pain flowed throughout john like blood did, making each
movement feel like the last one. he wanted to scream
every time he shifted even just a bit, but he didn’t want
to startle yoko or the staff, for he feared it would prolon-
ged everything he needed so desperately right now. now
more than ever john felt he needed to be surrounded by
those who loved him. he craved reassurance & begged
for love, despite his lips saying nothing of it & his eyes
remaining practically vacant of emotion. deep down,
through all the pain & misery, john was still the same
old needy john, even if he didn’t look it; no bullet would
ever puncture that.
❛ i’d luv t’ call them, especially mimi.
i need to know ‘ow me cats are.❜
there it was, his sense of humor. though it wasn’t nearly
as fast & good as usual, it was still there, coming out
of his lips. a couple of minutes ago he wouldn’t have ev-
en imagined cracking a joke, but he’d done it & it felt like
progress. slow progress, nearly slug speed, but progress
nonetheless, & that was good enough to make the ends of
his twin-flesh turn upwards into a weak smile. that & yoko’s
digits, which were trailing across his skin. they felt so nice
& warm on his flesh, like a little bit of home was touching
him or something like that.
❛ i luv ye yoko, i luv ye so much. ❜
“ i’m sure she’d like that -- she’s
called too, of course. says she misses
your weekly CHATS. “
ono struggles along with their small talk, eyes
downcast as lennon professes his love for her
-- and any other time she would enjoy it, but
like a spooked filly, yoko shakes her head.
her nerves raw, it sounds too FINAL for ono’s
tastes.
“ i know you do, john -- you don’t have to
tell me. i know. i love you more. “
the foreshortened asian reaches across john’s chest
to lay her palm against his heart -- but hesitates,
thinking better of it at the last second, lest she aggravate
the wound just inches away. the bullet wound that
missed lennon’s HEART by mere centimeters. just
a fraction to the right, and he wouldn’t be here. but,
it just happened to miss.
as if it was meant to be.
“ -- i can’t live in this world without you. “
yoko is certain her heart will still along with his, when
the time finally comes. when the universe calls them to
a higher understanding. but hopefully, that won’t be for
a long, LONG, time.