Maybe he was right. Maybe I don't really deserve you. I mean, it was my fault and I'm so sorry.

"Gretchen..." Those words barely left my throat as tears drenched my face as I stroked her hair as I desperately clung onto the hope she was still alive. "Please come back!"

"I'm afraid it's too late." Dr. LeRoche remarked. "She came in with so much blood lost, we couldn't do anything."

Damn it, My fists clenched with my head bowing down. I closed my eyes so tight, they could've locked together shut and never opened again. Everything was falling apart to the point I didn't even want to open them again. I just wanted it to stop. I wanted this to stop. If I could've turned back time, I'd save her.

"Isn't there anything you can do?" I begged the doctor as tears soaked my eyes.

"I'm really afraid there was nothing we could do." Dr. LeRoche shook his head. "If you'd like to talk about options such as organ donation, we can–Sir? Sir?"

For a moment, the world had stopped. There was no time, no people to pull me down, nothing but silence. Sweet, quaint silence.

As I turned to Gretchen, I saw light shining above. A bright, fluorescent light. More than the one on earth but instead, something much more heavenly. More... beautiful. The faded presence looming above was the spitting image of the sister I lost. Her dark hair turned golden as her skin shone through its pale shell. Her lips red as blood and her eyes sparkling as she smiled at me. Though it all began to fade once she looked down.

I stood by with my eyes glued to the previous delightful presence. These feelings of joy and sadness twinge in my heart. Gretchen was going to move on. Gretchen was going to be alright.

With her hope wrapping itself inside my body, I couldn't help but smile. It didn't matter what A.J said. I'd get through this. We'd get through this together. We... would be happy. And nobody could take that away.