Iris landed in a budding tree, feeling helpless as she watched Taylor walk up to the kids playing kickball. Panic blushed through her as he waited for the inevitable. She hoped against hope that the kids would reject Taylor, but they looked at each other and shrugged, so Taylor fast walked to one of the bases. Taylor was at the back of the line and looked up at Iris defiantly. She glared at him. She could tell he got the message when a look of guilt crossed his face, but he quickly turned away and waited his turn.

What was it in the raven's eyes that had made Taylor reconsider his decision? How was it that she made him feel guilt, fear, and regret just by looking at him. How was this bird so understanding of Taylor that she could fill him with such strong emotions? Taylor shook his head, his turn had come to kick and he would do it. Even if it killed him, he would reward himself with a bit of fun for the life he had lived. For being an obedient boy. For suffering through each day of pain and boredom. He took a deep breath. This was his one chance he would ever get. He deserved it, and nothing would get in his way. The ball rolled in his direction...and he kicked it. It flew far and true, a real kick, the only one he would ever get. Taylor dashed to first base, not letting his heart slow him down. And so he ran to second base in the same manner and third.

Taylor stood at third base, hands on his knees. His heart pounding a mile a minute. He ran again when the last kid kicked, and his foot stomped on the base. He had never felt as amazing as he had in that moment. A moment of victory, his only moment. He skidded to a halt and stooped low. His heart pounded against his chest like a caged tiger. It hurt, and it was beating unevenly. Soon, the other boys gathered around him.

"Taylor, you ok?"

He gasped for air and dropped to his knees. With each heartbeat, a shot of pain charged through his chest.

"Taylor! Work with us!" A desperate plead. They actually cared.

Taylor coughed, choking on the air he couldn't get. "I-I n-need..." He couldn't say anything else. He tried, but couldn't.

"Henry, go get his mom." Jack commanded. Henry, the fastest kid there, nodded and took off.

For the couple minutes that he was gone, Taylor lay on his back, staring up at the circle of faces that looked down on him. He was panicking, which was not helping his case. His chest heaved quickly up and down, but his heart was limping along, trying desperately to pump the blood and oxygen that Taylor needed. But it couldn't, it just couldn't. The last thing Taylor saw before blacking out was his mother's horrified, worried, tearful face coming close to him. Sirens wailed faintly in the distance.