Jade

chapter 5

Stupid snow. It was everywhere. It covered the ground, the trees, the windows. small flurrys still fell, and grey clouds blocked out the sun. Being in a hospital is depressing enough, but when the entire town is dark and dreary, its even worse. Liam and i were gonna' go out today but since its so cold, the doctor told him its not a good idea.

So, we sit in my room, watching annoying reality tv. Liam works the night shift now so he can spend the days with me. All last week he didnt visit, but yesterday morning i woke up to find him sitting in his chair beside me. He apologized and that was that.

"Liam, what do you do when you're not here?"

I didnt have much insight into his life outside of work and taking care of me. We never talked about him, only me. About how im feeling and how im doing. For once i want to talk about him.

"Well, after i get off work, i go home, make dinner for my mom and me, then i go to sleep for about two hours. After that i shower, get dressed, and go down to the garage and work from three until eight. Then i go home, shower again, and make sure im here when you wake up."

I stared at him.

"You mean all this time you've been sleeping two hours a day just so you can take care of me and your mom and then you come in here and act like you're not tired just so i can have someone to talk to? Have you lost it?"

"Lost what?"

"Your mind!"

He chuckled, obviously not seeing how insane he was. I really looked at him then, and i saw the bags under his eyes. The way he blinked to much to keep himself awake. I'd never noticed how tired he looked.

"Look, it's not a big deal. I'm fine."

"Liam! you're exhausted, and it's all my fault! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you'd flip out, just like you're doing now."

I shook my head, clenching my hands feebly on the blanket that Liam had put over me.

"Go. Go home and get some rest, and from now on-"

"No, Jade. I'm here, and I'm always gonna' be here. Every morning. Just like it's been for a year now. Nothings changing."

"But-"

"You're happy when I'm here. I'm happy when I'm here. That's all there is to it. You keep me going, Jade. You're the only reason I make it through the day. Whenever i think about giving up, I rememeber you. I think about how even when you're dying, you still smile at me when you wake up. I live for those smiles."

I didn't know what to say. I felt my eyes start to sting and i wiped my arm across my nose. I threw the blanket off me, climbing out of the bed and attacking him in a hug. I didn't care that my legs wobbled, or that he had to wrap his arm around my waist to keep me from falling. I didn't care about any of that.

"Then I'll smile for as long as I can."