"It's all my fault.", I clenched my fists and tried to holb back the tears.

"I shouldn't have let him go so easily... But I thought, he was with you, all these evenings. He told me stories, which sounded like a lot of fun for him."

"It is not your fault, Eric."

"Yes, it is."

"Stop saying that bullshit, ya know it's not true."

I sighed. "I miss him alot."

"He's not dead."

"Yet.", I added.

"You need to be strong for Dele, now, because he needs you.

He needs his strong Eric, who wouldn't be afraid of anything for his friend.

He needs the Eric who is brave and full of hope.

Be this Eric for him now."

I shook my head. "How am I supposed to be cheerish and optimistic in that situation? I know, giving up too early is wrong and not at all my style...

But...

I need to be realistic as well and his death is the most realistic option at the moment...

Probably.", I added carefully.

"No, it's not. Okay, let's make a deal. We'll ask the next nurse to come in and if she brings bad news, I'll allow you to have... less faith.

But until then you won't say that he's as good as dead, got it?", Ruby suggested.

I sighed, but aggreed.

"Fine. I hope... Dele...", I swallowed. "I hope, Dele won't leave us already."

Ruby folded her hands and stared at the ground.

"Eric? Listen. You... If Dele wakes up, I want you to be by his side and no one else, maybe his mother, but it is important, that you two talk, okay? There is alot you need to explain to each other, you need to learn about some of his secrets, but I want you to learn them by yourself, okay?"

I nodded slowly.

"You, know, when we were together, Dele and I, we talked about you alot..."

"Huh? Really, why?"

She ignored me and continued.

"He's never been in love with me, the whole time..."

She stared out of the window.

I was shocked.

"Oh? Why? Why would he lie? But you seemed so happy... So... In love.."

Ruby shook her head.

"Think. Eric. Does that make sense to you, yet? I want you to realize it by yourself. Take your time, Dele does, too."

We both smiled weakly, and I tried hard to think about what she mentioned...

"When I told Mrs. Alli, that everything would be alright, I said, that I had the feelings in my guts... and... I have them, still.

He can't be dead.

He's fighting.

At least till the end.

He would never give up.

Sometimes we all need support.

I want to support him right now."

Ruby smiled.

"Fighting 'till the end. So, have you solved the puzzle yet?"

I shook my head and tried to focus on her advice.

So... Dele and her have never really been in a relationship, but why would he fake it so desperately?

Was he trying to get somebody jealous?

My stomach rioted when I thought about Dele making somebody jealous. I didn't like that, and I surely didn't like, that I didn't know, who he was trying to do that to.

*Ruby's Pov*

"Poor boy", I thought, while I was watching Eric figuring out the most obvious puzzle in the world.

He look out of the window, he looked lost, his head on his arms.

I saw, how tired he was, but at the same time, the determination, that kept him awake.

I felt sorry for him, so I told him: "He might not love the type of people you think he does."

I immediately regretted that decision, because he only seemed more confused than before.

"Wait a second-", he suddenly realized, when a nurse came inside.

"Mr. Alli is now out of the emergency room. I suggest that Mrs. Alli sees her son first?"

*Eric's Pov*

When I heard, that Dele had survived, I wanted to throw a huge party and invite the whole world, I was so happy.

And when the nurse suggested letting Mrs. Alli see Dele first, I admit, I was a bit jealous, but... it was her god damn right.

She probably worried the most and deserved that, so Ruby woke her up, and Mrs. Alli was wide awake immediately and cried tears of happiness.

Another nurse accompanied her, because the exhausted mother's legs were still weak.

"I want to see Dele so badly. I miss him so much."

Ruby grabbed my hands.

"Eric, you'll have to wait at least 10 to 20 minutes, because Mrs. Alli needs some time with her son alone, but trust me, you'll see him soon."