7:42pm
"I want to leave this place."
"You can't. Not yet."
"That sucks."
Mark blows a raspberry.
I smile.
I missed him so much.
Mark smiles, his sharp canine teeth make his smile ten times better.
Just three days ago, God heard my prayers. Mark woke up safely. Even though he can't leave the hospital, at least I can talk to him.
That's all I need. His conscious presence.
Mark is weaker than ever. His legs are numb and frail. He's lost another 10 pounds, I don't know how long he can last. He's severely underweight and his bones are becoming fragile due to his lack of nutrients.
Mark can't do anything. His body is failing.
It's like...he's stuck in an airplane that's going to crash. There literally is no way for him to escape his doom, instead he has to feel the violent turbulence and the gut wrenching fear as the plane plummets to the ground.
It's inevitable.
"Jackie!" Mark claps his hands together. I jump.
"Y-yes?"
Mark giggles at my reaction.
"Watcha thinking about?" Mark hugs himself in his grey button-up sweater.
"The future." I respond quietly.
Mark nods his head.
"Not much to think about, right?" Mark smiles sadly.
"Mark..."
"I'm sorry." Mark speaks. His tone is unbelievably serious. The usual hint of joy you occasionally hear in his voice is gone.
He sounds just as defeated as I am.
"I'm fighting, Jackson. But..." Mark's eyes trail to the white sheets of the hospital bed.
I grab his hand.
"You can stop fighting."
"Jackson." Mark's expression grows sadder by the minute.
"You're in pain." I continue. "If you're in pain, please don't fight anymore. It hurts worse to see you in this pain. At least you can rest without this pain." I stroke his long hair.
It reaches to his shoulders now.
Mark grabs my shoulders and rests his forehead on my chest.
"Jackson...I really wish we could've met sooner."
"Me too, my love." I rub his back.
"No. I'm serious." Mark's shoulders begin to shake. He's crying.
"I would've tried much harder to get somewhat better. We could've maybe had more time together. But-I didn't."
I hug Mark. He feels even smaller than the last time we hugged. He rests his teary face against my shoulder.
"I'm scared, Jackson." Mark grips my shirt tightly.
Tears. Tears instantly drop from my eyes.
"I'm scared of dying." Mark cries. "How will it feel?"
"Mark." My tears intensify.
"Is it cold? Is it warm? Will I see light or darkness? C-Can I remember my memories? Can I remember you?"
I break down right then and there. I sob in Mark's arms.
"All I want is to remember you. I don't want to forget the love of my life." Mark cries into my neck.
I want to tell him to never forget me. But, I can't. My sobs tear through my throat and soon Mark reciprocates.
Don't forget me, Mark.
Don't forget our memories.
Don't forget us.
