The Self Destruct Button ~ Bratayley Fanfic

Chapter 36. Accepting Fate

Brennan's POV

Thankfully after a couple of hours of Annie being in the hospital, she woke up. I was sitting in a chair next to her bed when she fluttered her eyes open.

"Jules, hey," I stood up and held her hand. "How are you feeling?"

"I have a bit of a headache, probably from the nausea," she admitted before she tried to give me a small, reassuring smile. "What happened?"

"You collapsed while we were dancing at the wedding," I explained. "The paramedics said you were probably dizzy from blood loss."

"Blood loss? How?" Annie asked with a confused look on her face as she tried to sit up.

I sighed. "The doctors explained to us that the chemotherapy you were getting caused blood loss, which can happen to some patients. Unfortunately because of the heart conditions that run in your family, your heart was a little bit weaker, and the chemotherapy and blood loss affected your heart."

"So what are you saying? What does all of this mean, Brennan?" Annie asked as she looked deeply into my eyes. I didn't want to be the one to have to tell her this, but the look in her eyes were asking me to, me, no one else.

I took a deep breath and tried to choke back tears. "Jules, what this means is that there's nothing they can do."

Annie didn't look shocked to hear this; just disappointed and saddened. "So, they can't help me anymore? Not even with the chemo?"

"The chemo is what caused this, Jules," I said as a tear left my eye. I hated crying in front of her; I wanted to be strong, to be there for her, to be her shoulder to cry on, not the other way around. "I'm so sorry."

Annie nodded. "I know. I am, too. I thought I could beat this."

"Sometimes our battles are too big," I said quietly. Annie looked me in the eyes and then held her arms out.

"Bren, it's okay. We don't have to be strong anymore," she motioned for me to come closer, and I did what she told me to. I cried into her shoulder as she hugged me tight. I could hear her crying, too, although she was trying her hardest not to.

After a few moments of us just hugging and crying, I heard the door open. I pulled away and saw her mom walk in.

"Mom," Annie's voice broke as she called for her.

"I know, sweetie," Ms. Katie walked over and hugged her sick daughter. "They're going to try to make you as comfortable as possible for the next few days before letting you go home."

"You mean I don't have to stay?" Annie asked.

"If you don't want to or need to, no, you can go home," her mom explained.

Annie nodded. "Okay."

I stayed with her for a little while longer before my mom came in to get me. She told me I could visit Annie again tomorrow, since we would be in town for the next few days. I planned on seeing Annie everyday until I would go back home, because one of these days just might be my last with her.

•••

A couple days later Annie was released from the hospital. I asked her family if I could visit her at her house, and they agreed to let me stay for a while, especially since tomorrow would be my last day in California.

I knocked on the front door of their big California home. Hayden opened the door and gave me a sad, forced smile. "Hi, Brennan. She's upstairs in her room."