Requested my Mikki4mikey

"As I witness the death of beloved ones, it makes me become more conscious that life indeed has an end." - Lailah Gifty Aktia

April had always thought it was stupid that someone would kill themselves for love like Romeo and Juliet did. How could two people love each other so much that they would end their own lives for it? But right now, that didn't matter...

"Donnie!"

The shrill voice of the young female rang out against the New York rooftops that made pigeons fly as far away from the noise as they could. April screamed as her friend Donatello feel to the crack of the gun held by the smirking rhino. The turtle's crimson blood gently dripped down his plastron and was quickly washed away by a summer shower that was washing everything clean in the once dirty city.

But this was not something April wanted cleaning.

As Donnie's brother and Casey chased Bebop and Rocksteady away to their ironically named van, April ran towards Donnie instead. The bullet had hit his torso and he was fading fast. "Donnie... Donnie..." April couldn't form any words other than his name. He had been her first true friend (the Kraang Irma didn't count) and he had saved her more times than she could count, especially in the first few weeks of them meeting before she had started training with Master Splinter.

Something wet and not rain fell down her face and onto Donnie's face. Her tears. Donnie's unfocused eyes turned to her and April's heart filled with the unrealistic hope that he could live. "April?" the weak voice whispered to her. April nodded; keep his talking, keep him awake. "Don't cry. You look lovely without puffy eyes." Keep him talking. Keep him talking. "I want to tell you something. Something important."

"Itsokay, Donnie, you can tell me later. You'll be okay." Even as she said those words, they had the feeling of untruth to her.

Donnie smiled. Not his usual goofy smile always directed towards her, but a sad one. One that said he was sorry. "You know that's not true." She knew. But she wouldn't accept it. "The bullet got my lung. I'm sorry April, but I really do need to tell you something."

Nodding, April tuned her ears towards what could be Donnie's last words, depending on how long he'll long for. "This is... This reminds me of something."

"What?"

"That play. Romeo and Juliet. I feel like that. A star-crossed lover to you. I love you... I love you..." Donnie's eyes gently closed and his breathing slowed.

April's breath caught. "No, Donnie! Donnie stay away! Donnie!"

An even smaller smile than before graced Donnie's lips. One that would now stay on his face forever. "No! Donnie! No!" Caught in a whirlwind of emotions steaming from Donnie's confession and death, April gave a kiss to that small smile. Donnie didn't react. The blood was now dropped out of his mouth and down his cheek.

Warm arms gathered April's crying, shivering body towards a warmer chest. "Hey, Red, Don wouldn't want you to cry. It's okay, Casey Jones is here to protect you."

Right now, Casey was the last person April wanted comforting her. Her best friend had just died on her after confessing his feeling of love for her. Right now, April just wanted to be alone.

Alone... Alone... Alone...

The only feelings April knew was loneliness and longing as she pushed Casey away and ran in any direction she could. Just alone. She wanted to be alone. To grieve without being pushed towards the arms of another man, one who's affections she did not want not return.

It was ironic, she thought, that some of Donnie's last words would be about Romeo and Juliet. It was stupid that someone would kill themselves for love like they had, especially in a time when marriages of the higher class were about securing alliances between two families, not the love of two people. But then, if the two lovers hadn't have killed themselves then they would be forced to marry someone else who they didn't like. Romeo would die in battle, Juliet in childbirth, never to see each other again. If Donnie was right, then she was not going to die like Juliet could have.

A ship horn blew and April stopped running. The docks. April didn't know what she was doing until she felt her body submerge under the waves. Death sounded like a nice alternative. The warmth of another was not needed unless it was her best friend. Her love.

The one who listened

The one who cared

The one who loved her for who she was

April had always thought it was stupid that someone would kill themselves for love like Romeo and Juliet did. She had always thought that love that survived death could not exist.

"April?"

Until she saw the green face with a gap tooth and purple bandana stare at her among the clouds.

"Love doesn't die with death. Love is like a liquid; when it pours out, it seeps into others' lives. Love changes form and shape. Love gets into everything. Death doesn't conquer all; love does. Love wins every single time. Love wins by lasting through death. Love wins by loving more, loving again, loving without fear." - Kate O'Neill