Her heart is failing.

That's what they told us earlier when I refused to leave her side. Jordan ended up going home a few hours after we got here. I may have had to coax her into it after seeing her try to force her eyes to stay open. I didn't want to leave knowing that things were going downhill so quickly.

I couldn't help but feel helpless as I sat and watched her chest rise and fall. The doctors continue to give Layla's parents details on her condition, but I don't listen. Instead, I focus on her eyelashes.

Without her glasses or her camera, she doesn't quite look like herself.

While her parents take a dinner break to the cafeteria, I decline the offer and stay near Layla's bedside.

"Layla," I say as I take her hand in mine. She's asleep, lying on her side with one arm under her pillow. Her cheek is slightly squished up against the pillow. I use my other hand to push back some strands of hair in her face. "I don't know what I would do if..." I can't make myself say the words.

I decide to change the subject. Talking about the present is what makes my chest tighten, so I talk about the future. In my mind, it can be as bright as I allow it.

"I think I've decided on what I want to do after graduation. I'm gonna talk to your dad about it, but I think I'm going to join the military. I haven't figured out anything past that yet. And I haven't told anyone but you." I kiss the back of her hand.

"Then why are you telling me while I'm sleeping?" Her groggy voice startles me. Her eyes barely open so she is looking at me. "When did you decide this?"

I'm not sure what to say, but I somehow find the words. "Playing baseball would be a dream. But there's no security behind me getting to play. I want to be sure – I want to be of use. Make some kind of difference in the world."

Layla leans up onto her elbow and gently holds my face in her hand. "No matter what you do, you'll be making a difference. You have the heart and bravery. You don't need anyone but God to accomplish your dreams, so keep Him close to you, always."

I close my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to just be in the moment.

"I get off track easily, Layla. You've been the only one that's kept me on it."

I find myself tearing up as I think about not having her with me. I've only known her for some months now, but she's completely and irrevocably changed my life and the way I look at things. She's showed me the hope that I never knew existed.

She can't be done here, not yet.

"Jonah, listen to me." Layla's fingers are cold against my skin as she draws me near. Slowly, I climb onto the bed next to her like I've done many nights during her stay in the hospital. I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. She still doesn't let go of my hands. I try to keep her's warm.

She continues. "I love you. With every part of me, I love you. You should know that there are bigger things than us, though." Her voice cracks, and a tear rolls down my cheek. "If it's God's plan for me to go to Him sooner rather than later, I am okay. That's where I belong. You... He has such big plans for you and you have no idea. I just wish you could see them."

Unsure of what to say, I simply whisper, "I love you, too."

"You aren't going to lose me, Jonah."

"You don't know that."

Layla turns around so that she's looking at me, her hair falling to one side of her face. "I'm right here." Gently, she presses her hand to my chest, right above my heart.

In all her weaknesses, all I can see is her strength.

I kiss her lips, lingering for only a few seconds. "What can I do to help you?"

Layla takes an exhausting breath. "You can tell me that if something were to happen to me, then you'll be happy. You can tell me you love me and that you are going to mark this world with your truly amazing personality. You can promise me that you'll at least try to see Jesus. See the good He has in this world, even when it seems like it isn't possible."

She takes a deep breath and lets it out. "But, right now, you can simply kiss me."

I cup her cheeks with my hands and press my lips to hers. We remain tangled in each other and a couple of heart monitor cords for the longest time.

"I promise, Layla," I whisper after a while.

With her eyes closed and her breathing becoming rhythmic, she lazily shifts so she can speak. "Promise to what?"

I rest my head against the top of hers. "To look for God. I promise that I will."

I catch a glimpse at the corner of her smile. "It's not going to be easy, Jonah. It might be one of the hardest things you do... but it's worth it. It's so worth it..." She begins to drift off into sleep as I wonder what she could be dreaming of.

Abe and Holly come back within the next hour and walk in to find us both dozing off. I'm too comfortable and happy to be right here in this moment to feel any kind of embarrassment that her parents are seeing us like this.

To my surprise, Holly tiptoes over to us and kisses Layla's cheek, then she kisses my forehead. I remember my own mother doing that to me when I was young, and suddenly my mind is full of old memories. As much as I don't want to remember them, they keep my mind off of the present.

