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She could hear sirens.  They were blaring so loudly.  Had she blacked out?  She felt fine.  She opened one eye.  The ceiling was a stark white.  She looked around.  Wherever she was, it was a cramped space.  But she couldn’t put together where exactly she was before she blacked out again.

The next time she gained consciousness, she could hear machines beeping.  Someone was holding her hand, and she could tell that person was crying from the way his hand shook.  She felt too tired to open her eyes, though.  She lay there in silence for a few minutes before she heard someone speak.

“Nia, please don’t leave yet.  I never had a chance to say goodbye….”

She blinked her eyes open then.  She could hear the pain in his voice.  She wrapped her hand around his with all the remaining strength she had.

“Tae…I love you.” It was the faintest of whispers, but she knew he’d heard it.

“I love you too.” His voice broke.

She didn’t like seeing him in so much pain, but she didn’t know what to say to comfort him.

“I’m fading, Tae.  Please say goodbye to me now.  Cry your last tears.  Don’t visit my grave after I die.  Go find someone else to love.  Forget me, please.”

She shut her eyes again.  She barely had the strength to stay awake.  She felt a gentle pressure on her forehead as his hand tightened around hers.

“I could never forget you,” he whispered.

——————–

Nia blinked her eyes open and stared at the ceiling.  Another memory.  Why did it seem that she had so many sad memories?  Then she realized something.  She didn’t remember falling asleep.  She sat up, glancing over at the other side of the bed after a hand fell into her lap.  Taehyung was sound asleep next to her.  She smiled and leaned back against her pillow again, sandwiching his hand between both of hers.  She must’ve fallen asleep in his arms on the walk home.

She smiled as she watched him sleep.  He was laying on his stomach.  On top of her sheets.  He must’ve laid down next to her and fallen asleep.  She smiled.  He was so cute when he slept.  His dark hair was falling over his eyes, but one of his big ears was peeking out through his pile of hair.  Recently, his hair had reached his lips.  She was wondering why he was growing it out.  It was long enough now that she might be able to put it into a ponytail if she wanted.

As she continued to stare at him, another memory popped into her head.

——————–

“Your hair is so soft.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah,” she ran her fingers through his hair and smiled. “It’s long enough for me to braid now.”

Tae nodded. “I grew it out just for you.”

She froze. “You did?”

“Of course.  You’re always talking about how fun it would be to braid my hair.” He looked up at her and smiled. “Have fun.”

——————–

She frowned as she stared down at him.  Was that why he was growing it out again?  It really didn’t look fun to have hair that length.  It was constantly falling into his eyes.  She’d noticed his annoyance with it sometimes.  One day, he’d sat in his office with his hand in his hair.  He’d kept it firmly planted there for more than half the day.  She’d wondered why he didn’t just get it cut.  But maybe…there was a good explanation for that.

She pushed his hair out of his eyes now.  She now was overcome with the desire to braid it.  She pulled a few strands down and wove them together before smiling.  His hair was still so ridiculously soft.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

Nia jumped, glancing down into Taehyung’s eyes.  He smiled at her.

“Hi there.  You feeling better now?’

She nodded, not sure what to say.

He smiled. “Good.”