Nick pulled into the hospital parking lot at 9:45. He turned off the ignition and for a minute sat there wondering how this could have happened to Elle. "How is she going to survive this?" Nick thought. "After all that she has done to build herself up again, one phone call knocked it all down." Nick's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Elle begin another cycle of uncontrollable sobbing.

"I am here for you Els," Nick said reassuringly as he got out of the car and walked towards the passenger's side of Elle's Jeep.

Hand in hand, he and Elle walked through the entrance to St. Luke's Hospital. When the two reached the front desk, a nurse directed them towards the room that Carrie was in. Elle felt as if the whole world had just stopped spinning. She was numb from the shock and everything was a blur. Nick reached the door first and held it open for Elle. As Elle stepped into Carrie's room, she was heartbroken at what she saw. There was Carrie's lifeless body. Machines were breathing for her. Her once beautiful blond hair was now matted with blood. The monitors were turned off. Carrie was dead.

Silently, Nick put his arm around Elle as she burst into tears. Elle hid herself in his arms. With one hand, Elle ran her hand through Carrie's hair. Moments later, a nurse walked into Carrie's room carrying a clipboard and a box of tissues for Elle.

"Hello Miss. Bradley, my name is Connie. I am the one that called you this evening."

"What happened?" Elle asked between her attempts to hide her tears.

"This afternoon, around 5:30, Carrie and her friend Anna went shopping at the Madison Square Mall. After about an hour and a half, Anna called her mom and asked if she could pick them up. Apparently, Carrie and Anna decided that they could meet Anna's mom halfway and began walking home," Elle nodded and the nurse continued. "At 7:00, Carrie and Anna walked into the crossfire of a shootout between two gangs and at 7:04, Carrie was dead."

At 11:00, Elle and Nick decided to leave the hospital. Connie had suggested that Elle go home and go to bed and come back in the morning to talk about funeral preparations and counseling. Elle had agreed. At exactly midnight, Elle was unlocking the door to her loft.

"Come in," Elle offered to Nick.

"Thanks Els," Nick said as he closed the door and locked the deadbolt.

After helping Elle crawl into bed, Nick pulled the covers over her body and said, "I'll be here for you in the morning. You are so strong Elle. You were amazing tonight. You were always amazing. I bet you that Carrie is looking down on you right now from Heaven and thanking you for all that you did for her."

"I wish I could believe you Nick. I keep thinking, why Carrie? Why now? She only lived 12 years. Thank you for everything. I will see you in the morning."

Nick kissed Elle's forehead and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He walked over to the couch and sat down. An hour later, Nick was fast asleep with the glow of the television on his face.