The house felt emptier after their father left. The air was thick with an emotion neither Caleb nor his mother dared to name. Regret? Relief? Maybe both.

Caleb spent most of his time beside Elyra now, unwilling to let even a second slip away. She was getting weaker—too weak to sit up on her own, too weak to eat much. Even speaking seemed to drain her, but still, she tried to smile for him.

But he could see the truth in her eyes.

She was slipping away.

It was happening too fast.

And Caleb was running out of time.

That evening, Elyra stirred. Caleb had been reading softly to her—one of their old childhood books—but when she shifted, he immediately set it down.

"Elyra?" he asked gently.

Her lips parted as if to speak, but she hesitated. Then, in a breathy whisper, she said, "I want to see the stars."

Caleb’s chest tightened. "The stars?"

She nodded weakly, her pale face illuminated by the dim bedside lamp. "One last time."

Caleb’s hands curled into fists.

One last time.

Every time she spoke, it felt like another goodbye.

He wanted to tell her no. That she wasn’t strong enough. That she should rest. But when he looked into her eyes, he saw it—the quiet longing, the last traces of a wish she had been too afraid to voice before.

And Caleb couldn’t deny her.

Not this.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a smile. "Then let’s go see the stars."

Their mother helped him prepare. Despite everything, she was trying—really trying. Maybe it was guilt, maybe it was love, but for the first time in years, she was looking at Elyra the way a mother should.

Together, they carried blankets and pillows to the rooftop balcony. Their old house had always had easy access to the roof, a place where he and Elyra used to sneak out as kids to watch the night sky.

Now, they were bringing her back to that childhood dream, one last time.

Caleb gently carried Elyra up the stairs, feeling how light she had become, how frail. She didn’t complain. She simply rested against him, as if she trusted him completely to keep her safe.

When they reached the rooftop, he set her down carefully on the pile of soft blankets.

She let out a small, tired sigh. "It’s beautiful."

Caleb sat beside her, staring at the endless night sky. Stars blinked above them, scattered like shattered glass across a canvas of darkness.

Their mother sat on Elyra’s other side, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face. "Do you remember when you used to beg me to let you two sleep out here?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

Elyra chuckled weakly. "And you always said no."

Their mother smiled faintly. "I was scared you’d catch a cold."

"Guess that wouldn’t have mattered much," Elyra murmured.

Caleb flinched.

Their mother sucked in a breath, guilt flashing in her eyes. "Don’t say that, sweetheart."

Elyra didn’t respond right away. Instead, she gazed up at the stars, her expression soft, almost peaceful.

"I hope I get to see him again," she whispered.

Caleb stiffened.

She didn’t have to say who she meant.

Her twin.

The brother she had lost. The one their father had mourned so much he had forgotten to love the daughter still standing in front of him.

Elyra had spent her whole life carrying that burden. And now, at the end of it, all she wanted was to see him again.

Caleb’s throat tightened. "You will."

Elyra turned her head slightly to look at him. "You think so?"

He swallowed hard. "I know so."

Her lips curved into a soft smile. "Then I won’t be so scared."

Caleb’s chest ached.

How could she be so accepting of this?

She was seventeen. She should have been dreaming of her future, not waiting for her last breath.

He felt a hand on his, gentle and warm.

Elyra.

She was comforting him when he should have been the one comforting her.

"Elyra…" His voice cracked.

She squeezed his fingers weakly. "I just want to be happy one last time."

Caleb inhaled sharply, forcing his tears back.

"Then let’s watch the stars," he murmured, shifting so that he was lying beside her.

Their mother did the same, the three of them staring up at the infinite sky together.

Minutes passed. Maybe hours.

No words were spoken.

There was nothing left to say.

And yet, this moment—the three of them together under the same sky—it felt like something close to healing.

Or maybe just another goodbye.

Later that night, when Caleb carried Elyra back to her bed, she clung to him weakly.

"You’re shaking," she whispered.

Caleb realized he was.

He gently tucked her into bed, brushing his hand over her hair.

She looked up at him, her eyes full of warmth. "Thank you."

Caleb forced a smile. "For what?"

"For staying," she whispered.

Caleb bit his lip.

"You don’t have to thank me for that," he murmured.

She smiled faintly, but exhaustion was already pulling her under.

He stayed by her side long after she fell asleep, listening to her soft breaths, memorizing every detail of her face.

She was fading.

And no matter how tightly he held on, he knew the stars would soon lose their light. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continued...