Playlist ~ Zoe – Hold me like you used to (piano version)

An hour later, Jay and Officer Jack arrived at Drake's residence. Jay rapped on the door twice, and it emitted a creak as it swung open. There stood Julia, Drake's youngest sister, her eyes fixed on them, a gentle smile gracing her face.

"Hello, Jay," she greeted as she stepped outside.

"Hey, Julia. How are you?" Jay's voice betrayed a hint of nervousness, his anxiety amplified by the impending task of delivering heartbreaking news to Drake's family.

"I'm good. Why is the cop guy with you? Did you get into trouble?" She playfully glanced at Jack before refocusing her attention on Jay.

Jay squinted at Jack, his anxiety deepening. He scratched his head nervously. "Are your mom and Kylie home?" he asked, skillfully dodging her question.

"Julia, who is it?" Kylie's voice rang out from indoors.

Julia smirked. "She just answered your question." She glanced back at Jay, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "It's your boyfriend, Jay!" She giggled, teasingly.

Kylie's voice joined the conversation from inside the house. "Oh, shut up! Don't let Mom hear you say that!" she scolded, though her tone carried a lightness to it. Her figure appeared behind Julia, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Hey, Jay. What's up? And good day, officer."

"Hey, Kylie. We're here to see your family," Jay responded.

Kylie's brows furrowed. "My family? Well, it's not quite complete without Drake here. Should I call him over?" She posed the question, her gaze shifting toward Jack.

Jay's heart raced, and he swallowed hard, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His fingers instinctively went to his head, his nerves betraying him. "Is your mother around?" he inquired, his voice strained.

"Sir, is everything okay with my brother?" Julia asks. She was beginning to have an odd feeling that things weren't right after watching Jay's reaction when her sister mentioned her brother's name.

"Of course Drake is fine, don't asks such questions. Come on in guys" Kylie spoke up and ushered Jay and Jack in.

"Please get your mom downstairs," Jack said as he took a sit on the couch while Jay paces around out of nervousness. "Hey, you should sit" he called out to Jay, and Jay stopped pacing around and glance at him.

He rushed up to Jack and took a sit beside him. "I'm fucking nervous, I can't even sit for long. I can't do this officer, you should handle this yourself. I'm leaving right now before their mother gets down here" Jay whispers.

Jack placed his hand on Jay's shoulder and brought his lips closer to his ear. "I know you're so nervous, I also understand how sad you are for the loss. But regardless of that, you have to push your emotions aside and comfort your friend's family because it's the least you can do right now. Look at the little girl over there, she's watching you, you have to calm down right now. If you leave now it shows you're abandoning them when they need you the most. So please, be strong and act like a man, okay?"

Jay stared at Jack for a moment thinking if he should listen to the advice from the cop. He didn't have a choice but to nod in acceptance. Jack patted his shoulder twice and let go of him. Just then, Kylie came downstairs with her mom.

"Hello gentlemen, you too look so serious, is something wrong?" Kylie's mom asks and took a sit beside her two daughters.

"Good day, ma'am" Jack greeted and sat up with his hands clasped together. He squint at Jay and Jay glanced back at him and they both nodded at each other.

Jay struggled, his nerves making his voice falter as he began to explain. "Nicole, Brad, and I... We found Drake at Anna's place."

"So, he spent the night at Anna's and didn't come home or attend school today?" Drake's mother chimed in, her voice revealing a mixture of relief and casual understanding. She shrugged. "Well, that's teenagers in love for you, glued together."

Jay's eyes welled up with tears at her words, his heart heavy with emotion. He exchanged a quick glance with Jack, who gave an encouraging nod, urging Jay to continue.

"That's not quite the case, ma'am," Jack interjected, his tone somber. The room fell silent as he spoke, the atmosphere growing tense.

"What do you mean? Your faces look so grave. Has something happened to my son?" Drake's mother's voice trembled, her eyes searching Jay's face as she sat up, her concern deepening.

Jack's gaze met Jay's, and the latter's eyes dropped, his palms damp with sweat. "I'm afraid there's been a tragedy," Jack said gently, his tone compassionate but grim.

The room seemed to hold its breath as the news settled in. Kylie, Julia, and their mother gripped each other's hands tightly, their faces etched with worry.

