User blog:Simon7055/Sam's Ordeal - Chapter 5

A/N: The following is a re-edited version of the fanfic, "Sam's Ordeal" by Erich Zann III, of which can be found on Fanfiction.net



Chapter Five - The Vows



Sam gasped in pain as she finally slowed to a halt, realizing her pursuers had been lost. All that adrenaline from earlier had now left her in a state of debilitating agony, no doubt from having run so fast, non-stop, while carrying her baby brother in a protective embrace. Not to mention the trauma from having been victim to such a cruel and heartless betrayal at the hands of the girl she loved, still fresh.

Spotting a nearby bench, Sam slowly made her way towards it and, while carefully cradling Simon in her arms, collapsed into the seat’s comforting frame. From there, she began pondering over what to do next in light of her current dilemma.

Simon needed medical attention, fast. She had to get him home, where she could tend to his wounds. The severity of those beatings from earlier were already far too much for someone of Simon’s age to endure, even if those bullies had  been holding back. The back of his head was still bleeding from when he got hit with the rock, leaving a few crimson-colored stains amidst the boy’s pale-blonde hair.

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam knew Simon needed to be taken to a hospital. But she couldn’t risk mom finding out. After all, mom worked there 24/7. And Sam was <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">not <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> prepared to have that talk with her. She’d ask what happened, and Sam would have to answer truthfully; that Simon had gotten beat up. “Why?”, she’d ask.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The conversation would go on and on with endless questioning until Sam’s mom found out <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">everything <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, and as of now, Sam was far too ashamed to tell her mom just what she was. A bizarre feeling made itself known in the bottom of Sam’s stomach.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Till now, it never bothered Sam that she was a lesbian. She’d known for six months straight, ever since she first laid eyes on Saoirse in seventh grade.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam had some boyfriends before, but she never found that fabled red string with <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">any <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> of them. Then Saoirse came, and blew her away…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Why, Saoirse? <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Why <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> did you do this to me? I loved you… I would have done <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">anything <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> for you… I would’ve gone t-to the ends of the earth and back j-just to see that beautiful, radiant smile of yours. What d-did I do wr-wrong...D-do I d-deserve this?” Sam moaned.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">No sooner after Sam had finished her lament did Simon begin to stir, ever-so-feebly, in Sam’s trembling arms.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon slowly opened his eyes… His vision was blurry… He could barely see…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Somebody was carrying him… an angel?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">H-had he died...?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He died...Whatever happened to him, must have happened to Sammy a million times worse…!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">She was so caring, so gentle, so sweet…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">She never hurt anyone, and people took advantage of that…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">They hurt her...He FAILED her…!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam’s thoughts were abruptly put on hold when she heard an audible groan emit from Simon’s lips, prompting her to gaze upon him with immense concern. Out of a maternal instinct borne since childhood, Sam pulled Simon in even closer, cradling him like a newborn, as if to shield him from the outside world the best she could.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I’m sorry, Sammy…” Sam heard Simon whisper, his tear-filled eyes sporting a gaze so intense that as he cried, Sam could feel the very sadness afflicting her brother begin to suffocate her as well.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Sorry?” Sam asked. “Sorry for what?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I-I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect her! I failed her! A-again…" Simon cried, hating himself now even more than ever. He was so weak…so pathetic. He could barely stand to look at himself in the mirror without wanting to vomit… He was such a disgusting pile of <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">filth! <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Angry tears spilled over his eyes as Sam gently stroked his hair. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You didn't fail anybody. I'm fine, Simon… They didn't hurt me…" She said. Simon looked up at her incredulously, his eyes squinting.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I… I can't really see you, Sammy… Am I wearing blinders or something?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's probably the damage from the blows dealt to your head...I was so scared for you, Simon. You fell and you weren't moving… I was so scared you were dead…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"D-did I do a good job, Sammy? Was I… good enough… for you today?" Sam felt tears stinging her eyes. Simon looked at her, appearing even more vulnerable than Sam had <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">ever <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> seen him before in her entire life. He was always so strong, so tough, and always able to get back up and keep going. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Just like Dad <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. But now...Now, he looked like he was ready to go to sleep and never wake. He needed affirmation… He needed someone to tell him it was going to be alright. He needed <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">her <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Today? Simon, you've <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">always <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> been good enough for me… You never had to prove <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">anything <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">… I've always been so proud of you for everything you do… You didn't have to let yourself get beaten half to death to impress me… Why would you do that to yourself?