Chapter 3 Close Call

…Sebastian's POV…

It has been three minutes now that I have been trying to wake Kati up. She does not answer me, nor does she move; she is not responding at all. I am terrified, and I do not know what to do. My hands are shaking so much; I can't even hold her wrist to feel if she still has a pulse. So I take her out of the car and lay her down on the soft grass on the side of the road. I put my ear frantically against her chest and listen to her heart, but I do not hear her heart beating above my own that is pounding so loud.

What do I do? I don't even know how to do CPR? What if it is too late? The fact is I never thought that it would even come so soon. The doctor has not prepared me for what will happen and even how it would.

Then again…I shake her while I am screaming out her name…but still nothing.

I pull her frail body into my arms and hold her ever so tight like I never want to let go. I press her face against my chest and give her soft butterfly kisses on her cheeks. Softly between the sobs, I mumble over and over, 'I love you.'

Then fear sets in, did I just lose Kati, and I did not even realize it? I was supposed to have been there. At least there is the comfort that she has left peacefully.

But I am not ready yet. She is not supposed to go now. The doctor said three months; it has only been a day.

Then I hear the most beautiful sound coming from her lips as she begins to stir.

"Sebastian, what is wrong. Why are you crying?"

"I could not get you to wake up, I thought…I just got scared."

"Oh, Sebastian. I sleep harder than a rock."

I pull her even tighter into my embrace and land a soft kiss on top of her head.

"I really hope you are not going to cry every time you struggle to wake up me. Since when have you become such a big softy anyway?"

"It is all those girly movies you make me watch. Anyway, we are almost there. Now please close your eyes; I want it to be a surprise." I ask as we get into the car and pull onto the road again.

The tar road ends, and the car heads down a bumpy dirt road. The smell of fresh pine and wet ground fills the air. There are sounds of crickets far off, and there is a rustle between the bushes. The sweet chirping songs from so many birds are heard from the treetops. There is a cool breeze blowing, and the smell of colorful flowers flow through the air. In the far distance, there is the bubbling of water flowing over the rocks of the river. It is peaceful here. Just what Kati needs.

"Open your eyes now."

"Oh, Sebs. This is breathtaking. How can this even exist? However, did you find it?"

"You forget, I can find anything. All that matters is that you like it."

"This is so peaceful. Thank you so much!"

Then we step onto the little cabin's porch, and I can see the weight that is lifted of Kati's shoulders. She takes my hand, and I can see she is happy, almost at peace. A tear builds up in the corner of my eye, but I wipe it away before Kati can see it.

"Kati."

"Yes?"

"I need to tell you something."

"Am I going to like it?"

"It depends."

"Depends on what?"

"How you feel."

"How do I feel about what?"

I think that this might just take a little longer than it should; I should know by now that she will ask me a round of twenty questions before we get to the answer, and then we might not even do.

"You are asking an awful lot of questions again."

"It's only because I don't know the answers."

"Come, let us go inside."

And this is where Kati and my story begins. This will be the hardest struggle that we will both face, but at least we can face it together. But first, the question begs, can I tell her?

… Kati's POV…

Sebastian has taken me to the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. It is breathtaking. It made me feel special. He really cares a lot about me. I saw him wipe tears from his eyes, but I did not say anything. I don't know if he is going to be okay. I can't tell him that it will be because I know I will be lying to him. It breaks my heart that he is hurting so much. It is because of me that he is hurting.

He has spent most of his life looking after me; I don't think he has many friends. Losing me will kill him. He is going to be lonely and sad; I don't want this to be his life. I want better for him.

"Katie, do you want to go change, then we can take a walk to the river?"

"That would be awesome. I hope you have a life jacket, though."

"Why?"

"I can't swim, remember."

"Oh yes, how can I forget? You did not want me to teach you because you were afraid if you drown and I help you, you will pull me down, and I will drown too."

"It kinda sounds silly when I think about it now. Maybe you can teach me to swim while we here."

"I would really like to do that. I want to give you everything. Go change quickly; I will wait for you outside."

Sebastian needs hope, and I am going to do everything I can to give it to him. Even if it means I learn to swim.

I take my suitcases and go find what would be my room for the next couple of months. This cabin is amazing. It has four bedrooms, a big kitchen, a big lounge area, and two bathrooms. Sebastian insisted that he takes the room right next to me; he says it will make him sleep better at night.

As I walk into the room, I am shocked with surprise. There are bouquets of red roses all over the place; there are even some rose petals scattered all over the bed. It is as if you are stepping into a rose garden. The sweet scent fills the room as I step inside.

Did Sebastian do all this for me? Never in my life has anyone has done something like this for me that is so beautiful. I drop my suitcases and run outside to find him.

"Oh, Sebs, that is so beautiful. Thank you so much. I really do love you so much."

"I am happy you like it, Kati. I have known you all my life, but I never knew if you loved roses or not. I think we take the small little things for granted."

Sebastian takes me with his soft hands and wraps his arms around my body into a hug. His breathing is getting a bit deeper; you can feel his heart is heavy. He looks down into my eyes and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. I snuggle into his chest, and I feel it; his body is trembling. Sebastian is crying.

"Kati, you know that I love you with all my heart."

I can't answer him because my body is trembling too. We remain in the warm hug as tears stream down our cheeks. We stand there long after the sun has set in each other's arms. Sebastian does not want to let me go. His heart is already missing me. I think that he realized from that very first time that he would have to say goodbye to me one day.

And that day has come…