Summer's Last Firefly

el any pain

ping the edge of the s

n, pressed him firmly back d

e hospital without delay. Once there, he meticulously arranged everything Vincent might need – essen

op tormenting

l, scowled at Clint, his tone sharp. "Wh

g finished arranging for a nurse. My steps

Serena and I were together for three years. She can't just let go. It's only natural. No matter

During those three years, Mr. Yates, sh

froze on his face. "What n

.

aid it under a sky full of stars,

find the words to soften the blow. In the

ming love. She had rushed inside to fetch her precious carrot bouquet a

sn't the

lint's love, as pure and radiant as starlight, was something I

ined with unspoken disappointment. He forced a ligh

dark, empty room, where not even the splendor of

g no scar. But the ache in my chest lingered, waves of

y at night or during emotional moments. Despite countless hospita

edication. My hand slipped, spilling the pills across

though I'd been fished out of a lake. My appearance was far wor

e a knife. Blood filled my mouth as I bit down hard on my lip to stifle

ake up – don't fall asleep!" Cl

red, compromised, and sacrificed my pride, on

." I whisp

.

y suffering, etched into his mind, fueled his indignation. "If it were anyone else, I would step back if she faltered. I would ne

were pale, dr

w your place." Clint's words were firm, cutting through the tension. Witho

de, he paused, realizing imme

in the parking lo

I reached out and

ady. I looked into his eyes, which reflected me,

oice steady and delib

oided talking a

e I no longer had a

d in impenetrable armor. Sitting by the window, I spoke of Selena, of

ession of hope gradual

He described his downward spiral: from rage-filled hysteria to drowni

I was afraid to go back to the old apartment, afraid of opening the door and finding no trace of you – no dinner waitin

t to lose you. I want one chance

erything. To go back

llows, propping him up for

id love you." Hope flickered back to life

e past.I'm happy

him one last time and poured him a

n't ta

you?" He looked up at me, eyes filled with te

y. "Clint is w

was deep a

t. Leaning against the door, he looked like a statue – stil

t his watch. Two

him, breathless and flushed, his fa

ou sweatin

arking lot, it was a mere ten-minut

with one hand on my waist and the othe

rge of collapsing when Clint caught m

ngering sadness of waiting. As he looked at me, all that remained in his eyes wa

atch my breath. The words I wanted to say were on

ently, holding me close. His s

li

was filled wi

m his embrace, steppi

led, as I lifted my f

ars," I said with a smile. "The bear stood before me, offering his

a bouquet of carrots and held them

osed the gap between us, step by ste

his overwhelming tenderness, and in that moment, the starry sky

in

for waitin