Chapter 16

“Brian!  Get up!”  Leighanne hollered.  She was hungry, and to hell with Brian if he didn’t get his lazy butt outta bed.

“Go…away…” he said groggily, swatting at the air.

“Fine, well, I am going down to the restaurant to get some food.  I was thinking about some of that great Southern cooking.  Bacon…eggs…toast…juice…grits, all your favorites!  But…that is fine, you can keep your lazy ass in bed and come down when you feel like it.  But don’t expect me to pay for your breakfast.  You just stood me up.” she said as she left the room, trying not to laugh.

Brian lay in bed, thinking about the food.  “Damn…she is gonna put me through the guilt trip.  Well, if she is…better do it with food than nothing at all.” he said as he climbed out of bed and pulled some sweatpants on.

*** *** ***

Nick and Liz stared into each others eyes, seeing nothing but friendship and unconditional love.  She knew that Nick couldn’t give his heart away, at least not now.  He knew that she held nothing in her heart but love for him.  He closed his eyes and whispered something to himself, gently kissed her on the tip of her nose and then brushed her lips softly with his.

“That is for being such a wonderful friend…and for having so much love in your heart.” he said and then held her close.

She stood there, taking in the smell of his cologne, as she breathed deeply.   Her eyes watered, but she held back the warm tears, trying her hardest to not let them spill over.  “Thank you.” she whispered.   Nick wrapped her in his arms, holding her gently yet passionately.

“Nick, I have to tell you something.” she paused.  “Heather sent a letter to me, to give to you if we ever met.  She and I had this huge fight, remember how I told you?  Well, I never got to see her before she died, but she found my address.  And in the mail one day, I got this letter.  We had only talked one time after that.  She explained to me that she was so sorry for everything she had done.” she said softly.  “She somehow knew that we would meet, and insisted that if it was the case, I was to give this to you.  I haven’t read it, but she explained that it had to do something us.”

“May I have it?” was all he could say.

She walked over to her bag, knelt down, and pulled out an envelope.  “Aha, here it is…” she said.

Nick opened it.  It still had the smell of Heather’s favorite perfume, even after the 11 months since it was mailed.   He sighed deeply as he carefully pulled the thin paper from the bright pink envelope.

“Dear Nickolas,

There is someone I have to tell you about.  She is someone who means the world to me, but because of my pride and my arrogance, I have lost her in my life.  I am hoping to see her before I leave.  Hopefully I can see her, to tell her I am so sorry and to say goodbye.  She is a wonderful, kind, gentle, and compassionate woman, who has virtues that even the angels don’t possess.  Nick, she is my twin in every respect, other than physical appearance.

Her name is Elizabeth Sanborn.  She is so talented and so amazing.  She and I met in a very unlikely situation, and became the best of friends.  However, we noticed that we had more in common than the ordinary best friends.

We always laughed about how we really were twins in heaven, but when it came time for God to send us down, something in the paperwork got mixed up, and I was sent down 8 years too early and put into a white girl’s body.  She was dropped down 8 years after me and placed into a little Korean body.  It has always made us giggle.  But, enough about the rambling, you know I do that too much.

What I really wanted to tell you is that I hope to talk to her and tell her about us.  I am going to ask her to do one big favor for me…and that is to watch over you and Katie.  She needs you just as much as you need her.  Elizabeth has so much love in her heart, so don’t turn away from that.  She will see you through thick and thin, and never ask for anything in return.  Please let her into your life, and please, let her love you.  If you love me with all your heart, just make one promise to me.  Accept Liz into your life and care for her…like you would me.  We are of the same spirit and soul…I truly believe that.  But, the only catch is…you are not to seek her out.  If it is meant to be, some outside force will bring you two together and that is when you know it is right.

Please try and let go of me…you don’t need me anymore.  You have a far better life now, without me.  She can give you everything that I couldn’t.  She is smart, talented, and beautiful.  Those are all things that I didn’t possess.   Nickolas, you don’t need me.  Let go.  I know that as you read this, your heart is telling you differently.  But I know that you have so much life in you, and all I did was burden you.  Now that I am gone, you can move on and find the happiness in your life and career that you always wanted.

She doesn’t know it, but since we are the same…she will love you.  She will see into your soul just as I did.  You will never be alone when you find her.  But, when you two do find each other, be totally open with each other.  Don’t lie about things like I did in the beginning.  Don’t put yourself through the hell I did.  Please.  Now, I am going to go, and from now on, you are not to dwell on me.  Please, find happiness, and let go of me.  Just don’t forget totally about me.

