Read Up on that Hill :: 08| Epilogue

I waited for what seemed like an eternity outside the ER along with his parents. his mother was sitting next to me, crying in her handkerchief while his dad repeatedly paced in front of the door. I waited, continuing to both curse God while asking him to help Luis. Finally, the doctor came out. His parents leaped almost instantly at the man emerging from the doors, barely giving him time to gather his thoughts. I slowly rose from my seat. I couldn't hear what they were talking about. (That might be rude) I thought, but one look from his mother's reaction said it all. She had collapsed to the floor, her husband holding her tightly in his arms. I stared at them with empty eyes. The doctor noticed me and assumed I was also there for Lui. "I think you already know the situation, but I thought it best you still hear everything. He's gone, I'm afraid. I'm sorry for your loss as well miss," he slightly bowed his head and walked back into the room. After some time, a nurse came out, signaling that it was all right to see Luis one last time. His parents walked up to the table he was lying on and started crying and saying their goodbyes and other things people do when someone they love dies. They composed themselves as best they could and went out of the room, giving me some time to be with Luis. I trudged my heavy feet to his side. He was paler and skinnier. I held out to his hand and it was cold to the touch. My empty, lifeless eyes continued to watch over him. I was too sad to cry. Too angry to cry. I just stood there. Watching. The nurse cautiously walked up to me, letting me know that the time for goodbyes was over. "His eyes..." I started, "Can I see his eyes? One more time, I want to see them..." Puzzled by my request at first, the nurse indulged me and took the cloth covering his face off. And there they were. The eyes I can to adour so much. The blue gems I loved. But seeing them, I still couldn't cry. The nurse slowly ushered me back to my room where my parents and Luis's parents were talking. My mom ran and hugged me while my dad took a deep sigh and gave his condolences to the Duponts. The Duponts took their leave, leaving my parents and me in the room. They feared that my 'condition' might start acting up now that my source of happiness and reason to live was gone, thus trying everything to make me feel better. "Don't remember him in sadness" they said "You don't have to cry" they added. I couldn't hear anything they said, however. I didn't care. I stopped caring. I stopped eating. I stopped leaving my room. All the while my parents kept insisting that I should remember Luis with a smile. But how could I smile while my reason to live is dead? Each day, I felt the colours I'd just begun to see slowly drain away. Once again, all I could see was black and white. All I could feel was pain. All I could hear was the sweet whispers of death getting louder, calling my name. Each day, I felt like I had lost a part of myself. Slowly breaking off and dying. Each day, the call got stronger. Each day, I lived without Luis by my side. That was all I could think about. Eventually, I heard something broke inside me....

After the loss of her lover, Ashley didn't see the point in living in a world where he didn't exist. One night, she slipped out of her room and went to their special place one last time. "I'll be with you soon..." After saying her final words, Ashley took her own life Up on that Hill...

This content is intended for mature audiences for the following reasons.