Kylie's mother shook her head in disbelief, her voice imploring. "Tell me it's not too serious. Tell me my son is safe."

A heavy silence followed before Jack delivered the devastating blow. "I'm deeply sorry to have to tell you this, but your son has passed away. Please accept my condolences."

The room seemed to freeze in time, shock etched across the faces of the three women. Seconds stretched into moments, and no one moved or blinked.

Then, after several heartbeats, the reality sank in. Drake's mother's eyes widened in disbelief, and her trembling voice broke the silence. "What... What did you just say?"

Jay's tears flowed freely now as he stood up and knelt in front of the devastated family. His voice quivered as he confirmed the unthinkable. "It's true, Mom. Drake is gone."

"No, it can't be... My brother can't be gone," Julia wailed, her sobs filling the room.

"Tell us this is some kind of sick joke, and—"

"My son can't be dead. He's alright, and he'll walk through that door any moment now, you'll see," Drake's mother's voice quivered, her disbelief evident.

"Drake was killed last night at Anna's apartment, and Anna is missing. I... I'm so sorry," Jay's voice trailed off as he saw Drake's mother collapse. "Mom, Mom!"

Jay stood up and picked up her hand.

"Mother!" He yells in fright. "You girls should step aside," he said to the girls and then he carried her unconscious body in his arms and examines her.

"Someone should dial the emergency number right away!" he declared and Jack placed the call right away.

"They'll be here in a few minutes" he announced after the call.

Kylie and Julia threw themselves at each other and wept uncontrollably.

Jack walked up to them and stood in front of them. "Girls, I'm so sorry for the loss," he spoke out.

They both embraced him and cried on his chest. "Why does he have to die, why?" Kylie muffles hiccuping.

"Shh, just cry it all out" he whispers hugging both of them.

A couple of minutes later the paramedics arrived and they took their mom. The girls including Jay and Officer Jack joined her at the hospital. Jay put a call to Brad explaining what just happened and Brad promised to join him at the hospital soon with Nicole.

***

"Babe, you look so gorgeous in your dress" Drake grins widely at Anna. Anna glances down at her blue dinner gown with a slit in front of her thighs and a smile spread on her face.

"Thank you. You look perfect in your black tuxedo too" Anna replies smiling.

"Just for you, babe" he chuckles.

"So where are you taking me dressed like we are going on a prom?" she asks.

"It's a surprise, just be patient you'll see it" he smiles and climbed on his bike. "Hop on" he winks at her.

"Isn't it time you teach me how to ride a bike?" she whines and he laughs.

"Very soon babe. Let's say tomorrow we'll start classes" he chuckles and she giggles and hop on the bike. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he drove her to the Rock Of Cashel.

"Wow, this place looks more beautiful at night than during the day!" she exclaims excitedly when they arrived.

"Let's go inside, I have something to show you," he told taking her hand and entwining it. He walks her inside the building and halted halfway. "Close your eyes," he requested beside her and she raises a brow at him.

"What for?" she demanded.

"Just close your eyes if you are to see my surprise for you," he said smiling.

"Okay, although is creepy, I trust you" she giggled and shut her eyes closed. Drake led her into one of the rooms in the building.

"Are you ready to see my surprise?" He asks.

"Of course, I'm dying to see it!" She exclaims.

"Open your eyes," he said and Anna did not hesitate to flutter her eyes open. Her eyes grew large in pleasant bewilderment at the surprise in front of her.

The room was adorned with a cascade of LED lights adorning the walls, casting a soft, enchanting glow that danced across the space. Along the floor, a straight line of flickering candles illuminated the path, leading to a heart-shaped arrangement of delicate roses. Nestled within this romantic ambiance, a message was meticulously spelled out using LED lights. Anna's gaze fixed upon the words, "Anna, I love you so much. Please be mine forever."

Overwhelmed, Anna's hand instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears of joy that traced shimmering paths down her cheeks. Drake, his heart full of affection, gently turned her around to face him. His left hand found its place on her waist, a gentle anchor amidst the sea of emotions.

