How to Love the Stars | Ghost (Simon Riley)

Chapter 28

Ghost lay in his bed, the soft glow of the morning light streaming through his curtains, his mind began to drift back to a time long ago, when he was just a child. Back then, being sick was a rarity, but it was a time he remembered vividly.

His parents, had never been the nurturing type. In fact, his father had treated him horribly. In their eyes, sickness was a sign of weakness, a vulnerability to be hidden away. So, whenever illness struck, Ghost learned to fend for himself. He'd retreat to his room, shivering beneath the covers, enduring the relentless fever that burned through his young body. He would lay there, alone and silent, hoping desperately for the sickness to pass quickly, not knowing any other way to cope.

As the years passed and he grew older, that pattern persisted. He never truly learned how to take care of himself when illness struck. Isolation became his only refuge, spending days confined to his bed, neglecting food and water, all while he silently suffered, waiting for the sickness to relent on its own. He was completely clueless on how to take care of himself, and often ended up huddled in his blankets waiting for the sickness to pass. Even as part of a close-knit team, he refused to let anyone witness his vulnerability, not even Soap or Price, his closest comrades. The thought of them seeing his weakness was unbearable.

This one in particular was one of the more terrible ones, one that left him sweating and shivering, unable to move.

Then, Althea entered his life.

She had shown up at his door, a beacon of light in his dark world. At first, he had been afraid—afraid of her seeing him at his most vulnerable. But Althea was different. She possessed a compassion and caring nature that seemed otherworldly to him. She tended to him with a gentleness he had never known before.

That night, as they lay together in his bed, he had never felt so at ease. Her presence brought warmth and comfort, her soft breath against his chest, a feeling he couldn't put into words. Sleep was usually elusive, plagued by the memories and nightmares of past missions, but that night, with Althea securely wrapped in his arms, he found solace. It was as if she possessed the power to banish the demons that haunted his dreams.

Her eyes, those captivating, sparkling pure eyes that seemed to pierce through his very soul, her long, luxurious dark hair like the night—they stirred something deep within him. He felt an overwhelming protectiveness, an unwavering readiness to defend her against any threat. He would willingly sacrifice anything for her, even if he didn't fully understand why.

But when she laughed, oh, when she laughed... It was a melody that could chase away any darkness. Her laughter became a soothing balm for his wounded soul, and he cherished those moments when he could bring a smile to her lips. He loved the moments when he could hear that sweet sound.

During the days when he was still sick and feverish, he pretended to be asleep. In those stolen moments, he studied the expressions she made in her sleep, the soft mumbles that hinted at dreams of distant adventures. With each passing second that she remained by his side, enveloping him in her warmth, something inexplicably complex filled his chest.

That was why he had started feeling better so much faster. That was also why he might have feigned illness a while longer, perhaps just to keep her close a little while more, and why he might have enjoyed staying up late to watch her sleep maybe a little too much. He couldn't quite comprehend it, but there was something about her presence that made him feel safe and comforted in a way he had never experienced before.

Sometimes when he couldn't sleep, he looked up at the night sky. Especially when he was sick, he would look up at their unwavering brightness that never seemed to fail.

Ghost had always been drawn to the stars, captivated by their timeless beauty and the profound sense of wonder they inspired. It was a love that had been with him since childhood, a passion that had only deepened over the years.

As a young boy, growing up in Manchester, Ghost had often found solace in the night sky. His parents' sternness and the absence of nurturing had left him feeling alone and disconnected from the world around him. But when he gazed up at the stars, he felt a connection to something far greater than himself.

The stars, with their distant, twinkling light, offered him a sense of perspective. They reminded him that his troubles were but fleeting moments in the grand tapestry of the universe. In those quiet moments of stargazing, he could escape the confines of his own life and imagine the infinite possibilities that lay beyond.

As he got older and joined the military, the stars became a constant companion during long, grueling missions. They were a reminder of home, a source of comfort in the darkest of times. On those cold, lonely nights in foreign lands, he would often steal a moment to look up at the stars and find a sense of connection to the world he had left behind. As a soldier, he didn't do much but wait for the next mission. He never had anything to look forward to when he wasn't fighting. However, sometimes, without anyone knowing, he would sneak up to the top of the base's building, looking up at the vast open sky. When he felt as if he couldn't breathe, he would run to the roof, breathing in the fresh air of the night sky.

But it wasn't just about escapism; it was also about inspiration. Ghost saw the stars as a symbol of unattainable goals and untapped potential. They represented the vastness of the unknown, the mysteries of the cosmos waiting to be explored. He believed that just as the stars shone brightly in the darkest of nights, there was a spark of greatness within each person, waiting to be ignited.

Looking up at the stars reminded him that no matter how dire the circumstances, there was always something greater to strive for. It fueled his determination and resolve, pushing him to excel in his training and become one of the best in his field.

For Ghost, the stars became a symbol of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was light to be found. They were a source of comfort, inspiration, and connection—a reminder that in the vastness of the universe, he had found something beautiful and precious. And so, he continued to love the stars, finding solace and wonder in their timeless glow, always looking up with a sense of reverence and gratitude.

Suddenly, he was pulled back to the present when Althea reached for the thermometer once more. His heart raced with anticipation, wondering if she would see through his act. She checked the thermometer, her eyes scanning the numbers, seeing his temperature had turned back to normal. A sweet, radiant smile graced her lips, and he felt himself practically melt under her gaze. It was as if, with just a smile, she had the power to mend his soul, one piece at a time.

Althea shone like the stars he looked up at at night. She burned as bright and warm as the sun, warming his very soul. Her kindness and her touch seared his skin, yet he couldn't pull away. Each smile she gave him made his head pound and made something sharp lodge in his chest. And yet as she smiled at him, he couldn't help but just smile back at her. 

A/N: Omg I accidentally posted the wrong chapter this morning sorryyyyy 

Things have been very busy for me lately, so thank you so much for reading!! It really makes my day to see all of your comments and love for my story, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!