I'm Only Sleeping

Chapter 9 - A Heartbreaking Decision

The week flew by really fast. Jasmine and company return to the hospital to visit Paul again. "Wife first." Said John. "Thank you." Said Jasmine. She enters the room and the nurse approaches her.

"I'm glad you made it." Said the nurse. "Any good news?" Jasmine asked. "We have worse news, actually." The nurse said. "Oh dear!" Cried Jasmine. "Due to the severe injury in his brain, he's gonna have an extreme loss of memory. He might not even remember he has a wife." Said the nurse. "So you're telling me that if he gets out of that coma, he won't remember me?!" Jasmine asked worriedly. "I'm afraid so." The nurse said.

Jasmine's eyes fill with tears. "What should I do?" She asked. "You have a very difficult choice to make." Said the nurse. "Like what?" Asked Jasmine. "If you choose to let him live, he'll have amnesia for the rest of his life. But if you choose to turn off his air machine, he's gonna die. Make your choice carefully, dear." The nurse said. "But... but..." Jasmine stammered. "I'd recommend you talk it over with your family and friends." Said the nurse.

Jasmine nods and exits the room. "Well?" Asked Gabriella. "It's time to make a heartbreaking decision." Said Jasmine. "What are you saying, sis?" Asked Vivian. "The nurse told me that even if Paul gets out of his coma, he's not gonna remember anything. He'll have amnesia forever." Jasmine said. "What?! We can't let him forget us!" John said in shock. "That's why we have to decide. If we choose to let him live, he'll have no memory. Our other option is turning off his air machine. Once it's off, he dies." Said Jasmine.

"What?!" Gabriella said in shock. "You weren't kidding when you said these are heartbreaking choices!" Vivian said. "Macca can't die! I need him to write more songs with me!" Cried John. "The air machine he's hooked up to is what's keeping him alive. We're at risk if we let him live forever with amnesia. It's time to decide what we should do." Jasmine said.

The four huddle up to decide what to do with Paul. Let him live, but he's not going to remember anything, or turn his air machine off and let him die. After a while, Jasmine walks back into the room. "Have you talked it out with your group?" The nurse asked. "Yes. Before I tell you what we've decided, I'd like to see him again, if you don't mind." Said Jasmine. "Go ahead." Said the nurse.

Jasmine walks over to her comatose husband, sits down on the chair, and holds his hand close to her chest. She closes her eyes to think about one last memory with Paul.

Two Years Ago

Jasmine walks down the aisle and takes Paul's hand once she reaches the end. The priest starts talking once the couple faces each other.

"Dearly beloved, we're gathered here today to honor Jasmine Carlton and Paul McCartney in marriage. Jasmine, your vows." Said the priest.

Jasmine clears her throat before talking. "Paul, I never knew we'd make it this far, but I'm glad we did. I promise to always be your friend, your lover, and, most importantly, your family, from this day until our very last days. Because of you, I laugh, I smile, and I dare to dream more than I ever have. Thank you for the miracle of you. You are, and always will be, the love of my life, my soulmate, my person." She said.

The crowd breaks out in aww's. Paul smiles and wipes a tear from his eye. "Lovely vows, Jasmine. Paul, it's your turn." The priest said.

Paul takes a deep breath before he speaks. "My darling Jasmine, from the moment I first saw you, I knew it was impossible not to fall in love with you. I vow to kiss you every day, as we do today, with love and devotion. That each kiss we share from now will be a remembrance of our wedding vows, our joy, and everything we share. You are my first, my last, my everything. You are mine until the end of time, and I am yours for as long as you'll have me." He said.

The crowd breaks out in aww's again. Jasmine smiles with her shoulders shrugged. "Very nicely done, Paul! Now there's only one thing left to do." Said the priest.

He continues. "Do you, Paul, take Jasmine to be your wife? Do you promise to love her for as long as you both shall live?" The priest asked. "I do." Said Paul. "And do you, Jasmine, take Paul to be your husband? Do you promise to love him for as long as you both shall live?" Asked the priest. "I do." Said Jasmine.

A little boy with a pillow brings the rings forward. Jasmine takes the big ring and slips it onto Paul's finger, while Paul takes the little ring and does the same thing to Jasmine. "Before I make this marriage official, if anyone sees any reason these two should not be together, speak up now or forever hold your peace." The priest said.

No one says a word. "Then I'm happy to say I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Said the priest. As Paul and Jasmine kiss, everyone in the room cheers.

Present Day

Jasmine opens her eyes and smiles. She relived the happiest day of her life, the day she and Paul got married. She looks back down at Paul for what may be the last time while caressing his face.

"I love you so much, Paul. I will always, always, always love you. I'm so grateful for having you in my life, sweetheart. I love you. I don't wanna stop saying it because it's true. I'm so sorry this happened to you, you didn't deserve it." Jasmine said through her tears. She strokes Paul's hair and kisses his forehead repeatedly every ten seconds. "I'm gonna say this one more time, Paulie... I love you, I love you so much, and I'll always love you forever and ever." She cried.

Jasmine gives Paul one last kiss on his forehead and keeps her lips there for the longest time. Afterwards, she turns around to see the nurse behind her. "Well?" Asked the nurse. "Turn the machine off. It breaks my heart to say this, but that's what we decided on." Said Jasmine. "As you wish." The nurse said.

Jasmine tearfully watches the nurse turn Paul's air machine off. Once it was off, the flatline sound occurred as Paul dies right in front of his wife. The nurse faces her afterwards. "Is he...?" Jasmine asked. "He's gone." Said the nurse. The doctor approaches, removes the mask from Paul's face, and covered his body up with a blanket. He turns back to Jasmine, who's tearing up even more. "I'm gonna miss him so much." Said Jasmine. "I understand, Jasmine. But you did it for his own good. If he lived, he wouldn't have any memories at all. It's best to not have someone live forever with amnesia." Said the doctor.

Jasmine nods. She then exits the room to see the concerned faces of her sisters and John. "Is it done?" Asked Vivian. "Yes. Paul is dead." Jasmine said. "It's for his own good, sis. No one deserves to live with amnesia forever." Said Gabriella. Jasmine and the others exit the hospital. John looks up at the sky and folds his hands together. "Goodbye, Macca. Rest in peace, my brother." He said tearfully. Jasmine puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm gonna miss him too, John. Heck, I miss him already." She said.

It was official. Jasmine lost her husband due to his coma, followed by a severe brain injury. Now that Paul has died, how will Jasmine go on without him?