Slow Suicide

[22]

A/N: okay, you guys survived through the last chapter. Don't worry, this chapter will be a happy chapter :).

—

He walked in the room and immediately found her beautiful face.

"Rainy, " he whispered but she was sleeping.

Careful not to wake her up, he sat beside her bed and stared at the tubes and the oxygen mask on her. The machine on the other side of her bed beeped for each heartbeat.

She was still beautiful in his eyes and she still owned his heart.

"Oh, Rainy, " he gently held her hand. "Please stay. I'll take care of you. I–I promise."

She began to stir, her eyes fluttering open. "Cig?"

"Rainy! Yes, yes, it's me. I'm here for you, " he leaned closer to her and smiled.

"How did you..." she trailed off, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Your sister, Katherine. I met her. She drove me here, Rainy."

"Cig, " she cupped his cheek and smiled lightly. He brought her hand to his lips then kissed it sweetly.

He caressed her hand as he spoke. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. But I know everything now. It's...it's going to be okay."

"It is?" she asked him and he swallowed his tears.

"Yes, it is. You're going to be okay."

She nodded and shifted closer to him. "Talk to me, Cig."

"About what?" he whispered as they gazed at each other.

"Anything. I just want to listen to you talk. I want to know that you're really here, " she told him.

"Well, okay, um...do you remember when you took care of me and fixed my ankle? How about before that, when you asked me to choose a number between one and ten. Remember that? I said 8 because it looks like the infinity sign if you turn it sideways. But what I didn't tell you was why I thought about the infinity sign, " he began.

"Rainy, you are the light at the end of a dark, dark tunnel for me. You helped me out of that tunnel with your kindness, generosity, beauty, and overall light. And I want that light you have to last forever. I want the happiness that you always give to me to last forever. But most of all, I want you to last forever. I want you to be my infinity."

A bright smile spread across her face while he spoke.

"Rainy, " he continued. "When we first met at that park, I didn't think this was going to happen. I didn't think I would end up feeling this way for you. But I do, Rainy. Every. Single. Day. I wake up and you're always the first thing on my mind."

"You are too, Cig. Always, " she murmured.

He grinned, holding both of her hands. "I don't know what better way to say this but in Italian. Sei il grande amore della mia vita. Ti amo più di qualsiasi cosa, Rainy. Sei il mio angelo. Cara mia, ti voglio bene.*"

She blinked. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Oh, um–"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Cig, anch'io ti amo**, " she laughed and he chuckled.

"I really do love you, " he whispered before moving her oxygen mask and kissing her.

"And I love you, Cig, " she replied before pulling away from the kiss. "Wait, hold up. I don't even know your real name!"

He laughed. "Well, it's kind of embarrassing."

"Your name? Oh, come on! Tell me, please?" she begged and he sighed.

"It's...it's Romeo."

"Romeo? Like Romeo and Juliet? 'Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo'? That kind of Romeo?"

"Yes, " he muttered monotonously.

She let out a laugh. "I don't know why you're so embarrassed. It's cute! I love that name."

"Well, what's your name?" he quirked an eyebrow at her.

"My name, dear Romeo, is Rae."

"Rae, " he repeated, the name easily rolling off his tongue. He smirked. "Romeo and Rae."

"It sounds much better than Romeo and Juliet, doesn't it?" she smiled and he chuckled.

"Much, " he said before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But only because you're my Juliet."

She lovingly stroked his cheek. "And you're my Romeo."

* Translation: "You are the love of my life. I love you more than anything. You are my angel. My darling, I love you."

**Translation: "Cig, I love you too."