The truck rattled as it sped down the empty highway, the hum of the engine blending with the howling wind outside. Caleb sat in the back with Elyra cradled in his arms, his fingers brushing against the ice-cold skin of her wrist.

She was trembling.

Not from fear. Not from exhaustion.

From the weight of the sickness slowly pulling her under.

"Hold on, okay?" Caleb murmured against her hair, his voice barely above a whisper.

Elyra gave a weak nod but didn’t open her eyes. Her breathing was shallow, uneven, as if each inhale was a battle she was losing.

Caleb clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around her frail frame.

"How much longer?" he called to Tom, his voice edged with desperation.

Tom flicked his cigarette out the window, keeping his eyes on the road. "Few more hours if we don’t stop," he muttered. "But kid… I don’t think she’s got that long."

Caleb’s stomach twisted.

No.

She had to make it.

She had to see the ocean.

She had to breathe in the salty air, let the waves kiss her feet, feel—just once—what freedom was like.

His arms trembled as he pulled her closer, as if he could shield her from the inevitable.

The truck rolled to a stop near a gas station, the neon sign flickering weakly against the night sky.

"We need fuel," Tom said, shutting off the engine. "Stretch your legs if you need to."

Caleb hesitated, glancing down at Elyra. Her eyes remained closed, her lips slightly parted.

She looked fragile. Too fragile.

But they couldn’t stay trapped in the truck forever.

Carefully, he shifted her in his arms and stepped outside, the night air biting at his skin. The world around them was quiet, save for the distant hum of insects and the occasional gust of wind.

"Elyra," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Do you want to get some fresh air?"

Her lashes fluttered slightly before she gave a small nod.

With slow, careful movements, Caleb lowered her onto the wooden bench outside the gas station. She leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, barely above a whisper, she said, "I feel… light."

Caleb frowned. "What do you mean?"

Her lips curled into a faint smile. "Like… I’m floating."

A lump formed in his throat. He didn’t like the way she said it.

As if she were already slipping away.

"You’re just tired," he said quickly. "That’s all."

Elyra didn’t argue.

She simply sighed and turned her face toward the night sky.

The stars were scattered across the darkness, twinkling softly like distant promises.

"I never really looked at the stars before," she admitted.

Caleb blinked. "What do you mean? They’ve always been there."

"I know," she said. "But I was always too busy… trying to survive."

His heart clenched painfully.

She had spent her entire life fighting, enduring, surviving—so much so that she never had time to simply live.

Caleb exhaled shakily. "I wish I could give you more time."

Elyra tilted her head toward him, her eyes filled with something unreadable.

"You already have," she whispered.

A sharp pang shot through his chest.

She sounded so final.

As if she had already made peace with the fact that time was no longer hers to keep.

Caleb looked away, swallowing down the emotions threatening to consume him.

"I’m not letting you go yet," he murmured. "Not until you see the ocean."

Elyra chuckled softly, but it ended in a quiet cough. She wiped at her lips, and Caleb caught a glimpse of red staining her fingertips.

His stomach twisted.

Blood.

She was getting worse.

Panic surged through him, but before he could say anything, Tom’s gruff voice interrupted.

"We’re ready to go," he said, leaning against the truck.

Caleb nodded and carefully lifted Elyra back into his arms.

She was so light.

As if the wind could carry her away at any moment.

The journey continued in silence.

Caleb kept his arms around Elyra, watching her carefully with every passing mile.

She was still awake, but barely. Her breaths were soft, her eyelids drooping as exhaustion weighed her down.

"We’re close," Tom muttered after a while.

Caleb’s heart pounded.

How close?

Would she make it?

Would he have to watch her slip away before she could even reach the one place she had always longed for?

He shook the thought away.

She would make it.

She had to.

Elyra stirred slightly, her fingers twitching against his chest.

"Caleb…"

He leaned down immediately. "I’m here."

A faint smile graced her lips. "Do you think the ocean… will like me?"

Caleb let out a quiet, broken laugh.

"The ocean will love you," he whispered.

Elyra hummed softly before her breathing evened out. She had fallen asleep, her fragile body pressed against his.

Caleb exhaled slowly.

They were almost there.

And for the first time in a long time… he prayed.

He prayed she would hold on.

He prayed she would see the waves.

He prayed that maybe—just maybe—fate would give her a little more time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continued...