A Poppy In The Stars

Chapter 21

I stared at his unconscious face, my hand carefully wrapped around his. He looked like an angel, but with a very pale face and cold hands. I kissed his cheek, but didn't get the usual smile from him. I took a shaky breath and placed my head on his hand, praying for him to be alright, even though I knew it's worthless.
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Hours passed, and I spent every one of it with Jasper, in his bedroom. I felt him growing weak by every minute, but I didn't cry in front of him. Whenever I'm with him, I laughed and talked and fed him, even though he protested. But when he drifted off to sleep, I went into the bathroom of his and cried until my eyes went puffy and red.

One morning, I woke up a little late and rolled more closer to Jasper. I tilted my sleepy eyes to see him looking at me very closely, with tears in his eyes. I sat up quickly.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, kissing him on the forehead.

"Yeah." He said.

"Then what is it?"

There was a slight pause before he answered. "I'm sorry ,Hope."

Tears forced its way into my eyes, but I forced them back in. "Don't say that! Why would you say that?" I rested my head on his bare chest. "Don't ever say that!"

"I didn't warn you about my illness." He said. His voice sounded weak and strained, and his chest felt cold and bony against my face.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that I love you and you love me. And all I want from you is to be happy, Jas." I said, forcing myself to keep my voice straight.

"I know, and I'm trying. I am happy, but I can't leave you." He said. I looked up to see a tear running down from the corner of his eye. I wiped it from my thumb and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He felt weak beneath me, but I didn't care. All I wanted for him to be happy.

"Don't be." I whispered. "Can you remember what you said to me the day that we were on the balcony? You told me that loved ones don't leave us, ever. They always live in our souls, you said. Remember? So, you are never leaving me, Jas. You'll always live in me. Until it's time for me to go as well."

He smiled as I finished. "Can I ask you something?" He asked. I nodded. "Can you watch the stars tonight with me?"

A lump rose up to my throat, but I gulped it down and nodded. "Okay."
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I laid in Jasper's hands as we gazed up at the starry night sky. His balcony felt cold beneath me, but his hands around me distracted me from everything. All that mattered to me was his smile on his pale yet handsome face.

"I love the sky tonight." He said.

"Yeah, it's beautiful tonight." I agreed.

"Hope?"

"Hm?"

"You know that I love you right? That I never stopped?" He asked.

I looked up at his blue eyes. Even though his face was pale and his lips were dry, his eyes still glowed with electricity. "Of course I know that!"

"Don't ever forget me, okay?" He said.

"I will never, promise."

"Pinky promise?" He pointed out his pinky towards me. I let out a shaky laugh.

"Okay." I entangled my pinky in his. "Promise."

He kissed the top of my head. "I want to sleep now." He muttered.

Tears blossomed in the corners of my eyes, but I smiled at him. "Go ahead. I'll be right here for you."

"I know you will." He said and closed his eyes, sighing heavily. "And I'm so happy to have you beside me." He paused. "I love you, Hope." He mumbled.

"I love you too, Jasper."