gave one final beep, then played the horrible flat line. That horrible, horrible noise of death and despair and pain. The noise that would haunt Cecil's dreams for years.

He broke down, a sobbing, disgusting mess. Steve ran in the room when he heard Cecil's screaming. He pulled him against him, holding him tightly, as if Cecil were a balloon that had lost its string, threatening to drift off, never to be found again.

"Oh, Cecil. I'm still here, I promise. I didn't leave you alone. I told you I wouldn't." Nobody heard the whisper over the sobs, but Cecil's breath hitched in his throat for half a second. He swore he had just felt a hand on his shoulder, a familiar hand, for a second. He could have sworn that he recognized the touch, a touch he had felt everyday for so long. A touch felt in passing, and over coffee, and during dinner, and in the most intimate of moments. But when he turned, there was nobody there. "I'm still with you."