“Don’t try to say anything.” Joe responded as he gently laid Jacob on the ground. “Just be calm. You’re going to be alright. I promise.”
“I’m sorry.” Jacob whispered. He reached out to Joe, to feel him grab his hand but it didn’t feel like his. It felt different. Everything felt very heavy.
“It’s okay. You got in the way. You’ll be fine.”
“No, I- I’m sorry.” Jacob felt a tear fall down his cheek- burning hot as his skin felt cold. “I should have told-”
“Don’t speak. Save your strength. You’ll be okay.” Jacob looked around. He could still see Thomas, and his friends, but everything looked like it had stopped again. It was just him and Joe at this moment.
“I never wanted to hurt you.” Jacob began. “I just wanted-”
“It’s okay. I love you. You’re going to be okay.”
“It’s okay if you don’t.” Jacob’s vision was getting blurry. “I knowyou might not and it’s okay.”
“But I do.” Joe responded. “I love you Jacob. I’ve loved you since-” Jacob tried to stay in the moment, but the words were becoming too distant. Too far to fully comprehend. He felt like he was living on the other side of a tunnel and being pulled into the darkness.
He looked up at Joe. He was still talking but the words weren’t registering. His mouth was moving but there was nothing there. He looked up into Joe’s eyes and could see his face. He held that image for as long as he could.
His sensations began to cease.
Soon, the only thing he could sense around him was blackness.
And then there was something else.
31
“Teddy- I’m not going to-” Jacob wanted to say something- but what?
There was nothing to say.
“Nothing you can do. Just go the fuck on and be happy.” Teddy
responded.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“I know. I’m pretty great.” Teddy responded. And then Jacob woke up.
Brewed. Dark. Black.
“What’s up fuckface?”
Jacob wasn’t sure he had eyes right now but, whatever he did have, could tell Teddy was there. It wasn’t so much a visual thing as it was a feeling. A familiarity.
“I don’t know. Where am I?” He asked.
“You’re resting.” Teddy said. “You’ll be back soon I think. I’m glad. I was hoping you’d be okay.”
“Am I…dead?” Jacob asked. He couldn’t feel anything yet.
“No. Sort of. I mean you were. But you’re not anymore.” Teddy responded. “You’re fine. Well, you’ll be fine. Sort of.”
“I died!?”
“Yeah. Thomas killed you. Barely, but enough.”
“I can’t see you.” Jacob responded.
