After the reunion was done my parents insisted on us staying a day or so with them before we would fly back to America. I obliged without asking Cameron if it was okay with him, he could figure his problems out on his own, he's a big boy.

We entered the only guest bedroom in the house and what did we find. A single queen sized bed, no couches, no benches, no window seats, no nothing, just a bed a dresser and a couple tables with lamps on them. Either my parents are really desperate for grand children or my sister set this up...

I'm going for the second one.

I placed our bags down against a wall and belly flopped onto the bed. Carrying up all those bags created a dull pain in my lower back. My dad was supposed to help me, but Cameron told him that he'd take them, for a quarter of the walk up the stairs! Not only five steps and he dumps the bags on me and expects me to carry them. That straight faced Bas- JERK!

When we arrived at home it was pretty close to 11:00 at night and so we gave each other quick good night hugs and headed off to our own rooms. When me and Cameron entered the room, we both looked longing at the bed, well at least I did. I didn't want to be stuck in an awkward conversation about sleeping arrangements so I took my pyjamas and headed for the bathroom down the hall. When I re-entered the room all the lights were off except for a couple table lamps. I looked around the dark room and almost tripped over Cameron who was wrapped up in a blanket on the floor, eyes closed and breathing silent. I turned off the two table lamps and crawled into the bed. Okay maybe he wasn't tooooo bad, he was only 9/10 of a jerk, no make it 9 and a half 10th's of a jerk. I watched the ceiling and breathed in the familiar scent of my home. I looked around the room and replicating it to the way it was before I left for America. This guest room used to be my room. But obviously I moved and now it's here for me when I want to come and visit. My eyes drifted closed with the boring thought of moving and I soon fell into a deep sleep. One of the first that I've had in a while.

I had an abrupt awakening when my shoulders were tightly gripped and my head was moving back and forth. I was going to get whip lash if they didn't stop. I waved my hands in an attempt at shooing them off. I mumbled incoherent words as I groggily starred into the worried eyes of my sister.

"It's aunt Helen!"

My eyes widened at the mention of her name. Aunt Helen was put into an institution for people who were suicidal. For years my family and I would visit her and give her gifts for Christmas and her birthday, she'd always smiled and told us how much longer it would be until she could hug us in the comfort of our own home. She was supposed to be released the night of the family reunion. But she never came, now I'm starting wonder if this was the reason why she didn't show.

Me, my sister and my dad all shuffled into the car and quickly drove to the hospital where they put her in life support. My mom, Cameron and Will were taking the second car (because Will wouldn't get up)

We rushed into the hospital and my dad spoke to the lady at the front, telling her who we were and who we were here to see. My dad came back with a concerned look on his face.

"They say we're not allowed to go in yet because the doctors are still working on her."

It was a weird way to put it but I wasn't going to mention it to him, it was his sister we were talking about here.

Seconds turned to minutes and I could tell dad was becoming impatient. A little while later mom, Will and Cameron came through the doors of the hospital.

"Sir"

A nurse walked up to my father and directed him towards a room mentioning something along the lines of the doctors done.

We trailed along but let him enter the room on his own. I slouched in one of the hospital chairs and my mind drifted off to all the times we saw her before she entered the institution. I remember one time on my birthday she came bursting through the door and I was greeted with a huge smile and open arms. She smelled so sweet back then, like strawberry shortcake. She always used to make that, it was her favourite she loved the light red colour of the strawberries. She would always give me this bright red sweaters that were itchy as hell but you could feel all the love that she put into making them. She'd give everyone a sweater every year for Christmas, and she'd threaten us to wear them so to convince her that we did we would always fight through the uncomfortable scratchy wool all the see the bright gleam in her eyes. She was the closet family member to me besides my parents and siblings. She was the only one that stayed around long enough to watch me grow up and to be a part of that experience. She'd always take my side on everything, no matter how far fetched it would've been. Dad would always look at here and ask "So you're taking her side instead of your own brothers" and she'd nod and wrap an arm around my shoulder and squeeze just to prove to him that there was no way she would ever leave my side. She's seen every side of me, she's been there for me through tears and joy, but now I feel her leaving my side. Like she's slipping through my fingers and there's no way I can get her back.

A single tear trailed down my cheek and I harshly wiped it away, not wanting to accept the fact that my best friend and aunt isn't going to be around anymore.

"Hey, she'll live. Elli, she's breathing, dad says that she's very much alive."

I look over to Will who managed to snake his hand around mine and hold it in a comforting grip. I smiled sadly at him, not knowing whether what I felt was true or not.

"But William, I can't feel her anymore. Why can't I feel her by my side"

He pushed my head into his shoulder as his hand rest on the back on my head. More tears followed the one from before and I gripped his jacket as silent sobs escaped my lips.

We stayed like that until dad came out telling me that she asked to see me. I took a deep breath in, scared for what might happen if I went into that room.

"Beth"

She held out her arms in the same loving way that she used too.

"Aunt Helen"

I breathed in her scent and instantly felt content in her arms. But no matter how safe I felt, the feeling that I had in my head and my heart just wouldn't go away. I pulled away from the hug and her hand caressed my cheek in a gentle movement.

"Look how beautiful you are..."

Her voice was weak and raspy. I could tell she was struggling.

"Will says you'll be okay"

Her loving gaze didn't change, but her smile did. Her mouth dropped into a sad smile as her hand moved back to her side.

"Those are only hopes dear"

"But-"

"You and I both know that"

"But I don't want to know, I want to believe that you'll live. I want to believe that you'll stay with us, with me"

I grabbed her hand and held it close to my heart.

"Everyone has to leave sometime dear. And now it's my time"

"No! No you won't leave, you've said that so many times before, by you didn't leave, you fought. Please keep fighting, for me"

"Sweetheart, my body's too weak to fight anymore. It's raising the white flag. I'm surrendering."

She turned towards the window and gazed up at the stars.

"I always loved the times we spent together."

"You were always by my side"

I mumbled loud enough for only her to hear. She nodded slowly before turning back to me.

"And I will still be by your side. Forever and for always."

The beeping of the heart monitor slowed down and I could see the colour in her eyes fade.

"I will always be by your side"

She breathed out before the final beep sounded and her hand went limp. I gripped her hand tighter and brought it up to my face and tears streamed down my red face. I wasn't ready to lose her, but did.