The Fading Moon Chapter 24: The Night of Falling Stars

Read chapter 24 of The Fading Moon by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

The photograph stayed on Mike's camera screen for the entire journey back to the hospital. He couldn't stop looking at it. Every few minutes he would glance down at the image again. Jessika standing beneath a storm of cherry blossom petals. The sunset behind her. The wind moving through her hair. The smile on her face. It was perfect. Not because the lighting was perfect. Not because the angle was perfect. But because it captured a moment that could never happen again. A moment frozen forever. A moment he never wanted to lose. Jessika noticed him staring at the camera. "You've looked at that picture at least twenty times." Mike smiled. "Twenty-five." "That's unhealthy." "I disagree." She laughed softly and leaned against the car window. The exhaustion from their trip was finally catching up with her. Even smiling seemed to require effort now. Mike noticed. He always noticed. The way her breathing became slightly heavier. The way her movements slowed. The way her hands occasionally trembled. These were things other people might miss. But not him. Never him. Because he had spent months memorizing every detail about her. Every habit. Every expression. Every smile. Every weakness. Every strength. Everything. And lately, he hated how many new weaknesses he was noticing. By the time they reached the hospital, Jessika could barely walk without assistance. She still tried. Of course she did. She always tried. But Mike could see how exhausted she was. When they finally reached her room, she practically collapsed onto the bed. "Okay." She sighed dramatically. "I admit it." Mike raised an eyebrow. "Admit what?" "I'm tired." "You climbed hills for three hours." "I regret nothing." Mike laughed. "Of course you don't." Jessika smiled. Then closed her eyes. For a few moments neither spoke. The room was quiet. Peaceful. The golden light of sunset slowly faded outside the window. Night gradually replaced it. And for a while, everything felt calm. Then Jessika suddenly opened one eye. "Mike." "Hm?" "I have a question." "That sounds dangerous." "It is." He sighed. "Go ahead." Jessika smiled. "If you could relive one day from our entire relationship, which one would it be?" The question caught him off guard. He thought about it carefully. There were so many possibilities. The ocean trip. Mount Fuji. Their first snowfall. Their first date. The day she said yes. The day they watched the moon together. The cherry blossoms. Too many memories. Too many beautiful moments. Eventually he smiled. "Our first meeting." Jessika blinked. "Seriously?" "Yeah." "Not the confession?" "No." "Not the ocean?" "No." She looked genuinely confused. "Why?" Mike stared out the window. Because the answer was simple. "If I relived our first meeting..." He looked at her. "I'd get to meet you all over again." For several seconds Jessika didn't say anything. Then her eyes began to water. And she quickly looked away. "That was unfair." "What was?" "Being romantic." Mike laughed. "You asked." The room slowly darkened as night settled over Tokyo. Outside, city lights illuminated the streets. Cars moved like glowing rivers below. The moon appeared above the skyline. Bright. Silent. Watching. Just as it always had. Around nine o'clock, a nurse entered the room. She checked Jessika's vitals. Adjusted some medication. Then smiled. "You should both look outside tonight." Jessika tilted her head. "Why?" The nurse grinned. "Meteor shower." Then she left. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Jessika immediately sat upright. "A meteor shower?" Mike sighed. The excitement in her eyes had already returned. "Here we go." "We have to watch it." "It's late." "We have to watch it." "You need rest." "We have to watch it." Mike already knew he had lost. An hour later they found themselves on the hospital rooftop again. Wrapped in blankets. Sitting side by side. The air was cool but comfortable. Spring had fully arrived. The harsh cold of winter was gone. Above them stretched a sky filled wi