Meant to Collide

85. One more Day with You

Inside the hospital room, the air is thick with anticipation. Sky, his face etched with both determination and sorrow, watches as Tee arranges the room with vibrant pink balloons making the sterile hospital room look more like a space for celebration than the place it truly was. The soft, pastel hues of the balloons contrasted with the cold, clinical walls, creating a surreal atmosphere, almost as if the universe itself was trying to gift Jules a moment of joy amidst the pain.

Sky felt his breath catch in his throat as he moved toward Jules' bedside. He had to see her, had to feel her near him. She was still unconscious, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, the pale color of her skin only deepening the weight in the air. Sky's heart clenched with every beat as he leaned closer, softly calling out, "Mon... Mon, look what I've brought."

Jules stirred slightly at the sound of his voice, her eyes fluttering open with the effort it took to break free from the haze of unconsciousness. Every movement was slow, each small action a reminder of the pain that lingered beneath her fragile exterior. She winced slightly, her eyes half-lidded as she focused on Sky, and when she recognized him, her expression softened with a faint but unmistakable smile, though it was laced with exhaustion.

"Sky," she whispered, her voice weak.

Sky's heart swelled, but it also broke a little more, watching her struggle to keep her eyes open. Kneeling beside her, he took her hand, his fingers trembling as they traced the outline of her palm. The moment was sacred, fragile, as if the entire world had paused just for them. And then, with the quiet strength of someone who knew their time was precious, he whispered the words that had been burning in his chest ever since he realized how deeply he loved her.

"Will you marry me?"

Jules' eyes fluttered, her tears instantly spilling as she blinked in disbelief and joy. The words seemed to take a moment to process in her mind, as if the weight of them was too much to bear, and yet she smiled through her tears. It was a smile that held the warmth of their memories and the strength of her enduring love. Her lips trembled as she whispered back, "Of course, my love. I will."

As they exchange rings, the weight of the moment settles over them like a heavy blanket. "When did you buy it?" she asks weakly, a trace of curiosity in her voice.

Sky chokes back tears, his eyes reddening with the force of his emotions. "I bought it the day I told you; I love you, Mon." The words hang in the air, imbued with a love that transcends the limits of time and circumstance.

Tee presents the documents for Jules to sign, each letter a testament to the life they had planned. But Jules' hand shakes as she holds the pen, her vision blurred by both pain and fading consciousness. She signs with the last of her strength, the ink on the paper becoming a silent symbol of their bond. Sky signs beside her, his hands unsteady, his heart in turmoil.

As the documents are handed over and the reality of their bittersweet union settles in, the room is filled with a somber, collective cheer. They celebrate the love that will soon be lost, the future that never had a chance to bloom.

The room empties, leaving only the two of them. Jules, exhausted, looks up at Sky with tired eyes. "Lie beside me," she whispers. Her voice cracks, barely audible, but Sky hears the desperation beneath it. He lies beside her, his hand gently holding hers, unwilling to let go.

"I'm tired, Sky," Jules breathes out, her words broken. "I'm sleepy. This is the moment I've never wanted to sleep in my entire life." Her voice is fragile, as if each word costs her everything.

Sky tightens his grip on her hand, his voice shaky but firm. "I won't let you sleep, Mon. I won't."

The heart monitor beeps steadily in the background, a stark reminder of time slipping away. Jules looks at him one last time, her gaze filled with love and resignation. "Jules Chandler loves you with all her heart, Sky Chandler," she says softly, each word punctuated by a struggle to stay awake, to hold onto the life she's about to lose.

He watched her, his heart aching with every passing second. Her face, pale and fragile, lay motionless against the pillow. Her eyes, though half-closed, still held the remnants of that spark he had fallen in love with- the same warmth, the same quiet strength that had kept them both going through all the pain and heartache.

Sky gently cupped her face, his thumb tracing her cheek. Her skin was cool to the touch, and the slight tremor in his hand spoke volumes of the storm inside him. Tears welled in his eyes as he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you too, Mon."

As those words left his lips, the very air seemed to thicken, heavy with the finality of what he feared was an inevitable truth. His tears began to fall, each one tracing a path down his cheek, landing softly on Jules' face.

Then, everything falls silent.

Outside the room, the frantic energy of the hospital fades into a void. Sky stands, his mind a whirlwind of grief, and walks into the corridor. His grandmother, Lady Arina, rushes to him, her voice filled with hope and determination. "Sky, Sky! I've talked to the specialists in the States, we'll save her, don't worry, we will.."

But Sky cuts her off, his voice cold, distant. "She's dead, Grandma."

The words land like a heavy blow. Lady Arina freezes, her breath catching in her chest. "What?" she gasps, as if unable to process the devastating truth. The words felt like a knife to his soul. Sky's legs buckled, and he crumpled to the floor, his body wracked with uncontrollable sobs. He collapsed at his grandmother's feet, clutching the fabric of her skirt as if trying to hold on to something, anything, amidst the suffocating pain.

Tears streamed down his face, each drop a silent testament to the love and loss that had shattered his world. His body trembled, and the weight of grief seemed too much to bear. The future he had dreamed of with Jules, now just a cruel memory.

His grandmother, heartbroken at the sight of him, knelt beside him, her hand resting gently on his back. "Sky..." she whispered, but he barely heard her. The silence between them was deafening, filled only with his sobs.

Sky gasped for breath, his voice hoarse, "Mon... Mon..." Her name was a lifeline, but it only deepened the ache in his chest.

His grandma pulled him into her arms, her own tears mixing with his. There were no words to fix this. Only the comfort of her presence, the quiet support, as they both mourned the loss of the love he could never have.

Two years later, Sky sits in front of the camera at NBC 4. His face is different now- harder, more defined. His success in marketing has made him a household name, but it has come at the cost of something far greater.

The interviewer's voice cuts through the silence, asking about his meteoric rise. "Sky, how were you able to achieve such remarkable growth in such a short time?"

Sky, looking every bit the composed businessman, leans forward. His voice is steady, but there's an undertone of something deeper, something painful. "The secret behind my success is simple- Love. My wife, Jules Chandler, has been my greatest motivation."

His eyes, however, betray the calm exterior. "Every single day, she encouraged me to push harder, think bigger, and be better. It was her belief in me that kept me going." His voice cracks slightly, the weight of loss still heavy.

The interviewer, sensing the gravity of the moment, asks, "So... where is she now?"

He stares into the camera, his face unwavering as the interviewer waits for more. Sky's voice drops into a soft, soft tragic melody, almost as if speaking directly to Jules.

Last night, I had a crazy dream
Wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you.