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It was late. Everything was dark and cold. The sun no longer showered its bright rays across this part of the world. We had gotten held up in Friday night traffic for so long, I found myself falling in and out of the unconsciousness of sleep. None of the guys let me relax for long. It's as if they all had this unspoken agreement that if they kept me awake, I'd be fine forever.

Benji pulled up in the driveway next Billy's dark blue Expedition and Paul's red vintage Bronco - he claims it vintage anyway, I claim its a beaten up piece of metal on wheels. I was, as usual, the last to open my door and remove myself from car. I don't think anyone else noticed - or I hope they didn't - the delicacy I moved in. No longer was it just my chest that hurt, my arms, stomach, and head had joined in the throbbing as well. My headache was so intense, I could barely see straight, and walking was a different story all together.

"Well, I think me and Paul better be high-tailing it out of here, it's" - Billy glancing at his watch - "way past our bedtime." I managed to grin, but felt too weary to come up with some smart-ass comeback. "We'll be seeing ya tomorrow Joel, Benji," he said as he gave me an encouraging smile. Encouragement wasn't going to help my situation one bit. There would be no tomorrow for me, I knew it, but they wouldn't me think I had convinced anyone else of it.

I hadn't the heart to lie to myself by responding with hope that I would see him the next day, so I smiled back with a nod of my head, and continued leaning up against Benji's Ford Explorer. Billy and Paul jumped into their respective vehicles and drove away down opposite ends of the street.

"Let's get inside, it's fucking freezing out here," Benji said seriously, once the two cars were out of sight. I had to let out a small chuckle; Benji told people he didn't cuss that much, yet 'fuck' was his favorite adjective, favorite verb, favorite overall word, actually. I pushed along the car, using it has my support as I dragged myself behind him. It got difficult when the car could no longer be used; I was almost tempted to crawl, different parts of my body giving into the sickness one by one. Weakness is something I didn't want to show though; it was the last thing I ever wanted Benji to see in me, so I stumbled inside in his wake.

Once I crossed the thresh hold, the dizziness set in. Benji was trying to talk to me, I knew it, but with my lost concentration, I was unable to make out what he was saying. Come on Joel, he's your brother, don't ignore him just because you're feeling a little ill, a voice inside my head whispered. Thank God it whispered, anything above that would have probably split my head in two. With both of my hands pressed firmly against my temples, I listened.

"Joel, look at the clock man," Benji said in an excited whispered. He was happy about something, something having to do with the time... or a clock anyway. After that, the sounds penetrating my ears were cut off. My eyesight was shut off. And my lungs, closed off. Legs giving out from underneath me. It was over. I felt arms wrap around my torso milliseconds before my body came in contact with the floor. The strong arms of my better half saved me like so many times before. But this would be the last time I'd ever need saving.

"Oh God, no, no Joel, come on man, Joel wake up," Benji said in a quick and panicked manner. I could hear him, now, hear the alarm in his voice, like he was finally realizing the gravity of the situation. He was watching his brother's life literally disappear. "Jesus Christ... I gotta call an ambulance, hold on Joel, and stay with me man." He began to loosen his grip, laying me down on the carpet as gently as he could. I clutched his hand.

"Benj, don't. Don't call an ambulance... I just wanna let go... let me go," I breathed out airily, coughing violently as I did so.

"No, don't say that. We've got to get you to a hospital... or something, anything!"

"Don't make this harder than it already is Benj. We both know the doctors can't do shit. Just stay with me, please?" I begged quietly. Wet droplets began to fall on my skin; Benji was crying. For once he wasn't trying to hold it back; he wasn't trying to pretend he was okay. Forcing my eyes to open as far as they would, I could just barely make out his blurry figure, hovering over me protectively - my brother, my best friend, and my guardian angel, all wrapped up into one tattooed and pierced package.

"Does it hurt?" He asked hoarsely.

"Only when I breath," I told him with a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"Joel, it's not funny." His tears increased, steadily streaming down from his eyes, falling off his chin onto my blanched face and neck.

"Sorry..." my voice trailed off into oblivion. A coughing spell erupted through my body rendering air intake impossible. My tongue, teeth, and lips all glazed over with the metallic taste of blood. Through my rasping attempts for breath I managed an audible "I love you Benj", before the indescribable darkness consumed me at last.

"It's 12:04 Joel, it's Saturday, we're 25, you proved them wrong," Benji cried into his brother. He'd never get a response. He sat on the living room floor, shaking Joel's lifeless body until it was ice cold, gathering a bluish tint and over-all, a completely mortifying sight.