The gate loomed ahead. It was right there. Collin pulled the steering wheel to the left, and the truck bounced and turned; the tires groaning in protest.
The truck stalled. Collin knew that he had run out of gas.
"No!" He screamed. "I can't give up. I won't." He put the truck into drive and gave it gas. The wheels spun in the dirt.
Minutes were probably all they had. The truck couldn't have made it much further. He could see the gate, it was half a mile away, maybe a mile.

Collin looked at Kayla; her chest was moving up and down, but her breathing was so shallow.
"Hold on, Kayla," Collin said. "Hold on."

He slid out of the truck. He opened the door to Kayla's side. She was too weak to protest. He got Kayla out of the truck. Her breath was ragged.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I'm sorry." Kayla trembled and Collin hugged her to him. He tucked her head under his chin.

"Just don't leave me," Kayla said, holding onto him. She shuddered and he wrapped the blanket around her. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too. Just hold on." He said. "It'll be over soon."

Collin hugged her close to him.

Collin looked out at the gate. This wasn't the end. He shook his head. "I won't let it be the end," He said. "I won't let you go. Just a few more minutes."

"I'm so tired..." She whispered.

"Please, baby," Collin begged. "I'll carry you.... just a few steps. Please?"

Kayla tried to speak. She took half a step and her legs gave out. Collin caught her and he fought to get his hands under her. She was so light in his arms. "Just one more step," he said. "Just one more. Please."

"Collin."

"What baby."

"It's so cold." Her voice was so weak.
"I'll keep you warm." He said, wrapping the blanket around her tighter. He held her up. Her chest was barely moving. He couldn't do this without her. He was too scared to let her go.
"It's gonna be okay." He whispered. "I need you."

Kayla's eyes opened and she coughed. A thin line of blood came out of her mouth.

"Collin...."
"Shhh...." He whispered. "Don't talk. Save your strength."
Kayla struggled to breathe. "I'm going to die."
Collin shook his head. "You're not."
"Collin," Kayla wheezed, holding her stomach. "I'm scared."
He wiped it away with the edge of the blanket.
"We're gonna make it," Collin said. "We're gonna pull through." His heart was pounding. "Don't talk like that, baby." He shook his head. "You're not going to die. Okay?" He cried.
She stared at him.
He looked at her. "Hey. Hey, look at me, baby. Stay with me, stay awake, okay? I'll get us through. Just hang on, baby. Hang on."
"Collin, I'm scared..." She said, struggling to breathe.
"Shhhh..." He hushed her. "It's okay, just hang on. I'm gonna get you help, baby. Hold on. Just keep going. Can you hear me?" He kissed her forehead. She nodded. "Can you try for me? Can you try to breathe?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Try for me, Baby. Breathe."

Collin felt as if someone had punched his stomach. "Baby, please....." He said, closing his eyes.
"Collin.." She whispered.
"I can't lose you, Kayla." He sobbed. "Not now. Please. Not after everything we've been through. Please." Collin pleaded with her.
"Collin, I love you. I love you so much."
"I love you, Kayla," Collin said, looking into her eyes. "I love you so much." He cried. "And I'm so glad that I got to spend every single day with you. I want to take care of you forever. I want us to have kids. I want us to grow old together and I want to spend the rest of our lives making love to you until our bodies break. That was our deal, remember?"
Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Promise me you won't go."
"I promise," Kayla said, coughing. "I love you, Collin."
"Shh, shhh, it's okay," Collin said, brushing her hair back from her face. "You're gonna be okay."
"Collin...please help me...."
Collin's lip quivered. "Hush baby, I got you. I know, we're almost home." Collin rocked slightly.
Kayla grabbed hold of Collin's shirt. He kissed her forehead. "Don't cry, baby."
"I'm scared." She said.
Kayla started to cough. Her body shuddered from the pain and fever. She squeezed Collin's hand with all the strength she had. Collin felt the strength leave her grip and he kissed her again. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Collin knelt down next to Kayla. He held her against him, trying to keep her warm.

He picked up Kayla; she was so light in his arms. He stood up. He had to go now. He had to run while he had the chance. He picked up his pace, trying to get to the gate.

He couldn't walk. The driving had taken all the strength out of him. Collin had to rest for a moment.

Collin sobbed as he went. He started slowly, but soon his legs ached.

"I'm here baby. I'll protect you. I've got you." Collin said.
"Have I ever let you down?" He asked desperately. "You will not go. I need you."

She struggled to hold on.

Collin looked around him. It was dark and quiet. There was nothing but the road that led to the front gate.

Collin held Kayla tight, the tears coming. He held her to his chest. She was so weak. He could feel her heart fluttering.

"I'll hold onto you. Just hold on for me." He said. Collin forced himself to calm down. He had to be strong for her.

"I'm so scared," Kayla said.
Collin bit his lip. "I'll be here." He sobbed. Collin kept going; praying that Kayla would hold on.