"Babe," Drake's voice carried a blend of sincerity and vulnerability, "I may not be the wealthiest or the most accomplished man in the world, but I promise you a life filled with happiness and serenity. I yearn for the chance to fill the void in your heart—"

His words paused, anticipation hanging in the air as he retrieved a small box from his pocket. With a gentle, deliberate motion, he opened the box to reveal a resplendent silver ring, its brilliance echoing the sentiment in his eyes.

Kneeling gracefully before her, Drake's voice quivered with earnestness, his eyes locked onto hers. "Anna, I dream of spending my days with you, through all the moments life may bring. Will you make me the happiest man and marry me, sharing forever together?"

"Yes, I will, yes" Anna answers cheerfully without hesitating.

Drake's lips curl up with a smile, his heart flutters with excitement at the response he just got. With pride, he said, "I love you my beautiful Ann" and he slide the ring on her middle finger.

He stood up and pulled her closer to his chest and Anna initiated a kiss. She kissed him passionately and hugged him tightly.

"I love you my darling Drake" she whispers to him.

Subsequently, the lights faded into darkness, enveloping them both. "Drake, Drake, Drake!" Her voice pierced the obscurity, carried by desperation, yet it was met with a chilling silence, void of any response from him.

"Drake," she whispered his name again, her words stifled by the darkness. The weight of confusion and unease settled over her, shrouding her in a disorienting fog.

Surveying her surroundings, her gaze registered a stark transformation. Panic surged within her, but her attempt to call out to Drake was met with yet another muted sound, a mere whisper.

In a disconcerting moment of realization, the truth crystallized before her. It was all a dream—a fleeting illusion. Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and she awoke from her slumber. The room was unchanged, the sinister reality of her captivity resuming its place.

Tears welled up, and muffled sobs escaped her lips, a potent mix of sorrow and despair washing over her as the weight of her grim predicament settled back upon her shoulders.

***

In the hospital, Jay tirelessly endeavored to console the two sisters, their distress palpable. However, his attempts at solace seemed to fall short of the weight of their grief.

Amidst the sterile environment, the younger sister's voice trembled as she posed the unanswerable questions that haunted them. "Why is all of this befalling us? What misfortune did we invite upon ourselves in this world? Wasn't it agonizing enough to lose our father and have our mother diagnosed with leukemia? We've been struggling to navigate her illness, and now death has stolen away our sole brother and father figure. How can life be so merciless? Why? What transgression have we committed to deserve this incessant cascade of suffering?" Her anguished cries reverberated, drawing attention and creating an emotional scene within the hospital's walls.

"Kylie please calm down, I understand how you feel and..."

"No, you don't! You don't fucking understand how I feel!" Kylie cut Jay off. "I feel a pain inside my heart that no one, I mean no one can understand how deep this pain is inside my heart. I've tried to pretend to be cool with all that has been happening in my family. Day in and day out I see my mom getting paler like she's going to die any minute! Every day of my life I watch my mom coughing out blood, bleeding from her nose, and her mouth ulcers and shortness of breath become more critical. And then I ask myself, how many more days or weeks does she have to survive!" she wails tears pouring down from her eyes like heavy raindrops.

Jay could no longer get in control of the situation, he was too emotional to even pretend these words weren't hitting him hard in his heart. Julia on her part was crying it all out, deep inside her mind all her sister was saying was what she could have said but her voice has long been gone after the shocking news.

"My brother was doing all he can to get drugs that will keep our mom alive longer than the doctor said she was meant to live. He was the most special reason for her to keep living because she finds strength in his affection and support for her and us. So why? Why should death take him away from us all? Now, look at how my mom has gotten worst over the news of her dead son! Who knows if she'll survive it? Who knows!" She yells and held her chest.

Kylie went down to her knees weeping uncontrollably. "No! I hate living!" She added.

"Kylie!" Nicole yells from the hallway. She wasn't alone, she was with her boyfriend, Brad. Kylie gazes up to see both of them running in their direction. "Kylie, Julia" Nicole catch up with them and first hugged Julia for a moment before letting go of her and going low to embrace Kylie who was still on the floor.

Kylie sobs into the crook of Nicole's neck. "Nicole, Drake is dead. My only beloved brother is dead" she muffles hiccuping.

Nicole felt tears sear her vision, and she managed to pat Kylie's back in silence. "Why is life so cruel to my family? What did we do to deserve this? I doubt my mom is going to make it through."