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I… I'm not… strong enough t-to… protect you… All I could do… was keep getting… back up and distracting them…Y-you're the… smart one, Sammy… I knew you'd… figure out a way to save… the both of us… if I just… bought us enough… tiiiime…" he murmured. "So tired… I just need… a little nap…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"No, no, no! Simon, you can't go to sleep!" Sam cried. Simon looked at her, one eye swollen shut from being punched, his other eye bloodshot from being poked. He was missing several teeth. They were probably still littering the schoolyard. His nose was broken and he had a particularly nasty cut under his right eye that was still bleeding. He flinched whenever her hands moved, so she assumed that at least one rib was broken, if not more. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">I… I have to take him to the hospital!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Wake up, Simon! Tell me about your day at school!” " Sam ordered. Simon nodded. His chest hurt so badly. His head was splitting like a quart of wood, he could barely see and there was a horrible ringing in his ears that wouldn't go away. But Sammy was telling him what to do. He couldn't say no. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I… got my test back… to-Ow…! Today…" Simon muttered, gripping his side. He could barely breathe. No way he’d make it to the hospital if Sam carried him on foot. They needed an ambulance.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam reached for her cell phone and cursed… it had been broken when the two bullies had her shoved against the wall. She took out Simon's, only to find to her chagrin that it had been smashed from during the fight. Shattered, really. She howled with rage at the idea that she couldn't even get Simon the care he needed. She hefted Simon in her arms and headed towards the nearest building, a restaurant they used to frequent. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Come on, Simon! Tell me how you did on your test. What subject was it?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"M-math…" he growled, every breath he took hurting him. "I… got an 85…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"That's great, Simon! We studied so hard for that test, and you did such a good job! I'm so proud of you." Sam said. She had to keep encouraging him. She needed to build him up after the way he'd been beaten down. He needed to know she believed in him. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Excuse me, Mr. Anatoli…" Sam said nervously upon entering the restaurant, Simon still in her arms. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sammy! It's been far too long! How's my favorite diner doing?" Mr. Anatoli greeted. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Y-yes, yes… I'm doing alright… But Simon…" She said.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The old, portly man looked down and gasped. "What happened? He looks like he's been hit by a freight train!" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Please! Call an ambulance! Our phones don’t work!" Sam pleaded. Mr. Anatoli nodded and dialed 911, while Sam took a seat at one of the nearby tables, cradling Simon still. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Alright, Simon… You <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">need <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> to stay awake… I know it's hard, but I can't let you fall asleep… Concussion… Coma… I… It's all my fault…" Sam gasped, as she finally broke down. She wasn't scared for her life anymore. All that was left was the crippling guilt from having let her baby brother get beaten so badly. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh, God! W-what have I done?" Sam wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I never should've told Saoirse how I felt! I never should have thought it would work!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Suddenly, Simon reached up, his shoulder hitching in pain as he tried to move his injured right arm. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's okay, Sammy… It's not your fault… I made this decision… on… m-my… *HACK! COUGH!* on my own… I told you… It was the only way I could think of to protect you… I'm not smart like you, or skilled like mom, or strong like dad… This was… all I could do… for you… And I would do it again… to stay standing… All day… E-every… Day… If it meant you could be safe… just a little... while… longer…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam was feeling sick to her stomach… This was her fault… Did she really hurt Simon's self-confidence so much that he really believed that? <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Simon, listen to me… You're an amazing, wonderful person… You can do anything you want to do with your life… But you have to be alive in order to do so. Please… <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Please <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">… Don't do anything like this again!" she begged. Simon nodded, nearly falling asleep, but managing to keep his head aloft. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Just as he did, the paramedics arrived, and carried Simon out on a stretcher. Sam ran after them, saying that she was his closest family at the time. They nodded and she climbed in after them.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam had never ridden in the back of an ambulance, but somehow, she wasn't excited. The paramedics assessed Simon's injuries, putting him on oxygen in case brain damage stopped him from breathing, and, upon arrival at the hospital, rushed him into the emergency room, where he disappeared from Sam's sight. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam sat out in the waiting room, panicking the whole time… What if he didn't make it? What if he was in a coma for the rest of his life? What if their mom hated her for what she let happen? What if their mom and dad found out that she was a slutty lesbian and hated her for that? All of these questions flew through her mind, making her dizzy until she finally had to close her eyes and try to imagine a time when she was safe, when she could go to school and not be abused on a daily basis.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">After what could have been thirty minutes or six hours, a female nurse came in. and sat down next to Sam, who was still dreaming of better times.