The End..
The next morning we decided to sleep in a little and baked in the evening. We decided to make a variety of pastries like doughnuts , cookies and cupcakes. James was mixing the batter and I was making the icing for the cupcakes. James then poked his finger in the icing and rubbed it on my face. I did the same to him, and we just laughed. Soon we finished the mixing and put the pastries in the oven. We sat at the table and I looked at my phone, scrolling through some TikTok's. "Hey, do you know why I falled for you?" I looked up from my phone. "Hm, why did you?" "When I first met you I thought you were clumsy." "Oh..?" "You were always positive and even though you seem fun, you were actually mature when I got to know you better, you're also funny and caring. That's why I falled for you." "I didn't even realise I was like that until you told me." "That's why I also think you should publish your story."
He then pulled out something from behind him and it was an old book, where I kept all my stories I wrote in high school. "Where did you find that? I thought I lost it." "You did, but I found it." I looked at the book as I remembered how much time I spent writing it. "No, I just wrote that for fun, I never planned on publishing it." "Why not? Imagine how much people would read your story." "Have you read it yet?" "No, I want to read it when you publish it, I'll be your first reader, but I read some of the short stories and it's really intriguing." "You know my story is about us." "Even better." "That means I haven't finished our story yet and plus would people even be interested in our love story?" "I don't care if people are interested or not, I'm just happy that we are able to share our love to the world. So continue writing when you have time, take it as my wish." I thought about it, if it was James' wish I couldn't just ignore it, plus he took a bullet for me.
"Okay, I'll try to continue our story when I have time." "That's why you are my only and favourite princess." He smiled. I looked away because I got all shy again. Just after 15 minutes the Cupcakes and Cookies were ready, we decided to fry the doughnuts after because there was already a lot of pastries. James got out the cupcakes and cookies, he then broke off a piece of cookies and fed me it. My eyes widened and I gave him a nod which meant they were really delicious. He laughed and I broke off a piece for him too, he also nodded.
We sat down and made some hot chocolate too, to make a perfect combination.
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Today I just felt like staying home from the past two days of activities, but James told me he got a surprise for me. He blind folded me as he drove us somewhere. It felt like 20 minutes had passed before we arrived. He helped me out of the car and unblindfolded me. We were at the big park with the lake we used to go to a lot back in high school. "I can't remember the last time I've been here." "Celine, today I want to go everywhere we've been to." We walked around a bit before we went to the next destination, which was the bookstore. I couldn't believe this place still existed, it was still empty as always. It was only us and the librarian there, we looked around and I saw the book I first borrowed from here 'First Love' , also when I first met Leon.
Our last destination was the museum, where our first date was. The museum changed a little, the place was more spacious and lots more paintings were there. While we explored around, the whole way, I tried looking for the painting that reminded me of us, but there was no luck, just as we were getting ready to leave I saw on the number one most successful painting shelf was the painting 'My Complete Heart'. I checked my phone photo 3 years ago to make sure it's the exact painting. "Celine, isn't that the exact painting we saw 3 years ago?" "Yeah, it is." I snapped a photo of it and we left. For our last stop we decided to visit my mum while we're in town. My mum was happy when she saw us and welcomed us in. I was happy seeing my mum, but I was more happy when I saw Astra. My cat lived with my mum because I thought my mum would be lonely when Mark was gone for work.
We stayed for dinner and caught up on what had been happening lately. After dinner my mum insisted we stayed the night, but I told her I had work tomorrow, so we said our goodbyes and left. On our drive home, it was mostly quiet, I rolled down my window and looked at our surroundings. I was really happy when James took me to the places that hold our memories. Turns out that's all I needed all this time, "James, isn't tonight pretty?" He looked at the sky. "Yeah, it's nice."
The next day, James had his second visit to the doctor. Although I didn't want to miss another of his doctor visits, I didn't have a choice. I already took three days off of work. I dropped James off at the hospital on my way to work, James stayed in the car a little longer though. "Hey we're here, you know I can't go in with you today." "I know, but I just want to stay a little longer with you, please." I just stayed silent and waited with him in the car until he was ready to go. "I'll go now." He kissed me and left the car. "If you need someone to pick you up after, just call the café, and I could take my break early and pick you up." He waved at me as I started driving away and waved back at him.
