CHAPTER 18: Love In The Little Things

The next morning, Liam's condition took a sharp turn. He woke up coughing, his chest heaving with every breath. Luna rushed him back to the hospital, her heart pounding with dread.

As Liam was wheeled away for tests, Luna slumped into a chair in the waiting room. The weight of it all—the laughter, the love, the looming loss—finally broke her.

Zee arrived an hour later, wrapping Luna in a hug. "He's a fighter," Zee whispered. "And so are you."

When the doctor returned, his expression was grim. "We'll do what we can to stabilize him, but he's going to need constant care from now on."

Luna nodded, her resolve hardening. She wouldn't let Liam face this alone.

Liam was moved to a hospice facility a week later. Despite the somber atmosphere, Luna was determined to bring light into his final days. She decorated his room with fairy lights, played his favorite songs, and convinced the nurses to let them bring in ice cream from their bucket list challenge.

One night, as they lay side by side on his bed, Liam turned to her with a tired but genuine smile. "You've made this the best time of my life, you know that?"

Luna's eyes filled with tears. "You've done the same for me."

They spent hours reminiscing about their adventures, their laughter filling the room. Even as Liam's strength faded, his spirit remained unbreakable.