Thank you, lashtonxtop, for making a Portuguese translation of this story (:

*Ashton's POV*

I woke up to the sound of a monitor beeping. My vision was blurry when my eyes opened, but I could make out that I was in a room with white walls. I blinked a few times before I let my eyes wander the place, seeing that the room that I was in was a hospital room. An IV cord was in my arm and I was wearing a hospital gown, my own clothes' location unknown to me and I saw them sitting on the counter on the other side of the room.

In an attempt to sit upright, I felt an unsettling feeling in my chest and started to lower myself down slowly. I placed a hand over where it was feeling uncomfortable as I groaned quietly.

I vaguely could recall the events that happened, but then I remembered that I had gotten shot in the chest. They must've removed the bullet and that's why my chest feels so weird.

Minutes later a nurse walked into the room, her large brown eyes looking at me. They became even larger and then she immediately fled the room, calling for the doctor to check on me. I didn't know why she was in such a panic. Probably one of those new people who've no idea what to do with a patient.

Soon after a doctor arrived in the room with the same nurse by his side. The nurse looked calmer this time and the doctor had a smile on his face.

"Ah, finally woken up after a few days, I see," the guy said. "I'm Dr. Acierto. Did you have a nice rest, Mr. Ashton Irwin?"

It was almost instinct to tell him my name wasn't that because of how much I was used to people calling me by that other name, but I stopped myself from saying that and ended up nodding instead.

"My chest hurts though," I told him, pointing to the left side as I looked down.

He chuckled. "Don't worry, the discomfort will wear off in a week. After all, you did have a transplant."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Transplant?"

"We had initially planned to perform surgery on you to remove the bullet, but as we examined the effect it had done, you needed more than a simple bullet removal. You had to get an entirely new heart since yours was dysfunctional."

"So, what you're telling me is, someone else's heart is inside me?" I questioned and he nodded. "So whose heart do I have? Do you know?"

"The donor wished to remain anonymous. I think that is enough questions for today. I suggest you get something to fill your stomach. Is there anything you want to eat or drink?"

I thought for a moment before finally requesting, "Actually, could I have some chocolate milk?"

"Very well." Dr. Acierto told the nurse to fetch me some chocolate milk and she scurried off. He told me to just relax and then left me by myself in the room.

"A heart donor," I said to myself, tracing random patterns over where the heart was. I tugged at the hospital gown and looked down. I saw a large patch over my chest, most likely placed there after the surgery had finished.

I still can't believe some random person gave me their heart. That means they don't have a heart and that... they're no longer alive.

If it weren't for this donor, then I would be dead. Whoever this person is, I'm grateful for them. They donated their heart to the hospital for people in need of a new heart like me.

By the time my glass of cold chocolate milk came to me, I was already feeling a little tired, despite sleeping for God knows how long. I gulped down the entire cup, placed it on the table by the bedside, and let my eyes close.

------

I woke up an hour or two later and when I opened my eyes, Michael and Calum were sitting in the chairs next to the hospital bed, my green-haired friend giving me a friendly smile. Calum was holding flowers in his hands and Michael had a stuffed teddy bear in his.

"Hey, buddy," Michael greeted as he and Calum set the stuff down on a nearby table. "I got a call from the hospital that you finally woke up."

"Hi, Mikey. How long was I asleep?" I asked.

"I'd say about three days. We missed you, you know."

I glanced around the room. "Where's Luke? Did he not come today?"

"Um..." He rubbed the back of his neck before his eyes met mine. "He was unable to make it. Actually, you won't be hearing from him for a while."

Nodding in understanding, I started to sit upright, careful to not aggravate my chest. I ended up doing just that and I groaned.

Michael was quick to jump out of his seat and come to my aide. "Don't hurt yourself, Ash. You're still recovering from surgery. Did the doctor talk to you?"

I nodded as I answered, "Dr. Acierto told me that I have a new heart, so I guess I should learn how to get used to it."

He bit his bottom lip and he muttered out, "Y-Yeah. I know."

I glanced behind him and saw Calum was looking down at the ground. He was silent this entire time and I was going to ask what was wrong, but then he abruptly stood up and ran out of the room.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, but Michael shook his head.

"I, um..." He bit his bottom lip before he sighed and said, "I-I think it's best if Calum and I tell you together."

Without saying anything else, he left the room and I waited patiently in the bed. Whatever reason Calum had for leaving like that, it must've been bad. But maybe if he shared it with me, I could help him out somehow.

Minutes later, Michael came back with an arm wrapped around Calum whose eyes were brimmed with tears and he was choking out sobs.