I usually left my phone in my bag at the back, so whenever I got calls or text messages, I could only check them during break. Today we weren't as busy, so we stood around most of the time chatting. Hailey and I were talking, then I remembered about James' appointment. "Hey Hailey, I got to check my phone really quick." "Okay." I went to the back and got my phone out of my bag, James hasn't texted me yet, did he have someone else to pick him up or is he still at the hospital. I didn't worry much though because I knew James could get home safely himself. I placed my phone back in my bag and went back out to the front.
More customers came in. My shift ended around the afternoon, I said bye to everybody before hopping into my car and driving home. Just then I got a call from my mum, I picked it up and quickly rushed to the hospital. I couldn't help but cry on my way there. Something inside of me hoped my mum was just joking and told me it wasn't true. Once I got there, I quickly rushed to the room. There James was laying on the bed. "Tell me he's just sleeping." "Celina, I'm sorry honey. But he's-" My mum paused. I didn't want to say it but, "He's…gone?" I turned back to James and tears came rolling down my face, I had no more words left to say, I wanted to tell them to stop lying, I wanted to tell James to wake up. He left me a note.
I couldn't let him go, not now. We haven't even bought our new home and gotten married yet…..
1 Week Later..
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Today was James' funeral. When I entered the room I saw Stella and Leon. I couldn't help but cry when I saw them, Stella hugged me as I cried on her shoulder. "Thank you for attending my son's funeral, this was all unexpected as he was doing so well in these couple of days. James was a great, kind-hearted person. It's unfortunate something tragic could happen to him, we hope he can rest in peace up there and live a happy life for him, thank you." After James' dad's speech, people took turns to bow to James and place a white rose on the table in front of his picture. Soon I was the last one left, I got up and bowed to him and took a flower and placed it down. I just sat there and stared at his picture. I stayed there until nearly everybody left. "Celina, we'll get going now." Stella told me as she left with Leon. Now I'm all alone with James, I didn't want to leave until my mum forced me to go home.
Even at home, all I wanted to do was stay in my bed and cry. I moved back to my mum's place for a while, since she insisted. I also quit my job at the café, I knew I would probably regret it after, but I couldn't stand myself to work right now. A couple days later my mum told me I had visitors, it was my Hailey and my other co-workers. They bought me some pastries from the café and my last paycheck. "Hi Celina, I know you're not okay, but I hope you'll find your way back in life again. I know you probably don't really feel like talking to me right now, but I hope you know, I'm always here for you if you need me." I was touched by Hailey's words. I've been working with her for two years and she never let me down. She always found ways to comfort me.
I'm always so grateful for her, "No Hailey, please stay, what I really need right now is for someone to talk and listen to me." I opened my bedroom door and let Hailey in. "So is there any way I could help you get over this." "I don't want to ever get over his death, I don't why, I don't know why he had to go." "You don't have to get over him if you don't want to, but it's best for you and everybody that you move on someday." "I know Hailey, I really do." "Let me help you Celina." "I think I'll get over it by myself, but thanks for the talk." "Of course, call me when you need me." We talked a little more before Celina and the others had to leave.
I didn't know how I was going to get over him, but for now, I don't want to forget him…
3 Years Later..
There again, three years passed. I still couldn't get over James, but I found a new job at a library. I haven't dated anyone since his death, so I sold my apartment and bought a smaller place. I've always wondered why I needed such a big apartment. I found peace in the world, but I was still unhappy. A big part of my heart is missing, it's long gone, I would never find it ever again. James last wish was for me to finish my story, I finished it and published it.
It was winter and it had just started to snow. I was walking along a bridge in the early morning, there were barely any people around. I was wearing the necklace James gave me for my 18th birthday. I stopped by the railing, I don't where I'm supposed to be in the world anymore, no matter what I do, I'm still unhappy, I know I'm selfish. But there's nothing else for me to do in this world. Memories flashed past me, when I baked with James, when we first met, our first date and when we visited our old hometown, as I was falling to where I'll finally be happy. In the end, it wasn't our universe that tears us apart, it was our love.