Imagine Us in Heaven

The Countdown

"Blythe?"

BLYTHE!

I inhale and find that I can breathe again. However, what welcome my sight is the same gray orbs I've seen underwater.

"Winter..." I gasp. "What are you doing here?"

I finally see his wings spread behind his back, wet yet vividly alive and completely healed. He is positively radiant, and I can feel him continuing to run his fingers through my hair. "I told you not to stay too long away from me."

I want to argue that it hasn't been a day, but then I figure that my body is probably too weak to afford being away from him for even a few hours. Come to think of it, I probably won't be able to work from hereon. Maybe I should just accept Jake's offer and work as his assistant instead.

"Blythe...what is he? W...Who is he?"

Is that Mom? I realize that we are in a situation where every member of my family is present. Except for Ivor, Mom, and Dad, as well as Dane and Larissa, don't know about Winter. I raise my body to sit, and Winter assists me.

"He insisted on coming here. He said you need him," Clement suddenly explains before I can even ask. I notice that Carlo is with them as well, standing behind and looking aghast, most likely because of what he has witnessed. Should I count this as another miracle unintentionally performed by Winter so I can scold him?

"Blythe!" Mom demands an answer as she starts wiping me with a towel. She glances at Winter with a mix of disbelief and awe. I can't blame her, though, because Winter is currently glowing.

I sigh, and without further ado, I just blurt out, "He's an angel."

I expect united gasps, but they are too dumbstruck to even fathom what I'm trying to say. I can't help but chuckle, but then I start coughing again and finally taste blood. Mom looks at me in horror, and I think at that moment, she knows. She knows I'm telling the truth about Winter.

"He's an angel," I repeat, trying to make them understand. "And I'm dying."

Then I get it. Those united gasps...

✺✳ ┅ ⑅ ┅ ✳✺

"What do you mean you're dying?" Ivor says, turning to Clement questioningly.

But Clement has no idea either. I never told anyone except Jake. "It's alright, bro."

"What do you mean it's alright?!" His voice shakes. "This is not a good joke, Blythe!"

"I'm not joking," I tell them. "I have lung cancer. It has spread all over my body, and the doctors said I have months to live. But Winter came and...I think I got myself an extension!"

Dane glowers. "That's not funny."

"Sorry, it's funny to me."

"Can you heal him?" Ivor suddenly turns to Winter, much to my chagrin.

Mom hurries to Winter's side and pleads, "Please, if you can...please, I just got him back!"

"Mom!" I'm astounded by their reaction and immediately stand up, pulling Winter beside me. "It's not for him to decide whether I live or...don't ask him that again. He didn't come here for this."

"Son..." Dad says this time. "...can't you stay for a while? I think it is much better if you stay here with us?"

I feel an incoming fit, but when Winter places a hand on my chest, my lungs start to calm down. I look at him, mouthing the word "thanks" before turning to my parents. "I want to spend my New Year with Winter and with Carlos and Nina too."