chapter 26:
I followed my mom into the dark room.
It wasn't dark because of the light,
it was a mental darkness that overcame us all,
except for Noah.
He was the only light left in the room,
not with hope,
but with knowing we were all with him for his last days, hours, minutes.
I walked beside his bed, where Emily sat, holding his right hand.
He laid heavily, looking at her with a certain happiness in his eyes,
rubbing his swollen thumb across her intertwined fingers.
They kept their eyes on each other, with soft smiles.
That was true love.
He may not had been happy with life, or knowing that he was near the end,
but he still loved her more than I had seen him love before.
I didn't want to interrupt.
But I was dying to speak to him.
"Noah." I whispered with tears in my eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Emily looked up at me trying to smile.
I tried to smile, too.
"Scarlet. I'm glad you're okay." He let out whatever energy he could, 
just to speak to me.
A tear fell from my face.
He was glad I was okay.
Me.
Not himself.
My parents came over, joining Emily and I beside his bed.
There was silence for a moment.
My mom was rubbing his shoulder, as my father held his arm around my mother.
Emily and Noah's grip was tighter.
I sat, watching my family beside my only brother.
My big brother.
Noah was tired, and weak.
His eyes began to fall as he breath got slower.
"Can I get you anything?" My mom asked him.
"I'm just tired, mom." He coughed.
"I'll get you some water. It's good to stay hydrated."
She got up, almost like she wanted to stay away from the bedside.
"Do you guys want water, too?" My dad asked Emily and I.
"I'm good." Emily said sadly.
I shook my head.
Silently, my father followed her to get bottled water.
Noah's eyes were closed, 
and his breath was short and steady.
I noticed her looking at him, watching his chest rise and fall,
making sure it did each time a breath should have taken place.
"Emily."
Her pale face, and swollen eyes turned up toward me.
"He loves you." I said.
She shook her head, and her lips closed together as her eyebrows
moved inward, trying to stop herself from crying.
"I mean it." I said softly.
She was silent for a moment.
"I-I know." She studdered as her eyes moved back to him.
I looked at him, too.
I watched his gentle rosey lips lay still,
and his greasy hair that grew even longer take over the pillow,
and his long body cover over the hospital bed.
It was so unreal, watching him this way, so.. calm.
So peaceful.
Emily started to speak.
"I just wish, one last time, I could hear it from him."
Her head slowly turned to me, and I felt myself try to frown.
"Me too."
I looked back at him, and his still lips curved upward.
I smiled.