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“Angel,” he rasps. “It’s the only way. This way, we’ll be together until you draw your last breath. Don’t take that away from me,” he whispers.
Sobbing harder now, I climb onto the bed and straddle him. I don’t care what this looks like; my sole focus is on the man who holds the missing piece of my soul.
I take his face in my hands and through the tears that won’t seize, I attach my lips to his, kissing him with a desperation I’ve never experienced before.He responds with a low moan, and with the last of his energy, kisses me back. I wish I could freeze this moment, hold on to it forever.
Last time, goes the voice in my head.
When I come up for air, Tiero nods once more at Doctor Romolo.
I bury my face in Tiero’s chest, knowing what’s coming next.I can’t watch him flip the switch. But my senses are hyperaware, and I still hear the soft click.
I’m suffocating, unable to draw in another breath. I try to hold in the cries,biting my lips to keep the wails of despair from erupting.
This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
I’m not sure I can survive this. The pain is too much.
My tear-stained eyes lift to connect with Tiero’s.
“The day we met was the best day of my life.” Tiero’s voice is weak, fading slowly away. A large piece of me is dying right along with him.
“Kiss me one last time, angel,” he breathes out.
I scrunch my eyes shut to contain the pain dissolving me and gently press my lips to his, pouring all the love I have into it.
His lips are warm, slightly dry. They lift to meet mine.
It’s then that time stands still.
There’s only peace.
Memories of when our eyes first met and of our undeniable soul connection flood my mind. And just like it was then, I’m sucked into outer space, knowing that upon returning to earth, I’ll never be the same.
“I love you. I love you. I love you,” I whisper against his lips.
They have stilled. His chest is no longer moving.
Tiero is gone.
The long, continuous tone of the heart monitoring machine confirms what my mind struggles to accept. Looking at him, I am struck by the expression of absolute peace and contentment on his beautiful face.
It’s only for a second or two I get this moment with him. But it feels like an eternity—a moment to take with me to my grave.
The lion has roared for the last time.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Ella
Strongarmsliftmeoff the bed and cradle me lovingly—Aiden. I cling to him; he’s my life raft in a raging sea as the room explodes into a flurry of activity.
Tiero’s bed is wheeled out of the room and into the operating theater at the end of the corridor.
I don’t look. I can’t stand the thought of Tiero being sliced open, his organs harvested, his liver and kidneys also being donated.
Aiden leaves the room with me in his arms, following the doctor down the corridor where I’ll be further prepped for surgery.
As Aiden carries me, the realization hits me hard. I will never see Tiero again.
