I zone back into reality... I wonder where I am for a moment, but I soon remember. My frail body allows me to smile for a moment, but my extreme exhaustion, and painfully cracked lips cut it short. Soon, there will be no more pain... It will all finally come to an end.

I study my arms... Usually they're very pale, but now... They're a blueish colour... Even with tinges of purple. The blood coursing through my body was once warm, now, all I can feel is the shrill iciness of my veins as my heart struggles to pump blood through my fatigued body. It aches... Every heartbeat sends a plague of pain through my body, internal pain, of course. My skin had long ago numbed to the harsh winds and snow.

I begin to wonder why my body has awoken me for one last time... But my thoughts are interrupted by a distant yell. I have the urge to look to see who & where it's coming from, but again, my body is having enough trouble breathing, let alone being able to move. The same yell repeats itself, I try to make out the words, but they are too muffled, and my brain is far too tired to think. A blurred figure approaches me, I want to make it out, but I know it is useless, as my sight is starting to give out on me as well... As the shadow advances nearer, the face begins to look familiar... I finally realize who it is... Never did I want him to see me in such a state. I feel ashamed, embarrassed, wishing my body would just shut down so I wouldn't have to see the dismal look of disappointment & sorrow which dwells within his eyes. He suddenly drops to his knees beside me, the cold snow muffling the thump. He stares at my discoloured arms, and runs his fingers down the left one. Once again he stares at me. I can see the tears swelling up in his eyes... He knows... He knows that it's far too late, there's nothing he can do for me, I'm on the brink of death.

He wraps his arms around me, almost cradling me, as tears stream down his face. He knows that I cannot respond to him, but he decides to talk to me anyway. Some words are hard to make out -- the wind & snow are getting more violent with each passing second. He tells me that he loves me, that he doesn't want to live a life without me... That I'm the only person who understands him, gives him hope for life. He pauses, wipes his tears, and looks at me... Almost bitterly for a moment. Sounding somewhat enraged, he tells me that even though one of the worst fates in life is to not have hope, he will not take the selfish, cowardly way out... He says he will strive to make his life worth something, no matter what it takes. Calming down, he pauses for a mere moment, then frowns. He tells me that, I broke a promise of always being there for him, and he thought I would be the last person who would hurt, and scar him in such a way. He begins to tell me that even though I have delivered him such emotional pain & scarring, he has one last important thing to tell me, to keep in my heart as I pass into my next life. The mixed feelings of guilt, remorse, & hatred towards myself lighten, even if just a tad, knowing what he has to say could at least give me some closure with myself, let me know he doesn't completely despise me because of my wrongings. But as he begins to open his mouth the words are too soft & muddled for me to understand. I feel myself completely shutting down. I realize I am slipping into my fate... My mind with its last efforts silently screams at my body, telling it to hold on just a bit longer, if there is one last thing I need to do, it is to hear this! My exasperated heart slows down to a complete stop. But wait, what am I -- Silence.