Final chapter. I know it's short, and I'm sorry! Thank you all so much for sticking through this with me. I hope you liked it. :)
love always, Emily
+ Troy's POV +
I haven't let go of Ryan's hand for the last two weeks. I haven't gone to school, haven't eaten… just sat, holding his burning hot hand in mine, staring at his face and praying he'll wake up, recognize me one last time. Two weeks… two weeks used to be nothing. Now it's two weeks closer to the day that my life is over.
Ryan coughs, and I sit up, alert. "Shh, it's okay baby, it's okay…" I stroke his forehead over and over, tears slipping from my cheeks. His eyelids flutter, and slowly he opens his eyes, weakly staring around the room. I stay silent, watching him. Finally, his eyes meet mine.
"Who…" my heart cracks as he fails to recognize me again. But then his eyes light up and his mouth falls open. "Troy?" he whispers. I laugh, crying, and bring his hand to my lips.
"Yeah, Ry, it's me, I'm here." His eyes fill with tears, his bottom lip quivering.
"Oh Troy… I thought I'd never see you again… it was dark, I couldn't see, I couldn't see you and I yelled for you and…" he breaks off, sobbing. I lay myself gently across his chest, sobbing with him.
"I'm here, Ryan, I'm not leaving, I'm always here." He looks up at me, eyes still hazy.
"Why?"
"Because I love you, Ryan," I whisper, cupping his cheek in my hand. He smiles a little bit.
"I'm so sorry, Troy…"
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn't do anything, Ryan… you're perfect." He starts to laugh, but it turns into a hacking cough that brings tears to my eyes. I bite my lip so hard it bleeds as Ryan shivers, blood dotting the pillow from his coughing attack.
"Troy, I don't get why… we've hardly had time to know each other. I can't live without you…"
"Ryan… all you need to worry about is resting, trying to get better."
"You don't get it, Troy." He smiles, tears falling quicker than I can wipe them away. "I didn't feel alive before you… I almost killed myself before you. You saved me." I shake my head, kissing his hand over and over. "You're perfect, Troy. You're going to live a great life… find someone amazing… and you're gonna be happy." He bites his bottom lip to stop it from shaking, and I feel a pain deep in my chest, like I can't breathe. "I know I'm not going to live, Troy. Will you just… tell me how long I have? Please?" I swallow, trying to find my voice.
"About a week." Ryan squeezes my hand tightly, his eyes shut.
"Will you stay, Troy? I know that's selfish… but I don't want to be alone. I need you." He reaches up, his arm shaking, and places his hand on the back of my head, running his frail fingers through my hair. I place my hand on his, nodding, smiling reassuringly.
"Of course." I kiss his forehead gently, and I can tell he's about to drift back to sleep. But suddenly his eyes fly open and he grabs my hand urgently.
"Troy. I love you. Please promise me you'll be happy." I open my mouth to make the empty promise, but all that comes out is a squeak as more tears flow down my cheeks. "Troy. Please. I'll die happy if I know you'll be okay. You're so amazing… you need to share it with someone else. I'll always love you." He tries to push himself up, but his arms can't support him anymore. Sobbing, I lean closer so he can kiss my forehead. He falls back, exhausted. His eyes get kind of dark, quiet. "Tell Shar I love her, okay?" I nod, holding his hand to my face. He smiles up at me, using the last bit of his strength to reach up and wipe away my tears. His eyes slowly close and he whispers into the silence.
"I love you, Troy Bolton."
Ryan fell asleep that quiet Friday night in my arms. Ryan slept for three more days, his weak breaths drying the tears on my cheeks. I never left his side, waiting to say goodbye. But that day was goodbye. Ryan never woke up. He died in his bed four days later, on a perfect Tuesday, where the sun was so bright and wonderful that it made you thankful to be alive. When we had his funeral, almost everyone from the school showed up. So many people cared about Ryan, and he never knew it. Ryan was an angel to so many of us.
Ryan Evans changed me. I never promised him I'd be happy. But somehow, I am. It's been almost ten years now since Ryan died, and I've never loved another. Some days, though, I still walk down to the bridge where my life began and stare into the water, trying to see what Ryan saw. And I do see it, some nights. I see a place of bliss, a perfect heaven. Sometimes, somehow, I swear I can even see Ryan's face in the water, smiling up at me with all the joy and happiness we shared together. When I see that smile, I always smile back. Ryan isn't really gone. You can't kill an angel. They're always there. Even if you can't see them… I know that Ryan is always there, watching over me. And because of that… because of the love we shared… I'm happy.