Free

He rubbed one arm with the other after hearing the news they both knew had been coming for a long time. The hospital's beeping and fluorescent lights felt more like home than anything else had from how long they'd been there. And now, it'd soon become some of the last noises he hears. He looked at her slowly as the doctor walked out of the room. 

“I…” he began, watching her hands ball into tight fists, knuckles turning white. She stared at the linoleum tiles, and he could see fury burning in her eyes. “At least it's a little longer… There's a lot we can still do…”

She turned her head away for a moment to wipe her arm across her eyes. “Fine.” 

“What?” 

“Fine! Fine.” 

She snatched a Sharpie off the nightstand, and the next thing he knew, she had his hand and was dragging him through the hospital. She pressed the elevator button, tapping her foot impatiently. When the light showed that it was on the furthest floor and stopped periodically, she grunted and turned to drag him up the staircase.

“Where are we going?” He called from behind her, “What's wrong?”

“It's not fair.” She grumbled back, and before he could respond, she added, “So I'm going to make it fair.” 

“What does that mean!?” 

One flight of stairs after another with panicked questions and vague answers. Finally, she shoved the door to the roof open and stepped out, her hand still firmly grasping his. The wind blew through her hair, and she turned so that it was blowing out of her face. 

“Jess, why are we up here!?” He yelled over the wind as she stamped towards the edge of the roof. “Be careful!” 

Jessamine hopped up onto the ledge and spun to look down at him, holding both of his hands. 

“Luca,” she began, her tone level and expression low. “Life–this world–whatever it is thinks that it could just tear you away from me like this. And–and I know I could give you the ‘we can't give up’ and ‘just keep fighting,’ spiels, but… We both know how I feel about those.” 

He watched her eyes gloss over, like the dam that held tears back was about to spill over. “Jess–”

She cut him off. “I can't just–just–” her voice began to break. “I can't just watch you give up so–so–we're going to fly, instead of fall. Together.” 

He was confused as she helped pull him up onto the roof's ledge. “Fly?” His voice was quiet, lost in the wind as he glanced over the edge. 

The hospital was about twenty stories high, making the cars below seem small, even if the lights were enough to reach his and Jessamine's faces. He looked at her, the yellow glow from the city lighting up the tear stains under her eyes. She was focused on something. With the sharpie cap in her mouth, she was writing in big, bold letters on her arm. “DNR.” Do not resuscitate. 

“Jess!? What are you going to do!?” He grabbed her arm, making both of them wobble a little, even more when she yanked the fresh ink away. 

She spat the sharpie cap from her mouth, letting it fly over the edge of the building. “Do you want me to put it on your arm or chest?” 

He didn't have the chance to respond before she had already pulled his hospital gown down and was writing “DNR” over his left pec. The R smeared when he pushed her hand away. “Jess, this is crazy!” He stammered, watching her flick the Sharpie off the building. 

“I know!” 

He stared at her, but couldn't find any words to say. And as if he had waited too long–like the timer was up, she threw herself at him, and over the edge they went. 

He watched the edge of the roof draw further and further away. Jessamine's hair clouded his vision of the night sky, the moon just peeking out in glimpses. The city's glow grew brighter.

He grasped Jessamine tightly, tighter than he closed his eyes. He pulled her even closer to him, close enough to speak in her ear. 

“Let's fly.”

He felt her hold him even tighter, feeling comfort, and for once,