“Kiss me until your lips are sore because I need your warmth to survive one more night.” James whispered in my ears. His bony and fragile fingers intertwined with mine, tenaciously like how he was trying to hold on to life. I bit my lips, contriving to hold back the steamily hot tears in the corner of my eyes. If I cried right now, James would break down like an antique woodened stair.

“I will, I will” – The tremble in my voice was noticeable. I bent down and kissed him passionately like it was the last time. Possibly it could be our last time.

His staccato breath lingered on my checks. His lips were cold as icy stones. I closed my eyes, trying to expunge every thought out of my mind because thinking would not help much in case fate already decided which path I’d have to follow. If this was really our last night, I’d make it magical.

Suddenly, James pulled away. Seriousness crept up to his exhausting face. I glanced at him apprehensively.

“Promise me this, Emma. After I’m a goner, please don’t loose your faith in love and life. Give love to another lucky guy. But don’t forget me. Keep me as a sweet memory in your heart, not a scar, but a reason to keep it beating” – He said and gazed at my teary eyes. Why did he need to bring this up? Did he really want to see me cry?

Sweltering tears made their way down my cheek and to my neck.

I put my finger on his lips, trying to stop him from saying anything that would possibly kill the moment. “Don’t say anything, babe. Just close your eyes and you’ll be fine”.

And I closed mine, lying down next to him. I grasped his right hand and rested our inseperable palms on his chest. Silently, he followed me, his head found my shoulder. 

Here in this moment when darkness swooped down and lingered around in the hospital room, I never felt him this much before in my life. No words were transferred; all I could sense was his heartbeat weakening by minutes.

The idyllic ambience of the hospital room passed through me, bringing along an enlightening thought. Whatever happened, the bond that took us forever to form was indestructible. He could not be physically near but I knew every fiber of my heart and brain was engraved with his image, his crystal clear blue eyes, his incandescent white teeth that flashed me the most endearing smile and the tactile fingers of his, into which I crashed mine. Forgetting him would be like neglecting to survive. I would never let that happen, because love did not always burn when two people were close. It depended on the two hearts, whether near or far, fighting hard to preserve the invisible string that tied them together, for forever and always.

A/N: I know I'm known for fun fictions with bubbly and exuberant characters. I'd never put my finger on anything dark and sad like this one before. But I was inspired by some real stories I've been told lately. So yeah, here it is, a short heartbreaking love story. I hope you enjoy because I cried while writing it.