Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Twenty-Eight

HOSPITAL
IMOGEN'S POV

Justin was only getting worse. Now, he's on a ventilator because he can't breathe on his own anymore. I hated seeing him like this, and I hated being so helpless and knowing there was nothing I could do to make this better for him.

"The ventilator breathes for him. It keeps his blood oxygenated and helps protect against organ failure..." The doctor explained to us.

"How long does he have to be on it?" Clay asked.

"Uh, honey..." Mom trailed off as our parents were looking at both of us.

"He may never be able to breathe without it again..." Dad said and I felt more tears fall down my cheeks. He's never going to be able to breathe on his own again?

"So, like... when he gets out of the hospital?" Clay asked. The way everyone, including the doctor, got quiet let me know that Justin isn't getting out of the hospital.

"The disease in his lungs is quite advanced. And we're also starting to see advanced neurological symptoms. The goal is to keep him as comfortable as possible and manage the symptoms as best as we can..." The doctor said and this all felt too overwhelming for me. Clay was the first one to run out, and then I was right after him.

"Honey! Guys... Clay! Imogen..." Our parents were right behind us.

"I just feel like I... I need some air." Clay said. No, I could feel it. We were both about to have panic attacks and I don't know where Clay was going, but I needed to follow him.

"Clay!" Dad exclaimed.

"Don't worry... I got him." I said as I ran after my brother. As we ran outside, Zach and Charlie were still outside and Zach immediately stood up and grabbed my arm.

"Whoa! Mimi! Clay! What happened? Is everything okay?" Zach asked.

"What do you fucking think, Zach! He's never getting any better! He's fucking dying!" Clay said and then he ran off again and I looked at Zach.

"You need to go see him... before it's too late," I said before I took off after Clay again. "Clay! Clay come on! Where are you going! Clay!" He didn't listen to me, he only continued to keep running and I had no idea where we were going, and I was getting tired as hell, but I had to keep following him. As we turned a corner, Clay finally slowed down enough for me to catch up to him, and he had run all the way to the Sheriff's station. "Clay hold on!" I exclaimed.

"Imogen, move..." He said.

"What are you about to go in there and do?" I asked and Clay ignored me. Then his eyes went blank as he put his hands in his pockets. I don't know if he just disassociated or not, but I wasn't going to let him walk in there alone.

So I followed him.

―
SHERIFF'S STATION
THIRD PERSON'S POV

The Jensen twins walked into the Sheriff Station together. Clay pretending that he had a gun in his pocket and Imogen having no idea what was about to happen, but she knew she had to protect Clay. This was a stressful situation for both of them. They didn't want to accept the fact that Justin was dying. Clay stood in the middle of the station and Imogen was watching him closely as she stayed a couple of steps behind him.

"I, um... I have a gun..." Clay said quietly and Imogen's eyes widened.

"Clay... stop it, don't!" She said to him.

"I said I have a gun!" Clay yelled louder which made everyone who was around scatter out of the room, except for Imogen. She knew Clay didn't have a gun, so she had no reason to run away. "And I'll fucking use this thing is I have to, so everybody back the fuck up! I have a gun! I have a gun!" Clay shouted. Then she noticed that Deputy Standall and Sheriff Diaz came walking out, along with some other deputies who had their guns pointed at them.