Peyton sat on the bench in front of the stage with a smile. The rehearsal concert was perfect. She knew her hotel wasn’t the most picturesque place to have a release party, but it was what June wanted. Turning around, she noticed Graham and Callum talking. They looked defeated and worried as they talked. She put it down to their exhaustion over making June’s album release at the hotel perfect. In the week since his return, Callum had spent a lot of time with Graham. And in that week, undeniable happiness had been shared with him. The hesitation had still been in his eyes as they’d made love, but she was going to help him move past it. They would find a way.
She watched them hug before she walked over to them both, curious of their interaction. Then they stopped immediately once she approached them and Callum gave her a smile that quickly faded
“Hey,” Peyton greeted, stopping in front of them. “What you guys talking about?”
Callum let out a soft groan, so soft that she’d almost missed it. But she didn’t miss the way he clenched his fist so tight that his knuckles turned white.
“Nothing,” he finally let out in a breathless whisper.
“I’m going to go help Madilynne with the food. I’ll give you guys some time together,” Graham said, excusing himself.
For a second, she caught a flash of sadness in Graham’s eyes as he walked past her.
“Peyton, do you want to go for a walk?” Callum asked.
She nodded. “Okay.”
He took her hand, his grip on her not as strong as it had been a few days ago, and the cool touch of his skin almost had her jumping. He raised their joined hands and kissed the back of hers as he led her towards the pier.
Callum’s fingers were loosening, and every once in a while, he’d stop and try to hold her hand more firmly. And when he did he gave her a smile. Once they reached the pier, they walked across it to the sight of the setting sun. The sky filled with oranges, purples and reds, just like his photograph. Then Callum leant on the wooden railing as he looked out at the horizon as a sad look consumed his face.
When he let go of her hand and looked back at her, the honest fear in his eyes frightened her.
“Peyton,” he said breathlessly.
“Yes?” she asked, not taking her eyes off of him.
“You’ve always deserved better than me.”
She shook her head to object. “That’s not—”
He stopped her by taking her hands in his. “We don’t have a lot of time left, my love. You still promise to live a good and happy life once I leave?”
He’s still leaving…
“No,” she confessed, her eyes tearing.
He sighed. “Please don’t cry, Peyton. It makes this so hard for me to say.”
“Then don’t say it. Please don’t say it.”
Tears ran down his face. They weren’t like the ones she had seen him shed before.
“I love you. Don’t you ever forget that. I love you so damn much. I’ve fought hard to try to hold on long enough to grow old with you. I’ve tried so hard to breathe enough to make tomorrow with you. I’m sorry I’m failing you, Peyton. I’m sorry we don’t have a tomorrow within us.” He struggled to take a deep breath. “I’ve been trying to tell you all week. I just…don’t know how to tell you.”
Peyton’s heart ached as tears continued to fall. “I don’t understand. You’re not making sense. We’ll figure out a way to be together. I swear we’ll be together. If I have to leave this town, I’ll do it. Please let me be with you!” she cried.
Callum let go of her hands and cupped her face. “It’s not me that’s stopping us. It’s the universe. All I want is a lifetime with you. I love you, Peyton. You are my forever, never just my sometimes.”
He kissed her, his lips not as strong and firm as before. They were soft and not quite making movement. And that’s when Callum let out a groan as his hands slipped. He almost fell on top of her, and Peyton had to hold him up.
“Callum!” she cried.
He shouted in pain as his body started to convulse. Peyton wasn’t strong enough to keep him on his feet, so they fell onto the pier, his body shaking violently in her arms.
“Callum! What do I do? Callum!” she screamed, her tears landing on his face.
She wrestled his weight to pull her phone out of her pocket, screaming his name as his body trembled.
“Stay with me, please,” she pleaded as she dialled triple zero.
Callum’s convulsion started to slow down until he breathed out, “Peyton.”
She held him tight. “Please don’t leave me. Please stay!”
“I—” he started to stay as his eyes slowly closed.
“No! No!” she shrieked as the operator answered.
“Peyton!” Graham’s voice screamed.
She raised her head to see Graham racing towards the pier as Peyton held Callum tightly, trying to stop his thrashing.
“Help me, Graham! Please help me!” she shouted from the top of her lungs. Then she looked back down at Callum as his hands trembled.
When Graham reached them, he took the phone from her and started talking into the speaker, Peyton unable to hear a word he said.
“Tell me you love me again,” she whispered as she stroked his face.
Callum’s shaky hand reached up and rested on top of hers. “I love you forever,” he said. Then his breathing became shallow.
“Just know you found redemption the moment you walked back into my life. I love you, Callum,” she sobbed.
“Peyton, the ambulance will be here in seconds,” Graham said.
Callum’s hand fell away from hers, landing against his body. His body relaxed in her arms, and she felt him inhale one last final breath before he breathed it out.
“No!” she cried and placed her hand over his chest.
No heartbeat.