Broken Strings- Chim

TWO.

Cheryl's POV:

Two weeks.

14 days.

840 hours.

50,400 minutes.

Kimberley's spent the last week in bed, her bones ache, her muscles are weak and her body is tired of fighting.

Her family and friends are over a lot and not a day goes by without the girls popping in.

After the breakdown at Sarah's party, we're much more open. Some nights we'll sit up and talk all night about memories together until she's too tired to go on. Other nights we'll cry, none of us having the answers to our prayers.

"Diane! Hi, go up." I greet Kimberley's family and send them up to Kimberley's bed while i stay and talk to the girls.

"Hey you, how're you doing?" Nadine asks pulling me into a hug when noticing the tears.

"I can't do this much longer, i can't watch her suffer like she is. It's killing her slowly and painfully, this wasn't how things were meant to end."

"Sh babe, come on. She's strong, she's your soldier! She's just having a bad few days."

"How many more bad few days until she gives up Nadine? Until she puts a stop to it all and let's it take over, she's tired but i can't lose her any sooner."

"You won't, she won't leave you."

"The hardest part isn't even having to say goodbye, it's that life has to go on. I have to learn to live without her by my side. I have to find something that will fill my heart when she goes but i never will. She's got that place and no one will ever fill it." The girls know nothing they say will help so they let me cry it out like they have done several times before letting me go see Kimberley again, looking strong and happy.

//

"Chez, look after you then?" Sally ask, giving Diane i chance to breathe as she's none stopped talked since she's arrived.

"Yeah, she's brilliant."

"Good to know you've got someone looking after you."

"Yeah, she never stops."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." I add, making them 'aw'.

"So as i was saying, Jean and her family from down the road sends her love Kimberley."

"Oh, you've spoke to them recently?"

"Yeah, they caught us as we was leaving. I'm stopped in the supermarket all the time, people telling me to send their love. I just forget to tell you!"

"It's ok, they can't do anything about my situation but it's nice to know some care." I frown at her comment but brush it off.

//

"Tired babe?" We're finally alone again and i'm tidying round the mess that's been made from Kimberley's visitors.

"Yeah, mum couldn't stop talking today. She's coming up tomorrow."

"Oh, that'll be nice then!"

"Yeah i guess."

"Everything ok?"

"Yeah, fine." I smile at her as i finish tidying our bedroom before she stops me.

"Actually no, babe could you come sit down?"

"Yeah, what is it?" I sit by the bed, taking her hand as she sits up.

"I've been thinking."

"Oh yeah, what about?"

"In a months time, i don't want to go."

"Oh, Kimba i-"

"No, wait. I don't want it to kill me. I don't want it to give it the satisfaction."

"We can't do anything about that, i'm sor-"

"No, listen. I want you to do it."

"Do what?" I ask, genuinely confused.

"I want you to help me end my life, i want you to help kill me."

"WHAT?!" I scream in shock, has she just asked me to kill her?!

"Don't freak out! Babe please, listen to me. I've seen things online, i can die on my own terms. I can take the pills and it'll be done. No more suffering."

"Kimberley, i can't do that. I can't let you do that?! Are you mad?!"

"I'm mad at waiting. I'm mad that i have to let this kill me and i can't do nothing about it. I want to die with dignity, in peace." I can already feel the tears glide down my face as i pull her into my arms, there's no way i'm letting her do this. I can't, it's wrong.

"I know you don't want to say goodbye yet but i don't want to sit and wait to take my final breath. I want to know when, i want to do it with you, here, alone."

"No, Kimberley no way. I can't let you do that."

"Just think about it, please?" I nod my head although i know my answer.

//

"Right, i won't be long!"

"Ok, mum's on her way."

"Ok, bye gorgeous." I lean down and kiss her but as i go to pull away, she holds me tighter.

"Wow." I mutter as she finally let's go.

"I love you."

"I love you too beautiful. See you later." I shout as i leave the house, happy that she's safe with her family who are arriving very shortly.

//

"Come on then, they must have left already so it's just us five." I ramble on to the girls as i arrive home later that day, noticing Kimberley's family must have left pretty soon. I take all the girls upstairs as they chat about the latest episode of a reality show that i know Kimberley loves and i'm sure she'll be able to hear them chatting away.

"Kimbaaaaa! We have visitors!" I sing as i open the door and see her laid back in bed, her eyes closed shut.

"Oh, someone's sleepy. Babe, wake up! Come on or you won't sleep tonight." I sit beside her and start to shake her but panic sets in when i see her lips have turned a slight shade of blue.

She wouldn't have.

She couldn't have.

I shake her motionless body expecting her to open her bright green coloured eyes and pull me into her arms but she lays, stiff.

The girls all watch in confusion as my eyes wonder to the floor, my heart immediately dropping at the empty container. That empty container that should have been filled with multi coloured pills.

"No, no, no, no baby, no." I mutter as i climb behind her in the bed and pull her lifeless body into my arms. The girls click on and Nadine screams for Sarah to ring an ambulance as they surround me in devastation and shock.

Surely i should be crying, screaming but my body's froze. Diamond like tears spilling from my eyes, leaving jet black mascara traces down my cheeks but i can do nothing else except hold her in my arms, telling her endlessly how much i love her.