It's days that we spend in the hospital. Days that I spend at school, then practice, then at the hospital once again. Layla gets a lot of visitors, including Madison who has visited so many times and spent so much time helping Layla make the best of everything.

Mateo even pays a visit or two, hanging out and making Layla feel more and more loved. It isn't until one evening after I've been here for an hour that the doctor walks in, almost frantically.

Madison, Mateo, Layla, and I are sitting on her bed in somewhat of a circle. We have Uno cards sitting in between us all as we play back and forth. Mateo and I somehow take turns winning each game, earning a lot of laughs from the situation.

"If you win this next game, I'm gonna..." Layla mumbles with a light giggle.

I chuckle. "You're gonna what?" I ask her.

She grins at me as she thinks of what to say. Finally, she opens her mouth to give me some sort of remark, but she's interrupted by the doctor rushing into the room.

"We have a donor!" He exclaims with all seriousness. A few nurses hurry the three of us off the bed, leaving Layla under the covers to be prepped.

I gather up our cards frantically, my heart beginning to pound.

"I'm sorry, we aren't trying to rush, but we also only have a small window. We will leave you for about five minutes, and then we're going to come get Layla and be on our way. We need to get her prepped and ready." With that said, the doctor waves the nurses out to give us a moment with Layla.

I look at her finally and see her eyes welling up with tears. I want nothing more than to take this pain away from her, but I know it isn't possible.

Abe walks over to his daughter, shaky hands reaching for her. "I love you, baby girl." He hugs her tightly before backing away and giving Holly a chance to love on Layla. "I'd like to say a prayer if you guys would join in."

Madison and Mateo don't hesitate to gather around Layla's bed. She leans up and reaches for my hand which I gladly allow her to take. She's never squeezed my hand so hard, but I don't care.

I close my eyes and don't even realize how much I look forward to hearing Abe's words. How much I wish for them to come true.

"Lord, we ask that you guide the hands of these doctors. We ask that you handpick the medical staff and keep them calm and well as they work on our girl. Take care of them, and please take care of my girl. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen." With a shaky voice, Abe ends the prayer and my eyes slowly open.

Layla is looking at me, her eyes searching mine calmly. After she's able to say goodbye to everyone else, I finally catch her last. I lean down to kiss her cheek, but she sneakily moves so that my lips tough hers only briefly.

"You better come back here to me and be ready to have lots of adventures," I whisper, our faces inches apart.

"I love you so much. Please stay with my mom and dad. They say that they're okay but..." Her voice cracks and I shake my head, willing her not to say anymore.

"I will. I love you." I kiss her forehead and before I know it, I'm watching the nurses wheel her away. Madison and Mateo decide to go home shortly after, promising to be back as soon as they can. I want to stay, but the nurses tell me it could be a lengthy surgery. Four or more hours.

By this time, I'm well aware that I need to go home. It feels like I haven't been there in a month, and tomorrow I have school and practice. Obviously, I will skip all of it just to come see Layla and make sure she's okay.

But for now, I need to shut my mind off. Someone could look at me and see the bags under my eyes and I can even feel my body slowing down. I give Layla's parents each a hug and tell them to text me with absolutely anything. I won't be able to relax if I don't have a clue what's going on.

Despite what my heart is begging for me to do, I head out the door. Each step on the way home makes me rethink what I'm doing, but I know this is for the best. I would be going crazy sitting in that hospital. So, I head into the house and up to my room, not bothering to say anything to anyone. I shut my door quietly, lie down on the bed, and allow myself to sleep. It takes a few games on my phone and a quick look through some pictures on my phone, mostly of Layla and me, before I can even relax.

Thankfully, before long, I fall asleep.

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Hey guys! What are your thoughts on the chapter? Any ideas about what could happen?

The song is Living Hope by Phil Wickham!

So, I'm sorry for so many crazy-timed updates and also for the shortness. I am only able to post chapters that I wrote before school started in August because all I get done is writing papers for school, studying, and projects. I am so so sorry about that. I have a few more, and then hopefully over Thanksgiving or Christmas break I can get caught up and you'll have a finished story to read! Thank you SO much for your patience!

Thanks for reading!