JEFF's POV

The next day was everything but calm. I couldn't sleep well last night. And stared visualizing situations. Maybe Sasha was joking. Maybe it was all a trap. A revenge for not being loved back. Maybe Sasha just took a long leave and needed some space. Or maybe Sasha was saying the truth. Her letters can't be lying. One cannot fake being hurt or dying. Maybe it was all my imagination. The letters never existed and the lady never came to give them to me. It was all a bad bad dream.

But no, the letters were still there in the black box. Safe.

And Sasha was actually dying.

I took a shower and put on the best pair of shirt and jeans. It was 9.38 am. Visiting hours should be open by now. I grabbed a pack of Skittles and drove to the hospital. The 20 minute drive was filled with just one question in my mind.

What if she already died?

No. No. This can't happen. Her wish was going to come true and she has to be alive for this. I parked and rushed to the reception. The nerdy 21-year-old looked at me with questioning eyes.

"Sasha Hazelwood. Cancer patient. What's her room number?"

"And who are you?" He opened some registration book.

"Her...friend. tell me quick."

"Room 501. Upstairs, left corner."

I nodded and turned to leave but he was quick enough to stop me.

"Sir, she's been expecting someone. I hope it's you. And please take good care. Its a miracle she has survived."

I blinked, and left.

Room 501

My hand trembled on the handle of the door. You can't possible expect a cancer patient to look as good as before. My imaginary Sashas kept coming in front of me. Sasha with bald head. Sasha with bags under her eyes. Sasha this, Sasha that.

I closed my eyes and opened the door with a click. Sterile smell welcomed me and I felt a sense of nausea. There was this constant beeping of the monitor. And in the middle of the white room was a fragile body surrounded by green and red pipes and white bedsheets. I closed the door softly and walked to her bed. She looked so thin. Her brown hair was still the same. She had her eyes closed, long eyelashes prominent. I brushed a delicate lock of hair from her hair.

"You came?" She murmured.

"I came."

She slowly opened her eyes. The shine in her hazel eyes was all gone. They looked dull, lifeless. I sat on the stool beside her.

"You don't know how long I've waited for you."

"You sound like Edward Cullen." I chuckled.

Her voice was still the same. Soft, confident and strangely attractive.

"I'm serious, Jeff. I'm sure I'm dreaming again. Pinch me."

I did. She let out a small yelp.

"So you are here."

"I am. And I read the letters. Some old lady gave them to me."

"Must be Mrs. Johnson. And she's not old."

A piercing silence followed. Too uncomfortable for one's taste. Both of us were waiting for either one to start but all that prevailed was the beeping of the monitor, and our heavy breaths.

"I love you." She said.

It was a statement. A plain statement with no punctuations or whatsoever. A statement which tends to put the listener in a state of extreme shock, pleasure, and cluelessness at the same time. Where the listener has no option but to answer with something that would be the truth. And will not hurt the speaker.

Love.

Her eyes said it all. In the hazel depths floated a certain calmness and honesty. She blinked, expecting an answer. But nothing came. I was too pre-occupied with the L word to realize I had to give an answer too.

"I--"

"No it's okay. I understand. It's not necessary to love me back." She smiled.

"Sasha I--"

"How is school? I miss school, Jeff. And it's so boring here."

"Can't you just--"

"By the way! That dance programme! I'm sure you won, didn't you?" Her eyes twinkled with excitement.

"Yes. I did. Lis--"

"Oh my god. I so knew it! Congratulations dude."

"Yeah. Bu--"

"Mrs. Johnson's daughters are joining this year. I'm so happy for them."

"That's nice. Sasha I--"

The next thing I saw was nothing I'd like to see ever. Sasha started gasping for breath. Beeping of the monitor was really fast. And my mind suddenly went blank. Doctors came rushing to the room. Sasha was taken to the I.C.U. to provide breathing support. I stood there in shock, not able to process what happened. What else can you expect? Doctors and nurses were running across corridors and were continuosly giving orders. I mean, you get the picture.

I sat on the bench outside the I.C.U. It was already 3 hours and there was no news of her. All I could see was doctors taking turns to see her in the room. It was absolutely frustating, I tell you. What if she died?

Death is inevitable. It happens. Some get to live their life, some do not. It's all upto fate and destiny to decide. There might be thousands out there; mothers crying for their son, daughters crying for their fathers, lovers crying for their soul-mates. One death should not matter. It's not supposed to. But it did.

I don't know what I was for Sasha. An ex-friend? An I-don't-know-friend-or-crush? The guy who doesn't love her back? It was hella confusing. I don't know why I'm caring for Sasha after 2 long years. Maybe it was the letters. But it's not that a few letters would change the mindset of a person. Or maybe she was dying and any person would start caring for the one who is dying. I wanted to believe it. I so wanted to believe it.

But the truth was, I knew it was something else. Something I had ignored these 2 years. A big big mistake from my side.

"Sir? Are you Jeffery?" A nurse tapped my shoulder.

"Yeah, that's me." I quickly stood up.

"Miss Sasha says she wants to see you."

"Is she okay?" I hope she is.

"She's waiting for you, sir." The nurse said and left.

I opened the door and went inside. Sasha was seated on the bed, body stiff. A single pipe went through her nose. It reminded me of Hazel from The Fault In Our Stars. The only difference was, this time it was the girl dying.

The bed creaked as I sat down beside her. I held her hand tightly, not wanting to let go, and placed a small kiss on the back. She won't feel it, but I would. She faced me. No more shining eyes. No more excitement in those depths. No more life in them. I stared at her. She did the same. I wanted this forever. But she was not destined for a forever. My eyes went down to her lips. Small pale pink lips. Mind you, there was no sudden desire or excitement to kiss her or something. There were no sparks when I absent-mindlessly leaned towards her lips. And there was no reason why I cupped her face and bought it close.

The proximity of the situation was unknown. I didn't know why I did that. She didn't know why she allowed me to do so. Her chapped lips felt soft in mine. It was a kiss filled with guilt, remorse, sadness and a tad-bit of love. I poured myself into the kiss, trying my best to cover those 2 years of ignorance. I wanted this. I should've realized it long ago. We were never meant to be. Never.

We parted, as silent tears started flowing from her eyes. It was all written, neat and clean, that her wish had been fulfilled. With my thumb I rubbed the tears and caressed her cheek. Just the way she wanted me to.

"I'll be there with you. Till the last breath." I whispered.

And that was her last breath. The monitor showed a straight line and her eyes never blinked again. With my palm, I closed her eyes and chanted a silent prayer.

Leaning to her mouth, I gave her the last goodbye kiss.

"I love you, Sasha. I do."

***

The wait is over. A big big sorry to all the ones who wanted Sasha to live after Jeff comes back in her life.

So Jesha it is!

@loveof_winter I'm sorry I couldn't keep Sasha's POV here. But I'll make it up to you ;) ;)

Thankyu everyone for supporting me all this while!

I love yaaaasssss.

Finally the end :)
Stay tuned :) :)