Friends & Paradise 2: Forever Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter 4: Seeing You (Jason's POV)

As the door slowly opened, I stepped inside Natasha's hospital room, and closed the door behind me. It was dark, with only a small amount of light coming in from the sun that was just starting to rise. She was laying facing upwards in her bed, with the covers only covering up to shoulders. Her dark hair was spread around the pillow, while her eyes were closed and looked like they might never open once more.

I slowly made my way over to grab a chair, that was near the door, and pulled it near the right side of the bed she was in. I slowly sat down, and took a closer look at her.

Her skin was a pale color, similar to death. She was slowly breathing through her nose, while there was a monitor above her head, that beeped notifying the doctors of her heart-rate. It was a slow beeping, but luckily it was still going.

"Nash..." I whispered. "What have you done to yourself?"

"If only I would've known that this would happen-- This is all my fault."

"How could I have been to stupid? I mean, if I hadn't asked you to call me after you arrived, you might still be awake and living life and not being herein a hospital bed, nearly dead, and... in a comma."

I slowly reached out and grabbed her right hand and held it in mine.

It felt cold.

"Why was I so irresponsible? Why couldn't I have been smart enough as to come with you, to, I don't know, make sure you were okay, and then maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe you wouldn't be here right now if I had gone here to Seattle with you."

I intertwined our fingers together while I held her hand.

"Maybe this was all my fault."

I leaned my head down on the bed, and tried not to cry. But I couldn't help the few stray tears from falling out of my eyes and landing on the soft covers in the bed. I looked up at her, while wiping the tears away with the back of my wrist.

"Even if it was my fault, even if you are here right now, laying unconscious in a bed in the hospital, you have to know that I love you so much."

Slowly, I reached with my thumb to caress her cheek. I pulled my head up and stood up and kissed her forehead. Then, I sat back down again.

"I love you, Nash. I really do. I have never felt what I feel for you towards any other girl. Never. I don't know why things with you feel different. A good different. I feel the need to protect you, to be with you, to love you in every chance that I can; I really love you. Maybe this sounds a little crazy, but it's what I feel. I can't help the rush in my heart when I see you, I can't help the pain in my chest when I see you like this; I just can't."

I kissed the back of her hand.

"You know, before we got here, I had a nightmare. It was really weird; you were in it. I was running in thismaze-like place, and you were screaming my name. I ran in every way that I possibly could, but I couldn't find you. Then, I reached a point where there was a pit that seemed to be your voice, so I jumped in, but it wasn't you; it was like a sound machine that was using your voice to make me come to you. That got me really worried that something huge might've happened to you."

I looked at her in the bed once more.

"Even if you're in a bed in a comma, I'm glad you're not bleeding inside or something much worse. You've taught me to look at the bright side in every situation, that's what I'm trying to do here. Even if it is hard, I'll try my best to think that at least you're here safe and just sleeping. Maybe you will sleep into days, doctors said maybe weeks, but at least I'm here with you; that's the best it can get, right? You and me, in this together."

A few tears were gathering in my eyes, and some even fell into my cheeks. I held her hand a little tighter.

"You know, being with you for two weeks without stopping, has really made me feel so close to you, that now it seems just weird spending more than a few hours away from you. I like spending time with you, I wish that we could spend every hour together. I enjoy your company, I do hope that you do too. I don't wanna seem like a stalker or anything..." I laughed humorlessly.

I noticed she was wearing the palm necklace that I gave her before she left Atlantis, just a few days ago.

"I see you're wearing the necklace I gave you. I'm happy you are, it took me a long time to find something perfect for you; this seemed closer to perfection."

I smiled a little, as I recalled the memory when I gave it to her...

"Nash, there's something I need to give you." I said.

She asked. "What is it?"

I looked nervous for a minute. "Well, the other day while walking through the shops in Marina Village, I saw this beautiful palm tree charm and I thought, 'This beautiful charm needs a beautiful girl to wear it.'. So, I went ahead and bought it, not alone obviously. I also bought a necklace for you to put it around your neck."

I took out a small dark blue box from my pocket, and opened it. Inside, there was a silver necklace, with a small diamond palm tree hanging from the middle. I took it out from the small blue box, and put it around her  neck. She moved her hair aside, so that I could close the hook. Once the hook was closed, I let my hands rest on her shoulders, as she turned around.

"How does it look?" She asked me.

"Beautiful." I said. She smiled at me.

I hugged her.

I tried not to cry at the memory. Just a small happy memory like that could seem like the most beautiful moment in our history, while being in this situation.

I stood up, and took off the necklace that hung form my neck. I've had this ever since my graduation day from High School. My mom gave me this, while my dad gave me my yacth. This necklace has been my lucky charm, with it, I met Natasha, been able to stand up to my dad for what I love, and have been the happiest person ever.

"Nash, I want to give you this necklace. It's basically my lucky charm. This necklace helped you find me, somehow you found your way to me, and it kept us together. I want you to have this; this may bring you back to your concsious state. Back to living. Back to me." I slowly put it around her neck, and kissed her forehead. I whispered, "I love you so much." And then sat back down in the chair.

If only I could turn back time to avoid her being like this, I would.

Back in time when Nash was happy.

Back in time when she was having the time of her life with all her friends, their boyfiends, and me, in Atlantis.

Back in time when there weren't any hospitals or heart monitors involved, to tell you that the life of your loved one was still standing.

If only we could go back there.

While still holding onto her hand, I let my head fall into the bed, while I tried to hide my sobs and tears, because of the pain I felt while seeing her like this.

If only we could turn back time.