>you wake up slowly, to the beeps of the heartbeat monitor
>as long as it keeps beeping, you know you're still here
>when it stops, then you'll worry
>another day in the hospital, waiting
>you watch TV, the usual mix of garbage sitcoms and daytime dramas 
>you look out the window, at the blue sky and the birds
>one of the worst things about getting old, you can't even get up to look out the window 
>the worst would be going to the bathroom in a bag 
>you hear the door to your room open 
>in walks Ruby 
>she's still as beautiful as the first day you met her 
>she has a couple gray hairs showing, while yours are all white 
>she smiles lovingly at you before sitting down
>the two of you chat about nothing of much importance 
>memories mostly 
>the heart beat monitor sound changed abruptly
>that's not good 
>you turn to look but are struck with a sudden pain in your chest 
>"ANON!" Ruby screams, before running out in the hallway 
>"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" 
>a crash cart charges into the room with medical staff 
>your eyelids get heavy as you hear the heartbeat monitor go flat 
>maybe now it's time to worry 

>Ruby watches as the medical staff fights to keep her love alive 
>a tear rolls down her face, unnoticed 
>finally, the medical team stops 
>"Time." 
>"1:58pm." 
>they start packing up their equipment as Ruby walks up to the bed 
>he lays there, much older but still recognizable as the man she fell in love with so long ago
>as they finish packing up, Ruby turns to one of the staff 
"Could you please give me some time alone?" 
>"Of course, ma'am. As much as you need." 
>they leave and shut the door behind them 
>Ruby crawls into bed next to him
"You can't be gone, Anon. I promised to be by your side forever. And I'm still here. So you can't leave me. You can't." 
>Ruby starts crying, softly at first and then large wracking sobs 
>her face freezes as a sound like breaking glass is in the air before slumping against him 

>when the staff return to the room, they are astonished to find a rifle in bed next to the patient 
>one of the staffers picks it up, and shards of splintered and broken metal fall out of the ejection port and magwell 
>the bolt, shattered beyond repair, falls to the hospital floor

>you bolt upright in bed, in a cold sweat
>Ruby wakes up from the motion and looks up at you sleepily
>"What's wrong?" she mumbles
"Bad dream."
>you lie back down and try to fall back asleep
>it felt so real, like a vision of the future
>you try to shake it off as Ruby snuggles around you
>it's a long time before you're able to fall back asleep