Brendan's Point of View

"Brendan? Brendan, get up."

Someone shakes my shoulder. My eyes open slowly, light flooding my vision. It's only now that I remember where I am. In a chair outside Lili's hospital room. I sit up quickly.

"Where is she?" I ask, looking around. "Is she okay?"

"Brendan, calm down. It's okay. Sit down."

I focus on the person in front of me. Drew is looking at me with concern, pressing me back into my seat.

"Your phone's been going off for about five minutes straight," he says, handing it to me.

It's my mom's number calling. I pick it up and answer.

"Hello?"

"Brendan! Where are you? We've been worried sick. Danny called and said you just got up and left. That was seven hours ago! Why didn't you let anyone know where you were going? Where are you?" She asks, sounding frantic. At least, as frantic as my mom can get.

"Mom, I can handle myself. I had to leave. I'm at the hospital," I say, rubbing my eyes tiredly.

"You're at the hospital? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, mom-"

"Come home! Come back here," she says, sounding relieved.

"No. I'm not leaving Lili here," I shake my head. Drew watches me curiously, eyes narrowed.

"Lili? The photographer? What happened?"

"Yes. She got hit by a car."

"I thought you kicked her out of the article. Why do you want to stay if you don't like the girl?" She asks, sounding confused.

"I do, mom. You wouldn't understand," I say.

Drew looks away, eyebrows furrowed.

"Okay, I was just-"

"Look, I've got to go. Goodbye, mom."

I hang up the phone.

"She's not improving very much, Brendan," Drew says. I notice his bloodshot eyes and pale face. He looks as worried as I feel. "I've been awake for a while and they've been in there working feverishly just the same."

"It'll be okay," I say quietly. I turn to look through the window at the doctors working on her. "She'll make it through."

"I just... I feel so horrible. I'm guilty of this," he says, looking back at the window to Lili's room.

"What? You caused it?" I ask, eyebrows raised in disbelief. As much as I think he isn't a good thing for Lili, he's my friend and I cannot picture him pushing her in front of a car.

"No, not directly. It was... If I hadn't let her leave my house, she wouldn't be here right now," he says, tears filling his eyes.

I pull him into a hug. I feel his pain. He feels mine. We just face the fact that we need somebody else right now.

I keep telling myself that she'll be okay. She'll make it. But will she really? They are still in there, trying to keep her alive. They don't know if it will work.

And it hurts me to see her in pain. She should be making her sassy remarks, sarcastic comments, or laughing at her own jokes. She should be smiling and blushing and threatening in a joking way. She shouldn't be laying on a table hanging between life and death.

Hanging between life and death.

The thought throws a wrench in my gut. I can not stand to see her go. I can't let her. If she dies, I don't know who I am anymore. I don't know what I would try for any longer.

And it isn't until now that I truly realize it. I am in love with Liliana Carol.

And she might not get the chance to hear me tell her.

•*•*•

"We are glad to say the operations on her arm and ribs were a success. The internal issues have also been taken care of," the doctor explains to us.

"She's alright?" I ask, standing from my chair.

"A slight setback, of course, occurred. Though the treatments went as planned, she's slipped into a coma. There is no telling when she'll wake up," he says with a solemn nod. "I'm very sorry."

"Thank you doctor. For doing all you can do. Thank you," her mom says, tears filling her eyes.

"Visitors are welcome in the room, but as she is very fragile right now, please don't mess with the girl," he explains.

Her mother is through the door first. She rushes to the side of her daughters bed. There are bandages around her torso and a cast on her arm. She has an oxygen breather over her pale face.

Her mom falls to her knees and cries into the sheets of the bed. She is audible through the door. I turn away.

"She has to wake up," Drew whispers.

"She will," I say, sliding into the chair I've been in for almost fourteen hours.

"I can't do it without her," he says, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"When are you going to stop kidding yourself?" I ask him, frustration clear in my voice.

"Kidding myself? What are you talking about?" He asks as if I don't know a thing about him.

"Drew, don't act like I don't know you. I know perfectly well what kind of person you are, and I don't want Lili hurt by that," I tell him, my voice rising.

"Hurt by who I am? I'm curious, Brendan, who am I? Because I'm pretty sure she told me I am one of the best things that has ever happened to her," Drew says, sitting up in his own chair. Even though it stings to know she said that to him and not about me, I collect myself and take a deep breath.

"You are a cheater. You can move from girl to girl easily. Don't try to kid yourself. You know she doesn't deserve that," I say as calmly as I can.

"You're being selfish! We are happy together! Stop interfering like you own her or something," he yells, drawing the attention of some of the other people in the hallway.

"She doesn't know how you are yet," I shake my head. "When she does, you're going to break her heart. You know you will. Don't deny it."

He hesitates. "Nothing can last forever, Brendan. But I really do care about her. And I really am hoping she freaking lives through this."

I don't reply. She's going to wake up to a huge disappointment. She's not going to wake up and find someone who loves her dearly. She's going to wake up and find it will never be the same. It'll be hard for her. But she'll know the truth.

"Brendan," Lili's mom says, wiping away tears in the doorway. "Why don't you go on inside."

I nod, standing up from my chair and heading inside the room. I softly close the door behind me and walk slowly towards Lili's bed. She lies motionless and calm. She is peaceful while outside everything is a mess.

I sit on the edge of her bed and push a stray piece of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. Her face is unnaturally pale. Her entire body looks fragile and frail. She looks so easily breakable. I hate to see her in this state.

It's strange, having her so quiet. Usually she has some remark or comment to make. She laughs. She smiles.

But right now she's cold and motionless.

I lean over her and gently kiss her forehead.

"I love you, Lili. Please wake up."