PROLOGUE
I stare down at his moon lit face, worried.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2834Nwa70
He's shaking underneath my grasp.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHFQYsReWA
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"Livia," he says. His voice is soft.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57h2C411iN
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I run the palm of my hand down his cheek, feeling the cold tears that have managed to escape without me knowing.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPkAe6oaML
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I smile bitterly.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7HthXGaaG
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"It's alright now Jere." I kiss his eyelid lightly as more tears threatened to fall. I tasted the salt.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOzeHMUiy9
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"Liv," he calls again, his voice wavering this time.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpBlbMQjGg
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I continue to stroke his cheek, trying to ignore the amount of blood coming from his side, where I press my free hand onto.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMO4Itkozv
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"Just breathe Jere, are you still breathing? In and out just like I told you."1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Qt0huYxy
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He struggles to take staggering breaths, obeying me.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP1BSnTdby
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I look around, seeing if the ambulance had arrived yet. Faintly I heard sirens, but they still sounded far off.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXci83b7ZsY
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I allow myself to drop my calm charade and panic a little. Jere's forehead is beaded in sweat. The life in his eyes that once blazed brightly is now dark and sullen.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhxqFAGmIl
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I'm scared of how his each breath seem to grow more difficult then the next.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ487iqNEJvR
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I'm scared to look down at my bloodied hand, which determined his lifeline.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VOc8kq9F6
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I'm scared my Jere will drift off if I don't keep him awake.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV1r46Vk0U
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I must at all cost keep him awake.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGaODsKcd3
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"Livia, how long?" He manages to croak out. "How long do I have to wait?"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFnwnazNUj
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Feigning a smile I continue my charade.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBixvLgR1yh
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"Not that long baby I promise."1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJIp7xp3ZM
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Any other human being would have passed out by now, unlike my Jere.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLsRrpJ0UP
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My Jere laughs, somehow managing the energy to do so.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtVQYwlzsA
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He then breaks into coughing spasms from exerting himself too much.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO1E3lrXX1
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But he continues to laugh, not knowing how to stop.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsVFPe9cnw
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"I'm going to die aren't I?" He laughs.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNv8ee38uf
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I frown at him.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0TXK1dEPt
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"Don't say that."1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNQchmQg6D
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He laughs hysterically now then coughs up blood in response.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2PceEoL8C
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I gasp.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxkPoQIsK9
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"Jere stop!"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbPQoOiCY2
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He goes on.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvADbFNjx5u
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"I'm better off dead anyway. I've always wondered what it would be like." He says this all dream like, his eyes narrowing.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMdVgf4spH
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Forgetting all about being calm, tears stream down my face, as I yell at him frustratingly.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGnmRNB7z4
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"Jere stop it you're not going to die! I won't let you!"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R5RG679lq
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Jere chuckles a little but his eyes don't. He stares up at me bitterly and reaches to brush away my tears.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3NWPFBV04
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"Don't laugh." I tell him again softly.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKAyPZRz9J
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"I won't."1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLQBrxSQbV
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He obeys, watching me soberly.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5FaNiuxRJ
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"I don't want to leave you." Jere says in a barely audible voice.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgMToINCvU
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All the laughing has put him in an even worse condition than before.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsMWYmXiUt
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I don't even try to hide my distress face from him anymore.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub4mfSz3Qy
Specks of blood covers his daunt face from his coughing spasms earlier.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkurLFBCewX
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His already weak body sinks heavily into me while I try to keep him comfortable.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKTrYDWsq3
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"Livia. I don't want you to leave me," he says a bit louder.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobJGseQ3p6
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"Shhh I know baby, just don't leave me okay?"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllFYhA20v5
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He tries to nod but he can't.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd3UTu7ktU
He continues to try but I hold him steady so he wouldn't overdo himself again.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEphSNBl8yc
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I look into those beautiful, moss green eyes that I love so much.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oTWKoNhoL
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He looks up into mine.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMjdVWEUhL
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"Don't leave me." He whispers.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnVMtTRXq4
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"Stay awake." I tell him.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qeg1u0wVY
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"I'm tired, how long?" He asks.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDjCQbjfkX
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The siren lights are visible now. They'll be here in any moment.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlqN5j9dvb
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"You're almost there baby, just hang on okay?"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbfCgMMinn
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He doesn't reply.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREQtKPm3o4
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I hurriedly check if he's still breathing. It's shallow now, faint.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoT2sTVSH1
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Looking at him, I lay my hand on his cheek again and gently swipe my thumb across it. His eyes are nearly closed.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCN1Z6zVu8
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"Jere, answer me. Jere!"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGxeRsYezN
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His eyes open slightly at the desperation in my voice, ready to obey but unable to find the energy to comply.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuu6YEX3Cc
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"Stay awake." I told him softly.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxNjioh5LX
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"I will." His mouth reads, but he closes his eyes anyway. He's smiles briefly as I struggled to see through my tears.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8KYmKCHlX
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"Kiss," he whispers inaudibly.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9xuMp47nX
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I shake my head not knowing whether to laugh at his corniness right now or cry.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn36hPMwQL
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"Kiss me," he repeats.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlFK3NEa0Q
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I don't waste time, I need to keep him awake until the ambulance gets here.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA0qbkXjar
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With one hand still holding his wound, I use my free hand to cradle his face.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o3CPtT7u3
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His eyes open briefly before I dropped my lips down on his.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQGICzgu2Q
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I kiss him gently, ignoring the metallic taste of blood.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQVcnX90xO
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Using energy I didn't believe was still in him, he wraps one arm around me and deepens the kiss.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPn2NKBPes
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He passionately draws me in, almost making me forget that he was still in pain for a second.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkynGjObwm
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Electricity races through me and lingers.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak6EPd6Fzp
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I cling to him for dear life, knowing that I can never let go.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQb7K4YDIK
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But reality hits me hard when his tug on my lips slows.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnkFCwHtnn
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I can literally feel all the energy drain out of him as we break apart.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVE8XraJHz
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He suddenly goes limp in my arms.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4myPbEu4oZ
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"Jere?" I call to him as my eyes widened.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nsX7yeDAm
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"Jeremy?"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P0TQCXrxU
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I shake my head, not believing.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYYQ5cUfNa
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"Jere, talk to me, Jere?"1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gq0bq39iA
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Soon the ambulance pulls up in front of me in mass heaps.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhDSCXbJ6H
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The siren noises was deafening, but I was too numb all over to hear, or feel what was going on around me.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32qQF1xE45
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I have no chance to react before Jeremy's limp body is taken away from me.1075Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAde7Lh1pR9
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