(Prompt response for NightBeck's Writers' Block Buster, Session Ten.)

Great men know trembling--not trepidation.
Greater men know tragedy.

Come Mourning Light

"It's been four months since the accident, but I still can't make you wake up."

"You were never easy to wake up, but it's never taken me so long to reach you. Most days I sit and wish for some magic bucket of water that would do the trick. You could pop up and be mad at me all you wanted, and I would let you scream at me. Harsh words are better than silence from you anyway. They always have been."

"You have some intense grasp on my soul. Or something. I can't be happy if you shut up. I can't be happy if you don't wake up."

"I got with a few silly bruises and a broken arm. They say it was a clean break. I think that sounds like a heist; so my bone got away? Get it? Nobody but you ever gets my jokes... Sometimes not even you get them without some sort of explanation."

I smile, briefly. I can't remember your smile. Was it deep and dimpled? I hope so...

I forget more and more about you every day, but I visit you becuase I can still remember us. I'll never be able to forget every part of you that is me.

"I'll tell you about one day I won't forget. Maybe you'll enjoy the memory, too."

"About two years ago we went up to Hobsom Creek. It was intended to be a simple camping trip, but you and I were never very simple. You especially. The water was "crisp as a chip," you would say. I never entirely understood what you meant by that."

"There, see? That's something else you have to wake up to do. You have to explain...so much..."

"I borrowed my uncle's old - damn, what was the name of that vehicle again? Was it a Bronco or a Bear? Do they make Bears? Is that even a - sorry, I'm getting off track again. I've been picking up a few of your old habits. I haven't entirely forgotten you yet."

"That old vehicle didn't take the rugged roads very well, but the back made for a decent sized bed. It was certainly more comfortable than the ground. Plus, it had the added benefit that I didn't have to sleep with any more of nature's creatures than God intended. You still woke up with a few crawling on you, though. I told you not to keep food on you... I told you...I told you a lot of things, though, didn't I?"

"I think maybe that's not the right story to be telling you. Even though we did find old man Felix's long-lost diamond. We never were able to tell him it was just a shiny rock. Some things are best left in the ground...

"Do you remember the look on his face when we told him we dropped it into the creek and couldn't find it again? I thought we were gonna - nevermind. That's not important either."

"I've been taking up too much of your time again. I am sorry, but I can't seem to help myself these days."

I brush my hand along the cold gray object protruding from the ground. The rough edges bite at my finger tips.

"I think it's best if I go now, but don't get up on my account."

-The bitter joke chills my body. My right arm feels heavy; the shooting pain reaches throughout as it tries to escape. It scratches everywhere but my heart. It's been torn asunder, and the pain never dulls. Nothing could ever overpower that pain...