The Secret

Chapter 27: Heartbeat

My phone starts to ring. I press ignore right away. It's six in the morning and I didn't get home till three. Who could possibly want to call me now? The phone rings again so I check. Jason? I pick up, my voice sleepy, but then my heart stops as I hear Jason's dad on the other end with what seems to be a beeping in the background.
"What's the number?" I manage to ask. I hang up and run into Kaytons room. He wakes up immediately, sensing the panic.
"What's going on? Are you okay? Shade why are you crying?" He asks frantically and runs over to me.
"I need a ride to the hospital. I know it early but please. It's Jason," I say as I feel the warm tears pouring down my face. Kayton nods and grabs his jacket. As he starts the car, he grabs my shaking hand, then he hurries to the other end o. Town to the hospital.

Kayton throws his jacket over me as we wait for the elevator to open again. Once it does, I run to the room Jason's dad told me. I walk in and see Jason's mom and dad talking quietly. His mom sees me and gives me a small smile to come in.
"He's asleep right now," his dad says with a soothing tone I've never heard from him before.
"What happened?" I ask, trying to not cry in front of them.
"We knew his time was limited. He has heart cancer. That's why this year we brought him here. He didn't want to be around his friends when this was gonna happen. He planned to distance himself from everyone except us, but then he met you. We weren't expecting it like this though. After dropping you off, he had a heart attack just a block away. Around that park you two are always going to. We didn't worry until it has been an hour. We tried calling him but no answer. Robert went looking for him and that's when we called the ambulance. The doctors say the heart attack was from the cancer. We have already said our goodbyes but he wanted to see you. He said he had to tell you something," his mom manages to explain. My heart drops and I look over at Jason. He had a white bandage wrapped around his head with a red stain. A few cuts on his left cheek. The only relief I have is the heart monitor, telling me his heart is beating.
"We will leave you two alone," his dad says. He puts his arm around his wife and leads them out of the room. Kayton nods at me from the doorway and goes to sit in the chairs with the two sad parents. I sit down in the chair next to Jason and whip my eyes. I have to be strong for him. I hear a cough and my head shoots up.
"Shade?" I hear a weak voice ask.
I nod my head fast, "I'm right here."
"Shade, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," he says with a shaky voice as a tear runs down his face. He lifts his left hand and I grab it. Then with my right hand, I while the tears from his right cheek. He leans into it with the slightest smile to my touch. He looks back at me, parting his lips then hands me a piece of paper. "I need you to know that I love you. I have since the moment we met. I wanted to be with you but I knew one day soon I would be here and I just couldn't do that to you. But I love you so much. I reallay..." he says then stops with his eyes closed. He goes limp and the heart monitor flatlines. Kayton comes running in, followed by nurses and Jason's parents. No emotions come and Kayton pulls me into a hug. Tears run down my face as everything goes by but I don't hear it. I don't comprehend it. I just hear Kaytons heartbeat in my ear and the sweet voice of my one love echo in my ear with his accent on really.