“Tonia?” Annora croaked.


    “Annora?”


    “What have I done…”


    Maggie and Tonia rushed to Annora’s side.


    “It’s really you?” Maggie said, tentative.


    “He’s gone.”


    “What?”


    “I don’t… I don’t feel him anymore.”


    Annora’s hospital gown was quickly becoming drenched in blood.


    “Try not to talk, okay?” Tonia stroked Annora’s hair. “Maggie, maybe there’s something in that kit you can use? Bandages, or stitches? Anything?”Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    “No, please don’t leave,” Annora said. “Can you both stay with me? I don’t have much time.”


    “But there’s this box of medical supplies—Maggie might be able to—”


    Annora coughed a glob of bright red blood.


    “It’s too late,” she wheezed.


    “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” Tonia grovelled over Annora’s shivering body. “Please forgive me.”


    “I forgive you…” the words lurched from her throat. “You saved Maggie… I’m proud of you.”


    Every breath sounded wet.


    “I’m proud of you, too,” Tonia cradled Annora’s hand in her own.


    “Is there anything we can do?” Maggie asked. “Anything?”


    “No, it’s okay,” Annora coughed again and groaned in pain. “Actually,” she muttered. “Do you have music?”


    “I do,” Maggie couldn’t help but smile a choked and sorrowful smile. “I don’t have very much, though, I’m sorry. What would you like to listen to?” she tried not to let the tears overrun her.


    “Something… pretty.”


    Maggie searched her playlist quickly.


    “Ah, this one’s my favourite, it’s a piano sonata. Here,” she placed the device near Annora so she could hear it better.


    Tonia and Maggie lay down beside Annora, and each of them held one of her hands. Over the music, they could no longer hear her pained sighs and the laborious breaths from her blood-filled lungs. And there they lay, on the hospital floor, and they listened until the very last note.