“Have you heard from him Geoff?” Gavin asked him, anxiously tugging at the cuff of his sleeves.
“No,” Geoff regrettably answered. “He went back to the house to get something, right?
“Yeah…but he’s not back yet, and he knows this whole schedule down pat. He knows it’s all happening in five minutes. Where is he?” Gavin said, clear fear and worry in his voice. “What if he changed his mind?” Gavin blurted out the sudden fear in his mind, and gave Geoff the most horrified expression.
“No, hey, hey,” Geoff frowned. He walked over to Gavin who looked ready to cry and put a hand on his shoulder. “It could be literally anything but that. He loves you man, and you know that.”
Gavin’s attention went to the door when it opened, hoping it was Michael, but it was Ray.
“Man I am so ready to marry some dudes today...where’s Michael?” Ray wondered. They couldn’t find the right pastor for them, so Ray registered and made it so he could legally marry people. He went around trying to get two people to say I do to each other for the first week after he registered.
“We don’t kno—“ Gavin stopped mid-sentence to gasp hearing his phone go off. It was Michael’s ring tone, which was Meteor Shower by Owl City. “Michael," Gavin sighed in relief with a smile. “You had me worried. Where are you?”
“Sir?” It was a women’s voice on the line.
“…Who is this?” Gavin said, his mood deflating.
“The owner of this phone has gotten into a terrible wreck. You were his first contact, so we called you. He’s at Grady hospital, and—“
Gavin couldn’t keep the hold on the phone as his whole world crashed down around him.
They all rushed to the hospital, but no one ran faster than Gavin who had been trying to keep from crying the whole speedy car ride there.
“I need to know where Michael Jones is,” Gavin said to the front desk, his words rushed together.
“And what relation do you have with him?” the women asked.
“No, it’s alright. I think I know who he is.” It was a doctor with a clipboard in his hands. He flipped through a few pages, then looked at Gavin, and then to the other welly dressed members of Rooster Teeth behind him. “You’re Gavin Free, right?”
“Yes,” Gavin answered instantly. “Please, let me see him,” he urged, voice breaking.
“Alright,” the doctor sighed warily. “Come with me."
They all followed behind the doctor, but Gavin was right next to him, almost going ahead. He needed to see Michael, and know he was okay, but when they reached the room, the doctor stood in the way with a stern expression.
“You need to know, he’s not going to make it. There’s not much we can do for him at this point.”
“What do you mean?” Gavin questioned helplessly. “You’re a doctor! This is a hospital! You have to do—“
“His organs are too damaged. We did all we could."
"You can't be serious--" the doctor cut him off again.
"He doesn’t have much time left, do you want to argue with me, or see him?” the doctor put it bluntly. “He can talk, but he’s weak, and really does not have much time left.”
Gavin didn’t reply. He just pushed the doctor aside, opened the door, and tried not to throw up at the sight before him. Michael was hooked up to what seemed to be a million things, and as Gavin walked closer, he could see more and more damage. His limbs were black and blue. His left arm had various lines of stitches and the right had what appeared to be a burn from his elbow up to his shoulder.
“Michael,” Gavin spoke brokenly. He breathed in, and with his shuddered exhale, the tears came out.
“Gavin," Michael replied. Michael’s forehead had a bandage on it, but blood was already seeping through. He had a bruise on his right cheek, and various cuts on the left. Michael had never been in so much pain, and he knew he was going to die, but he still smiled in pure happiness seeing Gavin, like he always did.
“Michael,” Gavin repeated in a sob. “Oh my god, you—“
“Shh, shh,” Michael hushed. Michael had to muster all the strength in his body just to grab Gavin’s hand. “I know, I fucked up, well, the fucking asshole on his cellphone did,” Michael said with a breathy laugh. He was trying to make the best of this, since there was no way this could possibly be any worse. He didn’t want to leave Gavin, and Gavin didn’t want Michael to leave him, but sometimes, life takes things away.
Everyone gathered around Michael’s hospital bed, and wondered what to do now.
“What did you even go back for Michael?” Gavin asked tearfully.
“Vows, but thinking about it now, I don’t need it, so let’s go. Let’s do it,” Michael said, squeezing Gavin’s hand.
“Michael, what are you talking about? We can’t now, you…” Gavin stopped to sob and shake his head.
“You still want to get married, don’t you?” Michael rasped.
“Of course Michael,” Gavin answered with a nod, “but…”
“But nothing then, let’s do it. Ray?” Michael cued, looking over to him.
“Oh, yeah. Right here dude,” Ray said, clearing his throat. They all were repressing the need to cry at this moment, Michael’s last moments. “We have gathered here today to marry the one and only, Gavin Free, and the one and only, Michael Jones, who will now share their vows.” Ray was summarizing, rushing, all while struggling to keep his voice even.
“Can I go first?” Michael asked with a small smile.
“Yes,” Gavin said, putting his other hand over his mouth. He couldn’t keep from crying. He was desperately trying to muffle it, but it wasn’t working.
“Gavin Free, you are my best friend, and the best thing to happen to me. Do you remember the day I told you I loved you?” Michael asked hoarsely.
“I do,” Gavin sniffed, removing his hand. “Of course I do. You kissed me, said you loved me, and I was never happier.”
“Me too,” Michael said with a nod. “I was so happy that day, because there is no other person in this whole world I want to spend my life with. From the day I met you, you’ve made me smile. You’ve made me the happiest person alive, and sometimes I think it’s impossible to love you anymore than I already do, but you always prove me wrong. Everyday I love you more, and spending my life with you is all I’ve wanted. You’re all I’ve wanted, and needed…” Michael trailed off, eyes fluttering shut.
Everyone was tearing up now, specially Ray, who had noticed Michael’s heart monitor change pace. He gave a wary look to it, then to Gavin, who also knew.
“I love you Michael,” Gavin said, tightening the grip he had on Michael’s. Michael’s grip was slipping, weakening. He was fading, and it was clear to everyone in the room. “I’ll always love you, Michael.”
“Now do you Gavin, take Michael, as your husband, to love and to hold?” Ray summarized more, his eyes flicking between the heart monitor and Gavin.
“I do,” Gavin instantly replied. “I do,” he repeated, gently placing his other hand on Michael’s cheek. He bit back tears hearing the heart monitor picking up pace again, and seeing that Michael barely reacted to his touch.
“And do you Michael, take Gavin, as your husband, to love and to hold?”
“I do,” Michael breathed.
“I now pronounce you man, and man. You may now kiss your Brit,” Ray said, finally breaking into tears. Michael had told Ray that’s how he wanted that part to go, and he didn’t think it’d be so heart breaking to say.
Gavin quickly kissed Michael, and clutched his hand desperately, as if it could keep him alive, just a little bit longer.
“I love you Michael,” Gavin said softly against Michael’s lips.
“I love you too, Gavin Jones.”
Gavin’s whole life slipped through his fingers in that moment. Michael went limp, and the daunting sound of the flat line filled the room, just as everyone’s sobs did.
The day where he was suppose to start the rest of his life with Gavin, was sadly, his last.
