Love Me Now

can't live without you (part one)

•Riley•

James takes my hand and looks at me with a grin on his face.

"What's up?" I ask him curiously, a smile emerging on my lips.

"Nothing, I just like spending time with you," He replies cutely

I laugh, "Well you spend nearly everyday with me,"

"Exactly," James entwines my fingers with his as we walk down the street of the city.

It's really busy at this time of day. People in Toronto are rushing to and from work. This city is so big, we could walk around all day and still not see every part of it.

We walk side by side our arms touching as we are jammed together in the sea of people. James and I stop on a crossing light that turns red, waiting to cross the street.

Cars and trucks zoom past us with the occasional bicycle.

James glances at me again for the a billionth time today. I giggle and turn to him, "What's up with you today? Why are you looking at me all the time?"

He gives me a small smile and looks away, almost shyly, "Sorry, I can't help it. You're beautiful,"

I move closer to him and kiss the corner of his lip softly. James is slightly growing out his facial hair now and it tickles my lips.

He wraps his arms around me as I nestle my head in the crook of his neck. All the people around us seem to disappear from our little world.

The light flashes green and everyone starts walking, James takes my hand again and we head across.

I look up at him, halfway across the road, "I love you so much, James,"

James turns to look at me happily but then his eyes look behind me, his face dropping in fear.

That's when time slows down. I hear the faint noise of a car horn in my ears. James grabs me quickly and pushes me roughly to the opposite side of the crossing. I fall to the ground harshly, rocks from the tar dig into my skin on my hands.

I hear screaming and then a car zooms past behind me at high speed...

I only notice until now, that I was the one who was screaming along with other people as well.

James.

I watch as my boyfriend gets hit by the car and flung a few feet across the road. The car never stops and continues to  disappear in the distance. No remorse, no apologies, no reason.

It wasn't just James who got hit. Several people did, strangers everywhere come to their aid.

A man kneels down beside me, "Are you okay, miss?"

"James..." I cough out, reaching out for him in the distance. He's lying face down... not moving.

I notice that I am shaking uncontrollably now. The man looks at James and picks me up, carrying me to him.

My heart aches and sinks, an unimaginable pain hits me. A lump in my throat builds up and I try to fight it down because I know James wants me to stay strong.

People around surrounding him like ants, none of them doing anything. It makes me angry but I don't feel like it at the moment. I should be the one there for him.

The man makes his way past the people and sets me down near James. I come toward him, tears already coming down my face.

I sob as I look at him. His leg is bleeding badly, staining the road in red. I hear sirens.

I open my mouth to call his name but I can't speak right now. I kneel down beside him and touch his cut face. His eyes are closed.

He can't be...

He was my forever.

He saved my life.

He was going to love me until the day he died.

And I know that this day isn't the day.

I can't tell if he's breathing, he's wear a thick leather jacket on his back, making it hard to notice...

Suddenly his eyes open slightly and I cry against him in relief, his clothes getting wet from my tears. For a moment, all I could think about was what life would be like without him...

I see him trying to move his fingers in front of him. I know James is trying to wipe my tears away. I take his hand instead and rub my eyes. He squeezes my hand reassuringly.

"Don't cry," He whispers weakly, "Riley... I love you,"

That's when James gives me that same small smile on his lips. The one that melts my heart every single time he gives me it. It's a smile that is simple and so loving and genuine at the same time...

The smile reaches his soft brown eyes, I can see my face in the reflection of them. I know that the last thing he saw was me before it fades away and he closes his eyes.

***
part two coming tomorrow