*Nick's POV*
Tori was breathing heavily, cold sweats ran down her body when I arrived. I didn't want to leave her this morning but she insisted that I should win the game and she will be fine.
Mr.Gibbson was with her in her hospital room, holding her hand. He mentioned for me to go out and talk privately.
"I want to ... apologiese." He choked and grasped my hand. "You were right. Staying away from her couldnt save her."
"Sir, I love Tori. Please let me be with her until ..." I trailed off but he knew what I was refering too.
We all knew that it was the end.
This was the moment we were all dreading for.
"Yes. Live. Be with her." He cried and looked me dead in the eyes. "Save her."
///
"How was the game?" Tori whispered hoarsely when she woke up. Damn, even tired she looked good.
I was still wearing my football uniform as I sat down on the chair by her bed to hold her small, fragile hand. "We won."
She smiled, clearly pleased. "I knew you guys would."
My heart clenched when she coughed. "Tori, I love you."
"I love you too, Nick. I'm glad you're here with me." She closed her eyes. "Thank you."
I kissed her hand. "Thank you for being the best person I have ever met."
She smiled when she heard that. "I think this is it, Nick."
"Don't say that." I scolded her but the tears crept up my eyes. "This is not the end."
"Nick, I can't breathe properly anymore." She confessed and her hands began to tremble. I held on to it and kissed her cold forehead. "You're going to be fine."
I knew I was lying.
"The side effect of dying is actually living." Tori whispered. "And the side effect consumes you slowly. You never realised this because you think you're okay."
I kissed her again until she peacefully fell asleep.
The next couple of days were a haze. Tori got worse and worse. My dad said that there was nothing we could do now. The swelling was too much and it would be impossible for a heart transfer.
I visited Tori as often as I can. Sometimes with Gus. Sometimes with Penelope or sometimes with them both.
A week after her hospitalization, I bought Tor some flowers.
She was too pale and skinny. Dark circles rounded her eyes. "Hey." I kissed her dry lips.
"Nick." She said with a smile.
I sat down on that chair again and held her hand.
"I have to tell you something." Her voice was quiet and tired. Her eyes were closed.
"You can tell me that later. You need sleep." I said.
"No." She protested. "I have to tell you now."
I waited.
Tori rolled to her sides to look at me. I knew that it was painful for her but I didn't stop her.
"I know this is the end of me." She coughed. "I want you-I want you to be happy okay? I want you to live, Nick."
"Stop, Tori." I said.
"I want you to move on after my death. I want you to smile everyday for my sake." She continued and stroked her free hand my face. "I want you to look at that one person you find someday the same way you look at me."
Tears streamed down her lovely face. "Please get married, have a family and be happy. That's how much I love you. Pl-please don't forget me."
I held back my own tears. I have to be strong for both of us now. "I won't ever. You're the best thing that has happened to me."
"You were the best 9 months of my life." She kissed me. "Thank you for making my last days the best."
Tori died six hours later.
Her heart suddenly stopped.
I threw a massive fist because I couldn't save her. Because I wasn't there when she took her last breath.
Gus cried like a baby.
Tori's parents were devasted over their daughter's death.
The whole school were in shock when the news were heard. Everybody liked Tori and nobody knew that she was dying.
I didn't smile for 9 days.
Those 9 days were like hell. Karen prepared the funeral and she asked me if I could write a eulogy for Tori.
"It would make her happy." She smiled the smile Tori used to do.
I stared at the blank page on my laptop. How am I suppose to write somethng about the girl who made me fall in love but died? Tori wasn't there anymore and there's not a single thing I can do.
///
The funeral was packed with people. Kids from the hospital we had visited during the charity week were also there.
Lily, the girl who told Tori she was a princess, approached me before the ceremony. I crouched down and forced a smile on my lips.
"Hi, Princess Lily." I said.
"Is she really gone?" She whispered, her eyes wide and searching.
"Tori isn't gone. She lives here." I pointed in her heart. "Just be happy. Tori brought us happiness, right?"
"Right."
"So, just remember to be happy and Tori will be there, smiling at you. Because she was what happiness was all about."
Lily kissed my cheek. "It's okay to be sad too, sometimes."
She returned to her seat.
The ceremony was slow and dreadful. I couldn't really think straight besides the fact that I'm attending the funeral of my girlfriend.
Colin was there too, looking like a zombie. He wished me his condolence but I told him that we were all suffering.
Gus and Penelope were seated on either side of me. Penny washolding my hand and only let go when it was time for my eulogy.
I stumbled at the front and looked at the big picture of the smiling Tori and then at her coffin.
"T-Thank you all for coming." I began. "I don't know how to start this because I never imagined that I would do something like this. I love Tori and I'm sure all of you did too."
I saw my parents beside the Gibbsons. All of them were crying.
"I knew Tori for a short 9 months but that 9 months were the best I ever had. She was beautiful and smart and funny. She was never sad or crying." I continued. My voice was getting quiter and quiter because the tears were now falling down my cheeks. "God, I wish I could turn back the time and meet her all over again."
I inhaled deeply. "Tori, I wish that you're happy now. Happier than you were here. Nobody will forget you because we all love you. I love you. Jesus, I love you."
I knelt down on her coffin and began to cry and pound on it. Gus and my father had to pull me away.
The picture of Tori burned in the back of my mind.
*One year later*
I walked up to the hills and pushed up my glasses.
It has been a year now. One year,, 3 months and 2 weeks since Tori left us. I still love her and I miss her every single day.
I graduated with honors and a football scholarship but I pursued medicine in Yale.
My parents were proud of me and people said that I would exactly like my dad.
I hope so.
The grass were green and warm. I recalled how Gus left for Princeton and how he said that everything will be okay.
He and Penelope were happy together.
I smiled at that thought.
"Hey." I said when I reached Tori's grave. I touched the stone and looked up at the blue sky. "I missed you. I'm having an exam tomorrow. Wish me luck,hm?" I wiped away the tears in my eyes. "I just wished you'd be here. I love you."
A soft breeze washed all over me. It felt like a hug.
I'm getting paranoid.
But when I headed back, I swear I saw a dim light shining upon her grave.
THE END
Thank you thank you for reading this
The ending was short I know but yeah. I'm sorry. I might do a sequel but I think this story is fine as it is.
However, please read my bad-boy story "I knew you were trouble."
Thank you :) Please vote and comment
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