'Til Death Do Us Part

Forty Two

"Can you hear me?"

I opened my eyes as Leo's voice spoke softly in my ear. He smiled warmly.

"Leo?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

He nodded. "Do not ask me if I'm a ghost! Or an angel! I'm just me. Just Leo-"

I threw my arms around his neck and silenced him with a kiss.

"Just Leo is just perfect," I smiled.

I was lying on my bed, one lamp on in the corner of my bedroom. Maggie rushed in with a glass of water.

"How are you feeling?" she asked me.

I wasn't ready to answer that.

"How'd I get back here?" I asked.

Leo went on to tell me that as Ariana left my body, I blacked out. They had carried me down the trail and then Maggie had driven them all to my house.

"When you- I mean, when Ariana ran down your street, Vivian and I hopped in my car to chase you, I mean her. I called Leo," Maggie explained.

"You all saved my life," I told them. "And Ariana...she's gone?"

They all nodded.

"She's gone. Her half of the necklace held all the power. I threw it down the waterfall where she'll never find it. You're safe," Maggie beamed.

She handed me my half of the necklace, which I squeezed in my hand. I would lock it away somewhere safe.

I cried in relief. Leo grabbed me and I sobbed in his arms. I didn't even realize Maggie and Vivian had quietly left.

Looking back, I can't believe I ever actually contemplated ending my life to be with Ariana. Even though my reasons changed here and there, I know now that there's never a good enough reason to take your own life. I should've asked for help from the beginning instead of trying to handle it all on my own.

Leo let me cry, stroking my back and holding me tightly. Every time he'd move just an inch, I'd grab him and say, "Don't let go!"

"I'll never let you go," he whispered. "Never."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Ouch!" a girl yelled out as she reached into the water to grab her foot.

"You okay?" her friend asked, hopping over to her through the water.

The girl grabbed something off of her toes and held it up.

"What's that?"

"I stepped on it," the girl replied. "It's a necklace. Looks like half of a heart? Like half of one of those best friends necklaces, you know?"

"Yeah! Cute!" her friend remarked.

The girl clasped it around her neck. "We should buy you one that's the other half of this one."

Her friend nodded in agreement. "Definitely since we're best friends!"

"You know it! Best friends forever, 'til death do us part!"