From that first reunion with Eline, a few days passed on very quickly. Eline stayed mostly on her bed, even though, she very desires to be out and running from the cotton that has been swallowing her whole almost every second of the day. Owen stays around with us, helping out with the household chores. He was much more diligent than I had thought he would be. I still have no idea why he did what he did when I first met him, but he never told me why and I never asked him why either.

Though a part of me, does wish to know, I know it's better sometimes not knowing of stuff people don't wish to tell you. Even if I can see that he was a good kid, I still keep a close eye on him sometimes. Eline rarely has any expensive items to steal, but it surely wouldn't hurt to be on guard regardless.

Whenever he went out, the kids from before would surround him and play with him. I can see him warming up to them. He would smile and chatters lightly while he lead them to who knows where. Being a kid and having friends, I supposed.

Eline started to grow weaker now. If I thought she was weak before, she was far worse now. Her skin has gradually been painted softly with white paint. Even her beautiful lips, the same ones that I would gaze on with a smile in the past, seem to lose their life. The only light on her can only be found in her eyes, but even that seems to dim little by little with time.

I took her out, in her wheelchair, daily. Just to gaze upon the town and sometimes we even went to visit her garden; the garden that blooms as the symbol of her love for the young me.

She seems happy most of the time. While in terrible pain, it's natural for her to frown and feel upset. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like for her every day. But most of the time, even then, she'd rather strain her expression just to form a smile.

She looked way weaker one particular evening. Sitting on her bed, looking lost in her own head, while her breathing grew shallow each minute.

"Henry," she called, weakly gesturing for me to come over to her bedside. The curve of her lips rises a bit in her attempt to smile the brightest smile that she can muster.

I walked to her slowly before plopping down on a chair beside her. I keep my gaze on her eyes, watching them shine even in her painful expression.

"Thank you for everything, Henry," she suddenly spoke. I was confused at her gratitude for I don't remember what exactly I did for her to deserve it. I didn't question it. I mainly nod in return.

"These past few days, I've been happier than I ever was since that night a decade ago." Her expression turned grim and I could have sworn I can see tears glistering in the brim of her eyes before she turned away from me. Looking out the window instead.

I tried to say something to comfort her but my voice died down because I know that it was all my fault. I made that choice and it hurt her and everyone around me. Before I could even form anything to say in return, she turned back up to me, sniffling.

"That day. I ran around town so much that my leg hurt. I was trying so hard to find you a perfect gift to congratulate you on getting that job." she looked into the distance as if reminiscing the whole day in her eyes. "I got this necklace for you." She showed me a necklace which was on her neck, pushing it to the front so I'd get a better view.

The necklace was a piece of silver jewellery in the shape of a circle, and carved in it was a crescent. Beautiful and simple. She looked up and met my eyes. "Pretty isn't it?"

I nodded, not really knowing what to say to her.

"I was going to give it to you. But then, that happened. That night happened. I was shocked and disappointed that you would bring down your own friend for your own gain. I was shocked and horrified to see you make fun of George in front of your new rich friends, in public, Henry. For all eyes on that path, that night, to see." She looked down as she huffed, pulling at her blanket lightly.

"You look disgusted with him. You called him shabby white trash, in front of those nobles. If I didn't see the whole thing unfold on that street that night, I would have never thought it was true. I keep trying to think that someone else was to blame for days after that. But I know after a week that it was just you. You changed."

Hearing all that, I looked down to the floor for I know I did have not even an excuse to give her. I know it was wrong of me. I know how I shouldn't have done that. I know I should have been more grateful to see that George was still sticking around me even after that.

"But Henry." she started again. "These past few days, you were not that horrible Henry I saw ten years ago. You were the old Henry who I fall for and vowed to marry since we were nine. It was nice to know that part of you is still in you."

Hesitantly, I looked up to see a soft smile graze her face. I couldn't decipher what I'm feeling right now. I was happy and grateful yet at the same time, I was remorseful.

I knew what I did. I know what changed the thing between everyone and me. But still, no one ever tells me directly before. Not even George, my closest childhood friend, who I shove away to impress some rich sons of lords. George, who I pretend wasn't someone that I know.

"Henry, I want to go out there," she remarked, looking out her window. "I want to sit on the log with you," she pleaded. Her voice was desperate, almost as if it was urgent for her to be there now. Her eyes were the same ones that I fall for. The same beautiful one that would make me submit to all her wants. Seeing it again, I can't help but let a painful gasp escape my lips, knowing full well that this might be the last time I could ever gaze into it with it looking back at me.

Without saying anything, I gently reached over and scooped her up from her bed. She leaned against my chest as I quietly began making my way into her backyard garden. When we arrived, I slowly placed her down on the log, as she wishes, before sitting right next to her.

A smile appears on her face as she gazes upon her garden. Her blonde hair sways lightly with every gush of wind. Her hazel eyes twinkle and I swear even in her weak form, she was still the most beautiful person I've ever laid my eyes on.

Slowly she turned to me. A smile was still on her face. "I'm tired," she spoke lightly before resting her head on my shoulder, making me turn away and looked to the front.

"Henry?" she asked, tapping my chest lightly with her frail finger.

"Yes, Eline?"

She made a little movement before thrusting her necklace into my hands, propping me to take it. "It was rightfully yours, Henry," she said again, very lightly.

"The garden..." she trailed off, making me turn slightly to study her feature, still resting on my shoulder. "Will you please promise me that you would take care of it when I'm no longer here?"

Her questions made me choke and I don't know how to reply to her. She was sick and weak but I didn't even want to think about her being gone just yet. I didn't want to be reminded of it.

"Henry," she pushed when she hears no reply from me. "Please promised me that you would look after it..." Her tone was once again desperate and soft and weak.

"Eline, let's not–"

'Henry."

I huffed at her strong determination on the draining topic. I know that she would keep on mentioning it if I didn't reply to her. Turning away from seeing her fiery doe eyes, I nodded. "I will, Eline. I'll take care of it for you."

Softly her finger grazed my cheek and pulled me to look at her. Her eyes were smiling just as sweetly as her lips, "I loved you, Henry. I still do. I always wished that you were my forever," she said before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

Shocked, I didn't dare move. It's been a whole decade since I've felt her touch me and I have forgotten how much I used to love her before. I'd forgotten that the dream of forever together was not only hers but also mine.

Leaning away, she smiled one last time. One last time, before she suddenly collapsed, down to the ground. Her eyes rolled to her back and I was so lost in my own mind that when I finally got hold of myself, I rushed to her. Shaking her. Urging her to wake up.

Tears glisten in my eyes. Falling down harshly as I kept calling out for her name to come back to me. To fulfil our promise together.

"Eline... Eline, please! Wake up! We promised to die old together! Eline!" I tried and tried. But it was all in vain. Her body has now gone cold, her breathing stopped and no sign of life can still be found in her.

Crying my eyes out, I pulled her figure close to me, rubbing my cheeks on her. "I love you too, Eline... More than I ever loved anyone else in my life..."

There was never another after you.