Cole held her hand against his cheek. It was cold, lifeless–devoid of even <b>the </b>faintest warmth. He and Alessia had both tried, again and again, to warm <b>Jade’s </b>hand with their own, desperate to bring somefort, but it was no use<b>. </b>


    Jade looked at her son. She knew how much Cole had endured these past two years. He never told her the worst of it, always choosing to share only the good things, but she understood it all. Sixteen years old, thrust into chaos overnight, suddenly responsible not just for himself, but for an entirepany…


    Despite everything that had happened, her son neverined, never gave in to despair. He simply pressed forward, doing everything he could to keep life moving. She was proud of him–so very proud.


    “My Cole<b>,” </b>she whispered, voice trembling with love, “you’re incredible. I’m so proud of you. So, so proud.”


    Cole’s answer came out choked and small, full of all the pain he’d been carrying. “Yeah.”


    “Alessia’s a good girl. Take care of her, will you<b>? </b>You’ve already done so much, but you don’t have to bear all the weight yourself. The inheritance your father and I left will take care of both of you. Just… don’t be so hard on yourself. I love you, sweetheart–so much. I never med you, not once…”


    Jade’s breathing grew quicker. Cole nodded, tears slipping between their entwined fingers.


    The machines started to beep, sharp and insistent. Cole clung to Jade’s hand, desperate.


    “Mom… please, just stay with me a little longer. Mom…” His voice broke, and he sobbed like a lost child.


    He shook his head wildly, tears blurring his vision until he could only just make out Jade’s faint smile, her unwavering gaze locked on him.


    “Your father and I love you–so much. You and Alessia… take care of each other, okay?”


    For two years, Jade had listened as her children told her about their lives, about school, about their worries and little triumphs. She knew, deep down, that event without her, they would find a way to be all right.


    She had watched them grow up. No one in the world could love them more than


    <b>11:42 </b>


    she <b>did</b>.


    The storm would pass <b>soon</b>. <b>Even </b>In a world without their <b>parents</b>, as <b>long </b>as the had each other, there was no sorrow that wouldn’t fade, no obstacle they <b>couldn’t </b>


    ovee.


    So, please, <b>she </b>prayed silently, let all the love and warmth in this world gather around my children.


    The monitors screamed. Jade’s eyes fluttered closed, a single tear slipping down her cheek, soaking into the pillow.


    The voices of Xander, Alessia, and Cole faded, growing distant.


    She stood at the edge of a bridge, a circle of light shrinking around her, but she felt no fear.


    Jade reached for the hand waiting beside her. “Sorry to keep you waiting<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    “For you, I could wait forever.”


    She nced back, reluctant to leave the fading light. “The kids… they’re hurting so


    much.”


    “They’ll be all right. You raised them well.”


    Jade turned away as thest trace of light vanished.


    After two long years, she was finally reunited with her beloved, hand in hand on the road that was meant for them–a road she would never look back from again..


    Everyone has their own journey. Theirs had reached its end, but they would be the stars, watching over their children, guiding them as they traveled the long road


    called life.


    On the monitor, the wavering line ttened. Xander, fighting back his grief, pried Jade’s hand from Cole’s, removed the IV, and gently pulled a white sheet over her.


    Cole didn’t resist. He sat there, frozen, empty.


    Alessia let out a shaky breath and wiped at her face with the sleeve of her sweater.


    She crossed the room and put a gentle hand on Cole’s shoulder.


    “Lessie… what do we do now? Dad took Mom with him, too…”