The Player

The Player-8 (Complete)

The Player

Chapter 8

"August 16th"

"His awake!" Dr Kepburn declared, walking into the waiting room, a triumphant smile on his face. "You can go see him, however I advise you to take it easy on him, but I'm afraid the hospital rules still apply. Only two at a time."

Dad faced me.

"Son?"

I waved at him and Mum.

"You go first. I. I don't think I'm ready to see him... yet"

Mum sent a concerned look my way but I brushed it off, staring at the wall ahead of me.

Thank God he was awake!

I actually thought that Ash was going to... I shook my head, rubbing a hand across my tired face. Don't think of anything of the sort I told myself. Ever!

Me, Mum and Dad had spent all day at the hospital, watching, waiting for any sign of movement from Ash. Seriously there was nothing worse then sitting here and dreading each passing minute until he was awake. And now? Now I was dreading seeing him, face to face.

Several minutes later my parents walked out. They looked refreshed and relieved. And yet I still sat there, unmoving.

"Dan, he wants to see you"

My heart literally stopped beating. Me? Did he want to tell me how much he hated me too, because right now I was hating myself.

I nodded.

"Ok"

But it wasn't.

I slowly made my way towards the double doors leading into Ash's room. I paused, peering through the small window, at my brother inside. He was wearing on that ridiculous hospital suit, somthing that could be easily removable when they operated on him. His blood shot eyes were weary and tired and you could notice the immediate weight loss in his shoulder and cheek bones. He was in this state because... Because of me.

I walked in.

Ash's gaze quickly turned to me. At first it was silent. All you could hear was the beeping of the heart rate machine Ash was attached to.

"Hey" I mumbled awkwardly.

His lips turned up as he acknowledged my lame greeting.

"Hey" he croaked, his voice weak and hoarse.

Again. Silence.

"I don't hate you," I finally spoke. He grinned slightly.

"I know"

And that's all it took for me to completley break down. Tears ran down my face but I couldn't stop them.

"I'm sorry" I breathed, wiping at my face, childishly.

He didn't say anything just gestured for me to come closer. I did, taking his pale hand into mine.

"I didn't mean it," I tried to explain, "I didn't mean anything I said, I was just SO angry"

I don't know why but I just felt the need to explain myself to him.

"I know you don't hate me" he stated as a-matter-of-factly, "I know how much you really love me," he said cockily.

I laughed but immediatley started to choke.

"I know everything." I declared.

"I figured," He said, rolling his eyes.

I didn't reply, looking around everywhere but at him.

"Don't leave me!" I begged, "promise me that you won't"

He chuckled, sniffling slightly,

"Don't worry" he reassured.

"Promise?"

A smile cracked upon his face.

"I promise."

I suddenly felt ten times lighter, as if a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I worried too much and trust me, I was too young to have white hair.

"I-I-I should go," I stuttered nervously.

He pouted.

"What? Don't I get a hug?"

This was the Ash I grew up with. This is the Ash I knew.

"Maybe" I drawled, pacing upto his outstretched hands and wrapping myself safely into his arms.

"I love you Ash!"

"Love you too, lil' bro"

BEEP.

BEEP.

No!

NO!

"Ash?" I whispered, not letting him go.

BEEP.

"DOCTOR, we need you in here NOW!" a nurse yelled, bursting into the room.

"Son we need you to leave this room immediatley!"

No. I din't want to let him go. Why? Why did this have to happen?

"Ash?" pain filled my abdomen. How could a name I repeated-days on days- hurt so much.

The nurse tried pulling Ash out of my arms.

"NO! ASH! PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T GO. REMEMBER! REMEMBER THE PROMISE!" I shrieked, shaking Ash's limp body.

Ash. Ash. Ash...

"Dan!" Mum cried, suddenly dragging me into her arms. She was taking me away from him. My Ash.

"We need to attach him to the life support machine NOW!" the Doctor ordered.

August 16th. Time of death 06.59. That was the day Ashleigh Miller passed away. Leaving me and anyone dear to him, behind.