Epilogue

 

By Julie and Rachel

 

A week and a half after both Nick and I woke up, we were on our way to the airport heading back to Orlando with our families.  All five of us were terrified to fly again because we had a bad feeling that this nightmare could occur again, but it took a few arguments from our families to convince us to fly again. 

 

Soon after Nick and I woke up, doctors and nurses from all over the hospital came to see us, calling us both "medical miracles".  After our ordeal I realized again how precious life was.  I finally came to my senses and realized that if Nick had really died, I would have had to go on and live my life to the fullest.  Like Nick has said before "Live life to its fullest because the future is scarce", and I hold those words close to my heart because I know the true meaning of what he said.

 

***

 

Our first day back in Orlando, we all went to our separate houses to relax, finally safe at home.  But the next day, AJ suggested we have a party to celebrate all of our lives.  It was not to be a big party, for Nick and I were still weak.   Nick's pneumonia had gone away, but he still was not feeling 100% well, and I was temporarily in a wheelchair, for I was too weak to use crutches.

 

So the next evening, we had a small party, inviting our friends, girlfriends, and families.  The party was an emotional one.  Leighanne pushed me around in my wheelchair the entire night, refusing to leave my side.  I was grateful though.  I love Leighanne with all my heart, but now, she seems even more special, for I know that without a miracle, I would have never gotten to see her again.

 

***

 

Now I'm sitting in my wheelchair as the sun is setting by the pool, watching in amusement as Aaron splashes Nick while he is lying near the edge of the pool.  Suddenly, I hear a ringing noise and look towards the sound as see Kevin tapping the side of his drink glass to get everyone's attention.  Leighanne gets up from where she was sitting by my side and pushes me closer to where everyone is gathering.

 

“I’d like to make a toast,” Kevin started, once everyone had gathered around him.  “We have been through a lot in the last few weeks, and through it all, we have managed to survive and live on.  Brian and Nick, this is for you, for being brave and strong, and pulling through, even when all odds were against you. You are both miracles, and I am grateful to be standing here with you now.  To the Backstreet Boys, let us always be strong and stay together for as long as we can.  Thank you.”  By the time he had finished, Kevin’s eyes were bright with tears.  Everyone else’s eyes looked a little misty as well.  I sat there in my chair, tears slowly streaming down my cheeks, thanking the Lord for helping us overcome all that we had been through.  We all raised our glasses and clinked them against one another’s. 

 

A few seconds later, I felt a pair of arms draw me into a hug.  I looked up and saw Nick's tearstained face and hugged him back tightly, thankful that my little brother had lived and thankful that I had lived to see him and everyone once again. 

 

With Nick's brush with death, I realized that if he would have passed on, there would have been a million things that I would have wanted to tell him, but couldn't have.  As I released my little brother and best friend from our hug, I once again said a silent prayer to God, thanking him for allowing all my loved ones and I to live another day and to win our fight for survival.

 

The End

 

 

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