"Are you okay, Cal?" I asked. "What happened?"

"You happened!" he shouted and I was taken aback by his outburst. "Why did it have to be you, of all people?!"

Now I was getting annoyed. I haven't seen him in three days and this was how he greeted me. "What the hell did I do?!"

Calum just continued to cry and Michael pulled him into a hug, trying to soothe the sobbing boy. I was confused and angry, but I tried to keep myself as calm as possible.

His crying subsided and he wiped the tears from his eyes. "I-I'm sorry. I-It's just..."

"Just?" I pressed on, but instead of saying anything else, he stepped away from Michael, reached into his pocket, and plopped something down on my lap.

It was Luke's phone.

I picked it up and gave Calum a questioning look. "Wh-Why do you have Luke's phone?"

He took in a deep breath and released. "He wanted me to give it to you," Calum said and I felt a sinking feeling in my new heart.

Now I was scared.

"Why?"

"Open up the notes app. He typed something up for you before he..." Again, Calum didn't finish what he said before he fled the room and Michael and I made eye contact.

"Please promise me after reading what he wrote that you won't do anything stupid," he said.

"Why would I do something stupid?" I asked as I was getting even more nervous with every second that went by.

"Just promise me."

"Okay, I promise."

He nodded. "I'm going to, um, get Calum to calm down again." He excused himself from the room and I felt my new heart starting to race. I don't even know if it's okay for me to feel like this when I'm still trying to get used to a new heart inside me.

I pushed the thought aside as I turned on the phone and opened up the notes app like Calum told me to.

There was only one note in there, and the title was labeled "Dear Ashton." I gulped, my shaking thumb pressing the note and opening up what was waiting for me.

Dear Ashton,

I'm sorry that I was unable to visit you at the hospital, but there is a reason why I never showed up. I had to do something far more important than see you.

The doctor told me how your heart wasn't functioning properly and that you only had ten hours to live and if there weren't any heart donors within those next hours, you wouldn't make it.

You have to be alive. I need you to be alive. So I'm going to do what I have to do:

I'm giving you my heart.

It's going to be hard for me to do, because I care about my life as much as I care about you, but despite not knowing you for long I realize that you are my life. And I can't let you die.

Why is that? It's because I've fallen for you. I love you and I wish I could've told you those words in person, but I guess I was never meant to tell you.

I wish I could be beside you, holding you in my arms and kissing you. But Fate is a cruel thing, and it just proves how cruel it is by leaving me with the choice of forever mourning over your death or sacrificing myself to keep you alive and breathing.

I love you so much, that I'd rather Death take my life instead of yours. If you had died, then I would forever be put in a state of misery, knowing that I wouldn't be able to spend the rest of my life with you.

I guess I'm pretty selfish, huh? It may seem like giving you my heart is an act of bravery, but it's an act of selfishness. I can't stand the thought of living without you, so I'm ending the pain for myself before it even begins, and I'm leaving you to deal with it. But I know you're strong.

If you ever miss me, just know that I'm always with you. I'll watch over you; I'll be your guardian angel.

If you love me, please don't do anything stupid. You and I will be together one day, I promise. All I ask is that you keep on living for me, because I'm giving up my life so you can keep yours.

You, a thief, stole my heart, and now you have it. Please take good care of it.

Remember: I love you, Ashton.

Forever and always yours,

Luke

The phone fell from my hand and tears were forming in my eyes that were fixed on the rectangular device. Some slid down my cheek and fell onto either the blanket that covered my lap or Luke's phone. I brought my hands up to my mouth, but then I was full on sobbing as I buried my face into my hands.

My heart--or Luke's heart--was breaking into a million pieces. I didn't want to believe what I had just read, but if what he said in this letter that he wrote to me was true, then...

Luke was... gone.

I heard Michael walk back into the room and I looked at him through my teary eyes.

"D-Did Luke really..." I began, but I couldn't bring myself to continue or else I would start crying again. I didn't have to go on though.

Michael nodded.

"I'm so sorry, Ashton." My best friend walked over to the side of the bed and sat down, pulling me into a hug.

And I cried into his shoulder for a really long time.

I've never cried so much for so long in my entire life.

Luke's dead, and it's all because he wanted to save me.

Even though he wants me to keep on living for him, I...

I don't know what to do with my life anymore.

------

AN: I want to say a huge thank you to lukeslyrics for helping me with the letter Luke wrote to Ashton. You were very helpful and I love you.

Surprisingly enough, this isn't the end. Please don't hate me. There's still one more chapter left and it will be a longer chapter.

Bear with me. I love you, guys. Until next time.