Chapter 4: The Final Breath
The night stretched on, an agonizing suspended reality. Arthur sat by the bed, holding Elena's fragile hand in one of his, and Mia's tiny hand in the other. He told Elena about the years she missed, stripping away the glamour of his magazine covers to reveal the hollow loneliness he had felt every day since she left.
Elena listened, her eyes filled with a tragic peace. ""She’s a good girl, Arthur. She’s brave. Like you.""
""She's ours,"" Arthur choked out. ""I will take care of her. I swear it on my life, Elena. She will never want for anything. She will be loved.""
Elena smiled, a beautiful, heartbreaking curve of her lips. She looked at Mia, who was sleeping with her head resting on Arthur's knee. ""My beautiful Mia,"" she whispered. Then, she looked at Arthur. ""Thank you for coming. I can finally rest.""
The monitor’s beeping slowed. The intervals grew longer. Arthur kissed her forehead, whispering words of love, of forgiveness, of broken promises. As the sun began to peek through the blinds, casting a golden hue across the room, the monitor let out a long, continuous tone. Elena was gone.
May you like
