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God, I’ht after Will left I kept replaying the conversation inhim to leave was for the best I need to put some space between us I meant what I said, he’ll eventually coet sick of his arrogance and break it off, and aste ti that will end, most likely sooner rather than later?

Lyle is indeed the only guard in the security booth right now The others lassand offer hi forthem out to you"

The out of the glass office with both his areous red flowers Roses, peonies, poppies, calla lilies All beautifully red

Damn him

I pull the white card out of the bouquet and rip it open There is only one word:

Everything

I take the flowers and ride the elevator back up to ain and then tuck it into the pocket of ht

I pull out my phone and text him, one word: Beautiful

Before I can put my phone back in ive " One of the techs, Brandi, pokes her head in my office, her face ashen

"Nick?" I ask,in fear She nods yes, and we run to his roo frantically, and his parents are huddled together in the corner of the roo and handso to Nick’s chest He looks over at his parents, his eyes worried "We need to intubate him"

"No," Nick’s father chokes out "No life support We pro now He’s suffocating" Dr Lee loops his stethoscope around his neck and sighs deeply "I understand" He runs his hands down his face and looks down at Nick with sadness He’s worked with the boy since he was first diagnosed with the bone cancer

"Meg," he murmurs to etting asto keep him sedated, and cos them both "Sit with hi with hiaze down at this boy, this sweet boy, who had his whole life ahead of hiirlfriend, and the pro, happy life He’ll never have the chance to experience so , hold his children

He’s only seventeen fucking years old

I arrange Nick to a comfortable position in his bed, check the drip on his IV and step back to let his faoodbye

Six hours later, I’o We all co the other kids ere so sad and scared andI hate the days that we lose a patient It just sucks all around, for every single person on the floor

I should stay here tonight Find an eet up and put in another shift But I push ers over the note that came with Will’s flowers, and I know that I don’t want to stay

I need him