Love Kills

Now I'm Here

With tears blurring Colin's vision, he pressed two fingers against George's wrist, the soft skin feeling so vulnerable against his fingertips. He let out a shaky breath as he felt a weak pulse and he took the boy in his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Oh George, I am so sorry! This plan was so stupid, I should have known that you can't breathe in there, I should have tested it, I- It's all my fault! I should never have made you do this, I am sorry George, I am so sorry!" Colin didn't notice the tears streaming down his cheeks in a fashion that was very unlike him. When he dried them with the back of his hand, Colin seemed surprised by them. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried.

Carefully he lay the boy down on the grass and studied his chest. It was rising slowly and a bit irregularly, but at least George was breathing. Colin got up and got a water bottle. He whispered a small apology before emptying the bottle over the boy's head.

With violent coughs George started shaking as he tried to sit up, failed and rolled over instead. The choking and spitting made tears roll over his cheeks as well, as he gasped for breath. At last his body calmed down and he looked at Colin with watery eyes.

"Are we-" he said with a hoarse voice before another coughing fit took over.

"We are in Alaska," George answered. "We made it. You scared me there, George. I thought you had taken your last breath. Why didn't you knock or something when you couldn't breath anymore?"

George tried to answer a few times, but his voice kept betraying him.

"I don't know," he finally choked. "I didn't feel too well and was very tired. Also the glue made my nose sting."

Colin mentally scolded himself. Of course! He was such an idiot!

"I'm so, so sorry George! I should have thought of this before going through with this crazy plan."

"Well," George started as he got up on shaky legs. "It did work-" he took a step, stumbled and reached out to the car for support, "-didn't it?"

With that last remark he sat down in the car and strapped his seat belt on.

"Are you coming or what?"

Perplexed by George's new attitude, Colin noticed his mouth was open and quickly closed it before getting in the car. A little voice in the back of his head told him that George would mean trouble, but he knew it was far too late already. He was in so deep he could hardly see the surface anymore.

***

It was almost eight o'clock in the morning when they finally reached the address that was scribbled down on the little note. George, unable to wait any longer before the reunion with his sister, had insisted they'd keep driving the whole night.

"Now what?" Colin asked, looking worried at the younger man. George looked pale and distant and Colin was afraid of what all of this did to his sensitive mind. The fact that George hadn't rested properly since the accident where he nearly choked, didn't help at all.

"I have to go talk to them, to see Annie."

"What if they call the police?"

"Then I run."

"They will come after you," Colin warned him.

"I know, I just- I have to see her, to see if she is doing alright. Maybe they'll understand and let me see her, I'll have to at least try... we've come this far..." Georges voice trailed off.

"And you expect me to help you with this suicide mission? Go in and be your saviour?" Colin grumbled.

"No, not at all. I expect this is goodbye," George answered. Colin studied his face, looking for a sign that he was lying. He was almost a bit hurt that George didn't seem to need him at all, but as always, the boy was honesty himself.