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Hello, Sammy…” came a gentle voice.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam looked up, terrified.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Mom…” she whispered. Amanda smiled gently at Sam, and hugged her tightly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's okay, Sammy… Nobody blames you for what happened… But what DID happen?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sam couldn’t bare to look her mother in the eye as she remained silent, before eventually murmuring “I… I can’t tell you…” <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sammy… I know how much you care for Simon. How loyal you are. But how can we treat him if we don’t even know what happened to him?” <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I… I can tell you what injuries he got… He was hit over the head repeatedly… Fists, rocks, pipes… I think there was a pipe in there somewhere… It all got kind of blurry after a while…" Sam muttered. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sammy, I need you to tell me <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">how <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> he got those injuries..." Amanda pleaded. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I-I can't…" Sam said, tears stinging her beautiful blue eyes. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Well… Fine then, you're grounded until either you tell me or until you're eighteen… Whichever comes first. No going out with friends, no sleepovers… No nothing." <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Fine… It's not like I have any friends left anyway…" Sam muttered angrily. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What was that?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Nothing… Forget about it… Just like you do with everything else that has to do with Simon and me!" Sam snapped. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Suddenly, she felt an immense surge of anger at her mother, an anger that made her want to hurt her mother as badly as those bullies had hurt Simon. Naturally, she couldn't beat and kick her mother. So hurting her emotionally was the second best thing. She looked at her mother's eyes as she saw tears start to prick the corners. Sam suddenly felt a grim satisfaction. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I'm sorry, Sammy… I never wanted to be away from home so much… I wanted to be able to be the mother that you and Simon needed… But you became such a good caretaker that… I-I guess I stopped worrying… I… I know it shouldn't be your job to take care of your little brother… But…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yeah, I know… You need to make money. I get it." Sam said, turning her back on Amanda. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Wait… You said you wanted to talk to me about something important yesterday… W-we could talk now…" She said hopefully. Sam looked at her mother with a look of such disgust that Amanda actually flinched. She had been a nurse for years, but somehow, the look her daughter gave her was more frightening than any of her patients, even the ones who screamed profanities while threatening her. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Whatever…" Sam muttered, turning away from Amanda again. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Excuse me, Mrs. Sharp… You can go in and see Simon now." The doctor said. Amanda sent Sam in first, not wanting to overwhelm Simon.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon gasped as he woke with a startle. He was still trembling from the nightmare he had. He had dreamt that the fight had gone much differently than it actually had. The bullies broke his knees so he couldn't stand, and then he was forced to watch as they shaved the rest of Sam's hair. She was screaming out, begging for Simon to help her, pleading with him to save her… But he couldn't. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He was stuck, lying there, watching as they finished shaving her head.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">They then began to beat and kick her, over and over again. She cried out in agony, and eventually she went silent. But he could remember the hateful glare she gave him. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You failed me… You miserable, weak little piece of s***! I hate you so much! You were never good enough for me! You couldn't protect me, and now I'm dying and it's all your fault!" she cursed him as she breathed her last painful, rattling breaths and fell silent.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Suddenly, Simon woke up, drenched in a cold sweat to see two doctors around him. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Hey, there… You gave us all quite a scare… Do you know what your name is?" The doctor asked gently. She was a kind looking woman. Slender, with sharp features but wide, expressive eyes. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"S-S-Simon… Sh-Sharp…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What about the date… Do you know what day it is?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Um… W-Wednesday…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Tuesday, actually. Don't worry about it. Do you know who's in the White House?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Barack Obama." He said. "Though he won't be for much longer." <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Good, good." He had a good grasp of politics for an eight year old. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Do you know what year it is?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"2015." Simon said. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Right… What grade are you in?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Third." <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Good… You don’t seem to have any problems with your memory. Do you remember how you got here?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I remember an angel carrying me… Flashing lights… Sirens… Men… Urgent talking…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"An angel?" The doctor asked. That didn't quite add up. The brain damage could have been messing with his ability to form coherent memories, so whoever was carrying him seemed like an angel. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Have you met this angel before? Do you see them often?" She asked, wondering if it was common for him to have this delusion. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I think so… I sort of recognized her voice… But I couldn't see very well… My eyes were really blurry." Simon said. The doctor nodded. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"That's probably damage to the Occipital Lobe of your brain. Can you see this pen moving? Follow it with your eyes if you can." She said. Simon followed the pen up and down and spinning around, moving towards him and away from him. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Your vision seems to be improving. How can you see now?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's still a little blurry… But I can see your eyes, if that means anything." <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Your attention to fine detail is improving. Are you having any auditory difficulties?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What now?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Can you hear alright?" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"There's still a ringing in my ears… But it's not as loud as before." <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"That's good to know. Again, the Occipital Lobe governs the five senses… Well, there aren't only five senses, but for the purposes of this conversation, let's say there are. You may experience some changes in taste, either hyperactivation of your taste buds, or a slight lack of taste… You might be smelling too well or not well enough or smelling things that aren't necessarily there. These should all go away in time. It looks like you have a visitor. I'll let you go for now." She said with a smile, heading out of the room. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Hey, Simon… You're looking better." Sam said. Simon couldn't even look Sam in the eye. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I'm so sorry, Sammy… I-I failed you… Again…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You didn't fail me, sweetie… Er, Simon…" Sam said, forgetting to catch herself. She used to call Simon 'sweetie', because it helped calm him down if he was upset, or if he just had a nightmare and was scared. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I've never met anyone as brave as you were today, Simon…" Sam said gently, sitting down next to her brother on his bed and enfolding him in a hug. He hugged her back, pressing himself against her, his head against her chest. He needed to hear her heartbeat. He needed to know that she was really alright, that this wasn't just a dream… That he wasn't about to wake up and find himself cold and alone, with his sister's corpse lying right next to him, beaten, bloody and cold. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Suddenly, he felt sick to his stomach. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I did fail you… I-I'm sorry… I wasn't strong enough… I couldn't protect you… I couldn't fight those bullies… I-I couldn't…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Simon… There were ten of them… I couldn't have fought them either. You and I wouldn't have been able to fight them together. 2 against 10? I don't really like those odds. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You were incredible today. You were so strong, and so tough and so brave… But… Seeing you get hurt like that… It was more than I could take… Please, Simon… <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Please <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, don't do that again. The bullying hurts now, but it will end eventually. They'll get tired of me and move on. Meanwhile, I don't want to end up carrying your body to the police station." Sam said gently. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"But… Your hair… They were… You love your hair so much… You take such good care of it, you have such beautiful hair…" <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"My hair would grow back… I'll make new friends… Life will go on. With or without hair, I'm still your sister, and I still love you to the moon and back… You didn't need to get yourself nearly killed just to protect my hair." Sam said, kissing Simon on his nose. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">That was something she used to do when they were kids. It was cute how annoyed he'd get, but then she'd look again and see him blushing happily and smiling, and she knew that he loved it when she did it. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Do you know though? What I couldn't live without?" Sam asked. Simon shook his head. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You. You make my life so much better… And I don't know what I would do if I lost you, especially if I lost you because you thought you had to fight for me." Sam said, holding Simon even closer. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He could feel her tears dropping on his gown, soaking the shoulders. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"W-why are you crying, Sammy?" Simon asked. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I was just so scared… I was so scared that you wouldn't be alright. I was so scared that I was alone now. Friends come and go, schools change and people move on… But families are always supposed to be able to know that they can come home to each other… <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Please don't make me come home to an empty house…" Sam said. She knew how desperate and pathetic she sounded. But right now, she was also feeling pretty vulnerable. Simon needed someone to support him, and she needed someone to support her. As hard as her school life seemed, it was nice to know that she had a brother who cared so much about her. <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sammy… I would fight for you any day. I would get back up and keep fighting over and over again until either I won or I died… I would do that all day, every day for you. You've protected me all my life… How could I look at myself in the mirror if I didn't try to do the same for you when you needed it?" Simon asked. Sam felt herself breaking down. She needed him to understand. She needed him to know… <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Simon… I appreciate your devotion… It means the world to me… But right now, what I need is a living brother, not a dead one. You've always been my hero… You've always been the man I admire most in the world… I've always been so proud of you. You're a good, brave, strong, kind person… You don't need to get yourself killed to prove your devotion to me… Please… Please, Simon… Just let it go… I'll live through this… It can't last forever. I promise you, it will get better… Just be patient." <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Simon sighed, leaning into his sister, feeling so close to her right now. He had been so scared. His nightmares were only getting worse, they only got colder and angrier and darker. But now, sitting with Sam like this, maybe things would get better.