Nicole didn't like the pessimism coming from Kylie. She released her from the embrace and held her chin. "Look at me, Kylie" she tilted her chin up and Kylie stared into her eyes. "I know what happened is bad and sad but I don't want you to be negative about your mom's survival right now. She's in there fighting for her life, she needs all of our support and prayers right now. We can't lose two people today, that's never going to happen."

"Prayers?" Julia asks and all heads snap up at her. "Our prayers don't get answered. Can't you see all that is happening? If there's a God who answers prayers then he should have protected my brother from such tragic incidents and most of all, my mom shouldn't have been so ill from the start!" she spat angrily and ran out of the hospital.

"Julia wait! Julia!" Her sister and Nicole called after her but she didn't pay attention to anyone.

"I'll go after her. Jay, please keep an eye on them" Brad said and jogged toward the direction Julia had taken.

"Life is just so unfair" Kylie muffled and Jay squatted and pulled her into a hug.

"It'll be alright" he whispers and kissed her head.

Nicole got up and sat on one of the chairs by the left-hand side of the hallway and she buried her face in her palms and sobbed quietly.

While outside the hospital building, Brad has caught up with Julia. "Julia please hold on" he called out behind her. She halted and Brad held her wrist and twirls her around.

"Just leave me alone, I want to hide from the surface of the Earth. I can't keep watching all that is going on with my family" she sobs.

"Please don't say that, you're too young to even think about that. I understand a lot of things have happened but I don't think you should be wishing to vanish from the surface of the Earth. That won't solve anything. I'm sorry for the loss of your brother, you're not the only one that is hurting here. My heartaches badly over the death of my best friend and brother. Everyone is hurting, no one wished for this to happen-"

"But it happened! It happened, he's dead. My best friend and big brother is dead. Who is going to help me with my homework, pay my tuition fees, play all kinds of games with me, buy my mom drugs, and rough my hair whenever I tease him? No one is going to do that anymore" she said weakly and more sobs emerges from her mouth.

Brad pulled her to his chest and embraces her. "This too shall pass, you'll see" he whispers.

...

After an extensive period of waiting in the hospital, a male doctor finally emerged into the hallway. With a sense of urgency, Kylie and her companions stood and hastened toward him. "Are you all family members of Mrs. Violet?" he inquired.

"Yes," they replied in unison, their faces etched with anticipation.

"I regret to inform you that your mother's health has reached a critical state. The chances of her survival at this juncture are uncertain," he conveyed, his announcement casting a heavy pall over the group.

Shock and disbelief intermingled on their faces, punctuated by audible gasps that escaped their lips. In the face of this dire revelation, Kylie and Julia clutched each other's hands, tears tracing their cheeks. The weight of their predicament felt nearly insurmountable.

"Doctor, please, you must save her. Spare no effort to keep her alive. I'm willing to provide whatever resources you require, just ensure her survival," Brad implored, his voice laced with desperation.

"The ailment has taken a significant toll on her, and though I cannot guarantee her survival, I am committed to doing everything within my power. I must return to her now, please excuse me," the doctor responded, his words laden with a mix of determination and gravity before he departed the corridor.

Kylie's voice wavered, filled with emotion. "Did you hear that? They're saying Mom might not make it."

Jay offered a counterpoint, his tone gentle. "He didn't say she won't make it. He mentioned the chances are slim. He promised to give his best effort to save her."

Julia's tears flowed as she responded, her voice fragile. "Slim chances feel like no hope at all."

"Let's avoid negative thoughts, they do more harm than good," Nicole interjected, her words carrying a note of optimism.

"Nicole is right. Let's maintain a positive outlook. We must believe she can pull through," Brad concurred, his support tangible as he embraced Julia. Meanwhile, Nicole guided Kylie to sit, offering her a reassuring presence.

An hour later, the doctor emerged once more, accompanied by two nurses. Anxious and eager, the five of them hurried toward him. Kylie's voice quivered as she asked the question that weighed heavily on their hearts. "Doctor, how is my mother?"The doctor glanced from one face to another, he opened his mouth and shut it. All their eyes glued on him with anticipation.

"Doctor?" Brad called.