Until The Day I Die

Chapter 21

It was 1:52pm when I left school, and it was 1:53pm when we got to Chloe's house. Eli and I rushed into the house without knocking on the door, and we looked around to see where they were. We couldn't see them anywhere, so I automatically ran upstairs to Chloe's room, and Eli followed behind me. The door was open and what I saw made my heart fall out of my chest. Eli stood behind and Mom and David managed to get up there in time. I walked into her room, her parents on each side of her, holding her hands. I thought she was already gone, because she wasn't awake. I sat down next to her mom, and I just looked at her.
Her mom put her hand on my shoulder and looked at me. I looked into her eyes and started crying. "You came just in time," she said quietly. At that moment, Chloe opened her eyes looking at me. I smiled big, relieved that she was still with me.
"Chloe?" I grabbed her hand as her mother let go of it.
"Brandon," she said in a low whisper.
"I thought I was too late," I said in tears.
"Brandon, I wasn't gonna leave without saying goodbye. I stayed awake for you. I'm just glad you're here now."
In the meantime, Eli sat down next to me, and Mom and David sat on the other side of the bed. There was silence for a few seconds before Chloe spoke again.
"I guess this is the part where I say my final words." She said while laughing a bit.
"I'll start with you two," she said grabbing her parents hands. "Mom, I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me in my life. You never gave up on me, and you did everything in your will to make sure I had what I needed especially in times like these. I hoped that one day I could be successful and make you proud, but I guess the timing didn't really work out, but it's alright. I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, sweetheart," her mom said quietly as she was crying.
Chloe turns to her dad, and I do as well. I've never seen her father cry this much before. His face was soaked in tears. "Daddy, thank you for being my main support system throughout my life. I remember when I was six, and we had to transfer to seven different hospitals just so I could get the right treatment, and you didn't rest once. I never forgot that, and I hope I still don't. I do believe that I'll remember my life as I move on, it just won't be the bad things I remember," she chuckled, "I love you daddy and I want you to remember that no matter what, you'll control your temper." He laughed a bit and nodded and she smiled at his reaction.
"I love you, babygirl," he said as he leaned towards her and kissed her forehead.
Chloe looks at Mom and gestures her to come closer. Her father moved and Mom and David sat right next to her and both holding onto her hand. "You two are definitely special to me, and you brought an angel into this world," She looked at me as I looked down smiling, "I'm so happy you guys found each other. I'm happy that you're happy. I hope you stay together. I hope you experience so much together, I hope you get through every argument, and I deeply.. deeply hope you will always love each other. The love you two share is the most beautiful thing to see. I just love love," she chuckled, "I wanted to thank you guys for always being there for me, and for being there for Brandon. I would've never met him if it wasn't for you two," she said so happily with the biggest smile on her face, "I love you guys."
Her words made Mom and David cry. "Sweetheart, we love you too." Mom said.
Chloe closed her eyes taking a deep breath. I didn't know if she was trying not to cry or trying not to die, but it was both. When she opens her eyes again, she looks at Eli. Eli scoots closer to her. "Eli," She said with a scrunched face. She was in a lot of pain and had no energy. She closed her eyes again and groaned. I gripped her hand tighter . She opened her eyes again and said, "Eli, you've been an amazing friend to me. I wish I could've met you sooner, so we could've spent more time together. You're so funny and caring, and just somehow always manage to put a smile on my face. You're a great friend, not only to me but to Brandon. I've never met anyone who's as loyal and supportive as you. I want you to stay around. Never leave him. Show him the love of a friend. He needs it. I love you, Eli."
     "I love you too, Chloe! I'll always be the most loving friend, not to just Brandon but everyone."
     Chloe nodded before looking at me. "Last but not least," she said while chuckling. She looked down at my hands holding on to hers. "I guess I'll just start from the beginning... I remember the first day, when you didn't leave me alone, when you didn't laugh at me or make fun of me. You told me to come to your house, and I didn't believe you were serious. I thought you were joking, but when I went with you, I knew I met someone special," she looked me in the eyes, "I'm so thankful for you, Brandon, I really am. I've never met anyone like you..." she started crying, "we've had great memories, memories that I hope I'll remember forever. I hope you remember them too."
"I will never forget the memories I had with you." I said crying.
"Don't ever forget me, Brandon Miller."
"Never. I'll never forget you. I couldn't."
"Brandon, I want you to promise me something."
I nodded.
"Promise me... that you'll move on, that you'll find someone to fill my place. Promise me you'll be there for her through everything; you'll never give up on her, you'll never hurt her, and you will love her unconditionally... the way you've been to me, the way you loved me, that girl will be the luckiest girl in the world... Give her everything, Brandon. Give her what you gave me."
"Chloe, I-I don't know if I can do that." I was sobbing, barely able to speak.
"You have to move on now." She reaches her hand towards my face and wiped my tears.
I shook my head. It was too much to bare. I couldn't move on like that. I wasn't sure if that was possible. It was going to be so hard. I had to live without her. I had to go on everyday for the rest of my life without hearing her angelic voice, without seeing that beautiful smile that lit up my entire world. I had to move on from the person who got me through everything; the one who never gave up on me and always loved me... I'm losing her. I didn't know how, and I deeply wished I could turn back time or have just one more day with her, but that's just not how it works. I had to move on. I had to...
"Brandon," she said very softly.
I hesitated to respond because of how much I was crying. It was very difficult to speak. "Y-Yea?"
"I want you to find out what you wanna do with your life, and when you do, live that life with her. Live your life together."
"I will, Chloe, I will." I calmed down for a minute and was able to speak properly.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to be that girl, but... I want you to remember... I made you a promise that I'll always be there, even if you can't see me, and I'm keeping that promise." She gave me that smile, that beautiful smile one last time. She coughed really loudly. We were coming to an end.
"I'll remember that, Chloe. I'll always remember you. I'll remember that you're always next to me, and you'll be looking down at me. I'm gonna move on. Even though I really really don't want to, and it's going to be so hard... I'm gonna do it. I have to." I was crying again. "I love you so much, Chloe Gray."
"I love you too. I love you all." Those were her last words.
We all reached for her hands. Chloe shut her eyes slowly drifting into an eternal sleep. I kissed her forehead one last time before she took her final breath. We were all in tears as we sat there looking at the lifeless beauty in front of us. I broke down. I really broke down. I couldn't hold back anymore. Eli grabbed me and hugged me very tightly. He was crying just as much as I was. Everyone joined in the hug. We all sat there for a long time. I looked at Chloe for the last time. All of the beautiful memories we shared, the words we said, is now all the past, and it's time to move on.