//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Beach Sunsets // by BoredAuthor817 //------------------------------// When Adagio awoke, she was in the living room, on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket. A little ways away, Sunset was seated on the floor, reading one of her books at the coffee table and enjoying, what Adagio could only surmise, was a large cup of coffee. “Hey,” she managed to whisper. Sunset looked up from her book. “Hey,” she smiled, “How are you feeling?” Adagio shivered, “So cold.” “Let me get you some more blankets.” “What time is it?” “Don't you worry about that,” Sunset said, emerging from the bedroom with a pile of blankets, “It's night, and that's all you need to know.” Adagio looked forlorn as Sunset tucked her in. “I'm so sorry,” she whimpered. “Don't be. You have no control over this.” “But it's not fair to you.” “And it's not fair to you if I leave. We promised we'd go through this together.” Adagio wiped her welling tears, “I don't deserve you.” “No,” Sunset said sternly, kneeling beside the sofa, “you don't deserve this. Whatever this is! And neither did your sisters.” Adagio shook her head. “You're wrong. My sisters and I made a mistake. And we must pay the price for it.” “I've made mistakes, too! And I was given a second chance. When I broke your gems, I thought you'd get one, too. And, for a while, it looked like you did. Only now do I realize that, instead of a second chance, I gave you a death sentence.” “Don't be so harsh on yourself. There's no way you could have known. No way anyone could have known.” “It's just,” Sunset choked, “it's just not fair!” Adagio pulled her girlfriend in as Sunset broke into sobs. --- As the day progressed, Adagio's health continued to deteriorate. When she wasn't coughing up blood, she drifted in an out of consciousness. Sunset did what she could to be sure she was comfortable. When not cleaning out the spit bucket, or fulfilling Adagio's requests, she was at her side. “Sunset,” “Yes?” Adagio swallowed. Her mouth and throat were so dry. “Can you move me to face the ocean? If this is my last sunset, I'd like to be able to see it.” “We don't know this will be your last.” Adagio caught the tears in her voice. She tried to be gentle. “It's not a matter of knowing it. I can feel it.” Sunset did all she could to keep from crying. “Okay,” she said, “give me a moment to set up the chairs.” Adagio fell into the patio lounge chair with an oof! She shivered slightly until Sunset managed to wrap all the blankets around her. “Stay with me,” she groaned. She felt Sunset's strong hands on her shoulders. “I'm not going anywhere.” She adjusted a small table to hold her coffee. Sunset snuggled next to Adagio, wrapping blankets around them. She put her arms around Adagio and held her tight. Adagio gladly followed the pull and came into Sunset, resting her head upon her shoulder. “You still cold?” Sunset asked. “Just a little.” “You want some coffee? It'll warm your insides. I don't think I can put any more on your outsides.” “Maybe, just a little.” She sat up slightly as Sunset brought the coffee cup to her lips. It tasted horrible. But, she didn't care much for coffee to begin with. Still, it felt nice to have the hot liquid flow through her chest. She returned her head to its resting place. “It's a beautiful sky, isn't it?” “Yes.” “I'm glad you're here.” “I'm glad, too.” Adagio felt the grip around her tighten. She leaned further into it. She watched as the sky turned a deep red. She saw the waves come inland, she heard them crash upon the shore. She watched as the sun slowly made its descent. She watched as it bid the world goodbye with its last light. She watched as the stars brought the night and ushered in the moon. She searched the horizon for the last glimmer of light. And, as the light faded, Adagio closed her eyes.