The Wrong Number Of Love

The day dawned pale and cold, the winter sun barely cresting the horizon. Luna sat by Liam's bedside, her hand resting lightly over his, as though she could keep him tethered to the world just by holding on. His breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling in uneven rhythms, but his face was calm, serene even, as if he had made peace with the inevitable.

The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the machines monitoring Liam's fragile heartbeat. Luna had asked the nurses to leave them alone for a while. She played there favourite song; A Thousand Years. This moment wasn't for anyone else—just the two of them.

"Liam," she whispered, leaning closer. Her voice trembled, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not yet. "You promised me one more laugh. You're not allowed to go without giving me that."

Liam's lips curled into a faint smile, though his eyes remained closed. "What… joke do you want?" His voice was barely a rasp, but it was enough to break Luna's heart.

"Anything," she said, squeezing his hand. "I don't care, just make it terrible."

Liam took a shallow breath, his smile growing. "Why… don't skeletons fight… each other?"

Luna blinked, surprised by his effort, and leaned in closer. "Why?"

"Because… they don't have the guts."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Luna let out a choked laugh, the sound half-sob and half-giggle. "That's awful," she said, wiping her cheeks. "But I'll take it."

Liam opened his eyes slightly, the blue of them dim but still warm. "Told you… I'd keep my promises."

Luna's throat tightened as she cupped his cheek. "You've kept all of them. Every single one."

The minutes stretched on, each one feeling like a lifetime and a heartbeat all at once. They talked about the silly things—bad karaoke songs, their disastrous attempt at building a snowman, the ice-cold lake they had jumped into. And then, the deeper things.

"Luna," Liam murmured, his voice barely audible now.

"I'm here," she said quickly, leaning closer.

"Thank you… for making… this worth it."

Her heart shattered at his words, but she managed a smile. "You made my life worth it too, Liam. Don't ever think otherwise."

His breathing grew slower, and the pauses between each breath stretched longer. Luna rested her forehead against his, whispering to him softly.

"It's okay," she said, though the words felt like knives in her throat. "If you need to go, it's okay. I'll be fine. I promise."

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks now, but she didn't move away. She stayed with him, holding his hand, until his breathing stopped and the world grew still.

For a moment, there was only silence. Luna sat frozen, her mind reeling, her heart breaking into pieces she wasn't sure could ever be mended.

Then she pressed a gentle kiss to Liam's forehead and whispered, "I love you. Always."

I

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Zee arrived at the hospice later, wrapping Luna in a wordless embrace. They cried together, mourning the loss of a man who had been so much more than a friend, a lover, or a dreamer. Liam had been a force of nature, and now the world felt dimmer without him.

Luna left the hospice that evening with Liam's notebook clutched tightly to her chest. The northern lights were faint on the horizon, and for the first time, she looked at them without him by her side.

"Don't let the light fade," she whispered, hearing his voice in her mind.

And she knew she wouldn't.