Please know that I love you always and forever…with all of my heart.

My deepest love for you,
Heather Lynne
XXX OOO”

Nick’s heart was breaking.  She could see pain in his eyes as he finished the letter and tossed it on the table.  She had no idea what was said in the letter, but it was very emotional.

All Nick could mumble was, “I can’t Heather…I just can’t.”

*** *** ***

“It is about time that that boy got off his butt and faced his problems.  All he ever did was mope around and expect the answers to just fall in his lap.” Kevin sighed.

“Kevin, listen hon.  I know that what he and Heather shared was amazing, and frankly, if what happened to her ever happened to you, I would die.  I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it is to lose the love of your life, your soulmate, so soon.  And, now, hopefully with Liz here, things will change a bit.” she spoke softly.

“Yeah, but I can’t seem to shake the idea that I know her from somewhere.  She reminds me of someone.” Kevin offered, not sure what he meant.

“Yeah…I know who it is.” Dee answered.

*** *** ***

“Dada!” Katie hollered from the other room.

Liz and Nick had fallen asleep on the couch.  She had to hold him to stop him from shaking.  He told the whole story to Liz, from beginning to end, not leaving out any details to their lives together.  When he had finished, he was pale, and exhausted.  She had nothing but sadness welling up inside of her as she thought about everything he had said.  The only thing she could do was hold him, and tell him that she was there for him.

Liz tried to get up, but Nick was leaning on her.  She finally nudged herself loose and made her way to Katie.

“Little Bits, what’s wrong honey?” she looked at the little tot.

“Dada…” she cried.

“He’s in the other room sweetie.  Daddy is trying to sleep.  What do you need?”

“Hungie…hungie.” Katie said holding her tiny arms up to be picked up.

Liz picked up Katie and carried her into the front room of the suite.  As they approached Nick, she heard a gentle sobbing and mumbling.

“Please don’t leave me Heather.  I need you.  No…no….don’t go.  Please don’t go.” he was crying.

Liz knew what was happening and tried to wake him.  “Come on Nick, wake up, it’s only a dream…” she said, trying to nudge him away.  Nothing.

“You can’t go!  You don’t understand!  If you go…I have no one!” he continued to say in his sleep, his voice growing louder.

“Nick, come on, wake up.  Heather is okay.” Liz continued to shake him.  Despite all she did, he could not wake up.

“HEATHER, NO!!!!!!” he yelled, sobbing uncontrollably.  His entire body was shaking, and sweat poured from his brow.  Whatever was happening in his dream was causing him to panic and become hysterical.  His face was pale, and his whole body cold.

Liz picked up the phone from the table next to her.  “Pick up, dammit.” she said, waiting for an answer.   When no one picked up, she ran from the room to find one of the guys.  After several attempts to find Brian, she pounded on AJ’s door.  Nick was hysterical and needed help.

*** *** ***

“Dammit, that better be a huge emergency for disturbing us.” AJ whispered to Brianna.

He got up, put on his robe and made his way to the door.  The pounding was constant, and it wasn’t until he heard the voice that he knew it really was something wrong.

He flung the door open to see Liz standing there in terror.  “Help me AJ…it’s Nick.  Please help me.” she begged, pulling him out into the hallway.

AJ had no idea what was wrong, but whatever it was, Liz needed him.  “I’m coming sweetie.  What is wrong?” he asked as she dragged him down the hallway.  AJ could hear Nick screaming, and knew that it was bad.

“AJ…where are the guys?  I have to find them.” she said, crying.

“They are all down in the restaurant, go get them, and I will try and help Nick.” he said calmly, pushing her towards the elevator.  With that, he went down to Nick’s room.

Suddenly, Nick’s screaming stopped, and the room was silent, except for Katie’s mumbling.  Katie was sitting next to her father, rubbing his hand.  “Dada, wakie.  Dada wakie.”

As AJ approached, he could see Nick had his eyes open, glazed over.  They were staring straight, and looked as cold as ice.  His eyes were clouded over, and his thoughts far away.

“Nick, talk to me man.  Are you okay?” he asked.

No response.

“Come on Nick, let’s not play here, come on, are you okay?” he asked again.

Still no answer.

AJ nudged Nick, who did nothing but stare straight ahead, in some fog that seemed to cloud his head.

As the others walked into the room, they could see AJ staring blankly back at them.   “His eyes are open, but he doesn’t hear me or respond.  This time it is really bad.” he said.
 
 

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