"Tell Mom and Dad I love them, okay?" she asked of me.

I shook my head, my tears starting to blur. "No, Layla. You can tell them yourself."

She shook her head, letting out a choked laugh. "No, little brother, I can't. I don't want to."

"Please," I begged her, trying not to let my oncoming sob slur my words. "Please just pull over. Please, Layla, please. I love you. Please don't leave me."

She cried, and I felt the car speeding up. "I'm so sorry, little brother. I love you the most."

"If you love me then don't leave me." Everything was a blur of color.

"Stay a good kid, okay? D—don't grow up and break hearts." Her words melded with each other, coming out slow and unclear. But I knew what she was saying. "Don't . . . Just be good. Stay in school, go to college. Pursue your career. Start a family. Be happy and all that good stuff I'll never get."

"Yes. Yes, you will go to college and start a family and be happy—"

She laughed, but her crying made it sound like a dying cough. "No. I won't. I don't want to. I just can't anymore."

"Please, Layla," I begged. Thinking of something, anything, to get her to stop. "I'll get hurt? You love me right? Love me the most? Then don't hurt me."

But she ignored him as she slowly blinked, letting more tears fall. She had increased the acceleration. "Don't waste your words. Don't waste your time saying sorry. Don't do something to apologize for in the first place. Be nice and kind to everyone."

"I promise. Layla! Please! Please just don't do this."

She looked at me for the first time since she pulled out her flask. She smiled for me and put a hand on my shoulder. It felt like a heavy burden. "I love you so much."

"I love—"

~*~

Song: V - Winter Bear

Thanks, lovelies,
Nuela <3