What Does It Mean, To Truly Love Someone? (Gureshin)

Alternate Ending

I couldn't control the sobs that fell from my lips as the doctor stopped in front of a door and opened it for me.

He sent me a sympathetic smile and patted me on the back.

Then he walked away, continuing down the corridor to give me time alone to say...

...Goodbye.

With a deep, shaky breath, I turned into the bleak hospital room and let my eyes fall to the figure lying on the bed.

The sight was the most horrific I'd seen in my life and trust me. I'd seen horrific things.

Guren Ichinose lay in that bed.

Tubes and wires flooding from every part of him, with IV's in his arms,

And the steady beeping of the heart monitor.

"He's still alive."

I wandered over to the side of the bed, my tears dropping onto his lifeless form.

"I don't want to let go yet. I-I can't."

I brushed my fingertips over his pale, cold skin.

There were bruises and cuts over his perfect lips and hooded violet eyes.

His chest barely rose and fell, his arms were stiff and his fingers were outstretched, holding onto nothing.

I fell onto my knees beside the bed, tangling my fingers with his, and only crying harder when I didn't feel him grip them back.

"G-Guren, y-you're such an I-idiot!" I cried, pulling his arm up against my face and cuddling into it.

"You know not to text and drive, what were you doing! Y-you... can't do this to me."

Only silence met my outburst.

"Y-you don't u-understand, I need y-you... I n-need u-us."

Beep

Beep

Beep

"God... talk to me!" I cried loudly and it echoed through the room, "Damn it, please."

"Shinya... shhh, everything is okay. It was just a nightmare."

"Please, wake up."

"You may be stupid, but I love you. That's why I put up with you."

"D-don't leave me here alone."

"I'll see you soon."

My pleas were useless and even though I knew that, I didn't want to accept it. I didn't want to let go.

But I had to.

Guren was suffering.

He wouldn't be able to survive on life support for very long, his organs would fail soon.

I had to say goodbye while he could still hear me.

I swiped my arm across my face, tightening my grip on his hand.

"Listen to me, okay? I love you." I gritted my teeth, "I love you so much. You've gotten me through everything I've ever had to live through. All the nightmares. All the things life throws at us. You taught me that we get through these things together."

I looked up at his face, wishing to see those eyes looking back at me.

"So tell me how... How am I supposed to get through life without you? After what you've shown me."