The Stars that Shines upon Us

"I found you." Theodore whispered, as he moved nearer to the lady sitting alone on the grass.

"Izzy?" Isabelle was startled from her ponder, before letting out a sigh of relief when she realized that it was just Theodore.

"Hey."

Theodore took a seat beside her, setting down the bag of food he brought along. "What were you doing?"

"Nothing. Just, looking at the stars, you know. The stars, and the night sky always helped me to calm down."

"It's been a hard day. You're doing okay?"

"Well--" she hesitated, "Not really okay, but I'm fine. I'm more worried about Jared right now." she laughed dryly.

"I'm sure Jared will be fine. He's a tough guy." Theodore said, his right hand reaching out and resting on Isabelle's shoulder. He gave a little squeeze, before removing it and rummaging through the bag.

"You need something to eat. You haven't been eating." he stated, handing Isabelle a chocolate bun and an energy drink.

"Theo, it's alright. I'm not even hungry."

"Izzy, please, take it." he insisted, not taking his hand away when Isabelle took time to receive the things.

"Thank you, Theo." she uttered, opening the bun's packaging and shoving it down her mouth. Theodore unknowingly chuckled before eating his own pizza-flavoured bread that he bought along.

Isabelle was chugging her energy drink before remembering back that Theodore was there with her. "I'm sorry, that was embarrassing." she smiled lightly and Theodore felt a sense of winning, seeing the smile after a few days of tear-streaked faces and frowns.

"Hey Izzy." she hummed in reply. "How much do you love my brother?"

She turned her head towards him, before taking another sip of the beverage. "Jared, we both have our strengths and weaknesses. His compliments mine, and that's what made me love him so much."

Theodore hummed, looking up to the beautiful night sky. "Even though he's really sick?"

"I don't care about the fact that he's sick, Theo. I don't mind at all. I'm just, so afraid of losing him you know."

He was about to ask another question when his phone vibrated. It was his mother. "Yeah Mom? Really? Sure, we're gonna head back now."

"What's up?" she asked.

"Jared is awake and he's requesting to see us, well, mainly you. So let's go." he stood up, Isabelle following him. At the corner of his eyes, he saw how Isabelle's eyes lit up with hope.

When they walked inside the hospital room, the doctor and a few nurses were about to leave after checking Jared up. Isabelle made her way straight to his bedside, and no one was in her way.

"Jared." she trembled, sitting on the chair next to the bed.

"Izzy." Jared reached out to her cheek, and Isabelle gladly held the hand gently, leaning into the touch.

A smile appeared on both of their faces, so glad to be in each other's presence once again.

***

Jared's parents were about to leave, considering Jared was in good hands and it was getting pretty late into the night.

"Isabelle, honey, call us if something happened, yeah?" Jared's mother advised, giving her a tight hug.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Isabelle said, hugging back before eyeing Jared who was smiling towards his parents.

"Hey Theo, you're not coming with us?" His father questioned but Theodore just shrugged.

"I thought I'll keep them company, you know. To make sure nothing shady happens." he teased, wiggling his eyebrows and taking out his tongue towards Jared, who responded with the same action.

"You boys are silly." Their mother laughed, before grabbing her husband's arm and led him to the door.

"Good bye, rest well, especially you, Isabelle." Their father added, before walking out the door.

"Yes, Mr Anderson." she replied.

"Did they leave?" Jared asked, looking around before letting out a huge breath. He then tried to muster up enough strength to sit up by himself.

"Hey, stay down. You just woke up from a freaking coma." Isabelle scolded, rushing towards him. Jared let out a loud laugh.

"I'm fine! I swear I'm fine. It's the third time anyway!"

"You're talking as if it's a normal thing." she said, smiling sadly.

"I mean, it's pretty normal to me." he replied, making it sound like he's fine, when he's actually not.

"How are you feeling?"

"I told you, I'm fine!"

"Yeah? You sure don't look fine."

"Well, I'll be fine! Tumors removed right?" he beamed, pointing at his head.

"Of course it's removed. Let's hope it stays that way this time." Isabelle smiled back at him.

"Yeah, I love you, Izzy."

"Love you too, Jared." she chuckled, grabbing his hand and gave a peck to the top of it.

Theodore just watched the exchange of the two. The room radiated love, and it simultaneously made him feel better and worse at the same time. He was looking at his phone, sitting at the corner of the quiet hospital room as both of them were asleep, but he wasn't really seeing anything.

Alright, maybe he's a bit in love with Isabelle. Maybe.

But he would never take her away from Jared. Not his brother.

Jared was awake a few times through the night, and Isabelle was there by his side, calming him down and helping him to some water.

***

All seemed well for a few days for Jared.

Until everything went downhill.

Jared became unresponsive one morning, the night when it was Isabelle and Theodore's turn to look over him.

To say they were panicked was an understatement. He was doing so well, even doctors couldn't expect it.

Isabelle and Theodore were pushed out of the room when the doctors and nurses arrived. They couldn't say anything. They just sat outside the door, sometimes pacing around in concern, as Mr and Mrs Anderson made their way over.

They managed to save him for a little bit, putting him in an induced coma. They had to break the news, that there's more than 50 percent that Jared wouldn't wake up, which was devastating news for every single one of them. But they didn't stop praying for him to get better. Isabelle never left his side, sometimes forgetting care for herself. Never stopped talking to him either, talking as if he would reply.

'People in the comatose state could listen', that was her reason. Theodore had to tell her that Jared would've wanted her to take care of herself for her to move from her seat next to his bed.

He fought hard, they could see his effort to wake up, but he lost. He breathed his last breath the third night after he was induced.

They lost him. They lost Jared Anderson.

Isabelle was there. She was there when the vitals became one line. She expected it, but it still hurts.

She managed to kiss his forehead goodbye. "Rest well. We'll meet again." she muttered.

They buried him not too long after that and ever since then, life became quite empty for all of them. Isabelle couldn't even go to the Anderson's for a week, despite them insisting for her to do so, so that they could deal with their sorrow together.

Theodore found her at the park one night, sitting down on a blanket alone, hugging her knees. She was looking up, and her eyes were glassy under the shine of moonlight.

"Izzy." he called out, walking over towards her.

"Hey Theo. Come and sit with me."

It took Theodore thirty seconds to recognize what was in Isabelle's hold. It was a shirt, specifically Jared's.

"How've you been?" he started, taking a seat.

"Better, now that I accepted the fact." It was silent, but it was a comfortable silence. "You know, I still can't believe it, Jared's the love of my life, and I lost him." There's a slight shake to her voice but Theodore thought nothing of it.

"But it's okay. He's always here. Up there." she stated, leaned back and looking up towards the night sky, shining bright with stars.

"I bet he's watching us from up there." Theodore said, moving his head upwards to also look at the stars.

"He's surely peaceful. Nothing could bother him anymore. I'm gonna be able to move on now, because I know he's always up there, and always gonna be there." Isabelle choked out, letting the tears wetted her cheeks as she made no effort to wipe it.

Theodore couldn't do anything but squeezed her shoulder with his left hand, sighing when hers went to squeeze his hand back.

They'll be alright. As long as the stars keep shining upon them, everything will be fine.