"Hold on for me," Collin said.
He trudged along, trying to walk in a straight line. He kept pushing himself forward. His legs gave out, and he lay Kayla on the ground as gently as he could. Kayla tried to reach up towards him with her hand.

Collin looked at her, his heart breaking with every breath. He sobbed again. Kayla tried to say something, but she couldn't. Collin couldn't stand to look at her. He couldn't stand to let her go. He ran his hand through her hair.
"God, please, help me get her inside," Collin said, the tears flowing.
The gate was not open.

"I'm so sorry. I can't...." Collin started to cry, sobbing. "I can't live without you."

"I love you, Collin," Kayla said, her eyes closed.

Collin stood up, his voice breaking.

"I love you." He said, looking up to the sky and heaven and the stars. She stirred. He held her face.
"I love you." He said. He kissed her brow and brushed the hair back from her face. He wiped some of the dirt off of her cheek with his shirt and then leaned down and kissed her lips softly.
"Open your eyes!" Collin cried.
Her eyes blinked open and she smiled.
"I love you." He whispered. "I love you." Tears were pouring down his face. "I can't lose you."
Taking a deep breath, Collin picked her back up. He held her head to his chest. He felt like he was going to fly apart. Keeping her tight, he dug his feet into the ground, stumbling forward.

"We're almost there. We're almost home." He cried.
"Please....don't leave me." She said quietly, as if in a trance. Collin shook his head. "Please." She whispered.
He didn't answer. He only walked faster, holding her close.
"I'm scared." She breathed.
Collin tightened his grip on her. "Shhh... I'm not leaving you. I'm never letting you go."
"I'm afraid of the dark. It scares me. You're the only light in my world, Collin. I don't want you to leave me."
"I'm right here, Baby. Just a few more steps.... just a few more steps....you'll be alright. I'm right here." He said. He dug his feet into the ground; his strength staying. The base lights were blinding him. He sank to his knees. Kayla's eyes fluttered.

"No.... no, no, no." Collin held her closer to him. She was growing colder. He could feel her breathing slowing and her body weakening. He cradled her closer to his chest. He pressed his face against hers and rocked. He sobbed and cried for the love he never thought he'd have.
He sat up straight and pulled her into his arms. "I've got you. I've got you. I've got you."
Collin put his ear to her chest and listened. He closed his eyes tightly, crying harder. "I'm right here, baby. You're going to be all right." Collin said. He tasted bile but pushed it back down. He placed Kayla on the ground and fell over with her. Collin was shaking. He sobbed.
"Just hold on to me. Hold on." Collin whispered, kissing her head, rubbing her arm, kissing her face. "Just hold on. I can't lose you." He cupped her face in his hands. "Please, hold on for me." The tears streamed down his face.

He banged his fists on the ground, crying. "I'm right here. I'm right here. Don't go. Please don't go." He sobbed into her ear.

"I love you, baby," Collin said. "I love you so much. I'll never let you go."
Kayla's eyes were closed and her breathing was quickening when he first arrived. He would not let her go.

"Just hold on," Collin said. "Just hold on to me."
"I love you." He sobbed."I love you." Collin said. "I love you, Kayla."
Kayla faintly smiled at him and said three words.

"I love you."

"You'll be alright," Collin said. "I love you." He kissed her on her lips.
The girl was alive; he could hear her heart beating weakly. "I've got you. I'm here. I promise. I'll never let you go, Kayla. I love you. I'll never let you go."

Kayla's breath became painful sounding. Collin's fear gave way to grief, and he cried, the tears running down his face as he stumbled towards the base camp. Even now, he would not leave her. He had lost his hope. Collin's vision was blurring. The base lights were blinding him. The voices in his head were unbearable. He could not see the light.
Kayla was silent, her body limp.
"Kayla....? Kayla....?" Collin asked, hoping that she would answer.

The pain in Collin's heart was stronger than anything he had ever felt.
"I love you," Collin said, holding her tight.
"I love you." He said, weakly. He gasped for air.
All he wanted to do was fall to his knees and cry. Collin walked a few more steps, searching the ground. He prayed to God.
Collin fell to his knees. "I love you, Kayla." He whispered. The trailer's door swung open; several soldiers ran out and surrounded him.

"She's hurt badly." Collin said, gasping. "Hurry before she dies! Please...."

"We will, sir."
The medics pried Kayla from him.
He heard a medic say only a few words that gave Collin hope. She was alive. He had made it. Everything he had gone through had been worth it.
He felt the tears rolling down his cheek.
It was then he realized what it meant to live.

A new feeling filled him. Hope. It was all he needed. Hope for the two of them.Hope for his life. Hope for his future.
He would fight for them. He knew he would not give up until he saw her awake or until death did them part.

He hadn't saved Kayla. She had saved him.