As she came out to look at the starry sky this night, she knew it was the last time. Sitting on a wheelchair for 6 months now has been tough. But when you can't walk, what do you do? Her frail hands grasped his. Lucas squeezed it. He was focusing an intense gaze on her while she kept looking up. If she was going to leave this world, then she should go with the best images on her mind.

"I dont know what you see in these stars but I love looking at you while you do it", his eyes were teary.

"I see love. I see life. I see you up there", She turned to look at him. She noticed his mood but continued talking anyway. "I want you to know that no matter what happens I will always be with you".

"Oh thats all so consoling", Lucas struggled to hold back but a drop of liquid anguish slipped down his face.

"I mean every word I say Luke. I have a serious conviction that my life is going to be beyond this place". She held his hand tighter but her grip was getting weaker by the minute.

Oh! What a rollercoaster love ride it has been for Angelie and Lucas.

A year ago, they were just strangers until they met by some strings of fate. Lucas had just finished college two months ago and had to move back to Pennysilvania in his parent's home. He hated it here. He says it reminded him too much of the things he wished to forget. His first girlfriend eloped with his bestfriend here in this city. His dad had a heart attack on the day he graduated. He had no will so it was hard for the mum to recover his business. Things spiralled down so fast for Lucas.

Meanwhile, he was looking for a job.

Many of the companies where he applied turned him down in no easy way because of his father. You see, they all hated his dad not because he did anything wrongly, or that he was a bully or that he didn't care or that he was a snub. Well he was all those things but they hated him because he was excellent. He beat all his competitors in the Advertising business and became the "Giant of Pennsylvania". "Giants Inc." did very well but the man got worse and worse. He had failed as a father to Luke and as a husband to Luke's mum. "Now he had to fail again even in death?" Luke pondered endlessly.

So it was this process that made him start looking at his forgotten skill.

Luke can paint a portrait of anyone in a hyper-realistic manner. He was that good. But his father had to force him to study Business Management. Says it will be good for Giant Inc. This particular day, he went into his old art gallery and began to relive the old times. There was portraits of all his friends and everyone from his old school. There was portrait of mum and there was his father's own. It was meant as a gift to him on his 50th birthday. But he never reached that age because he died at 49.

Luke had this thing for painting anyone he likes.

So naturally, his gallery was full of mostly girls and few guys. Only his best friend at the time Mark knew that he had a stash of 'illegal drawings of pretty girls' as Mark called it. He decided to go to everyone he has ever sketched. Perhaps they could buy these at expensive rates. He really needed the funds to help mum. So he was in the house of the first girl Kayla. That was where everything changed.

He pressed the door bell quickly.

He paused for a response but none came. Was about to press it again when a pretty blond with blue eyes opened the door. She was tall, had a ponytail and wide starry eyes. He explained his mission. Kayla wasn't around, she said but he could wait for her. He couldn't help but notice the smile. She was friendly.

"What can I offer you?"

"Water will do. Hey are you Kayla's sister? You both have the same look. I couldn't miss it."

"Yes!" She smiled again. Her eyes twinkled. "Except the blond hair".

"Did Kayla change her hair colour?" I querried. I had known her to be blonde.

"Yeah. She's actually not blonde by birth. I'm the blonde one", she laughed. She had this very positive energy that pulled Luke in.

"Then this art is actually for you!" Luke quickly unwrapped the package. "Here. You have it".

"WOW! This is so beautiful." She smiled and her googly eyes enlarged out of excitement.

"What can I pay you for this?". She looked up at Luke.

"You can keep it." He paused for effect. "All you have to do is take me to lunch" he quickly added

"Lunch it is then, my name is Angelie. You are?"

"LUCAS. Oh such a bad manner. I ought to have done that at the door." he smiled. They both smiled.

That was the beginning of so many other lunches.

Soon lunch turned to dinner and sleepovers and they became a couple. They moved in together. Inseparable. Angelie was an art curator so she was able to convince Lucas to diversify his talent. It wasn't just about portraits anymore but about artistic artworks. "Your emotions need to be involved for others to feel it too". Soon they started pitching his art to major companies. Was it a success? Yes! It was. He was the artiste and she was the marketer. Money was flowing and mum was happy again.

Its been 6 months since they met.

Everything seemed normal until Angelie had her first faint during a meeting with a major company. Albeit one they have been pursuing for months. At the hospital, she was said to be in coma. Later awoke after almost 12hrs to look into Luke's sad face. Since then till now, the gloom has remained.

"Hey Angelie. Its time to go back inside". Nurse Fihda a young black lady called out from the entrance of 'Healthy & Strong Hospital.'

"Lets go in baby". Luke went to the back of the wheel chair to move her inside.

"I will miss these stars. I will miss you Luke".

"Stop talking like that. We are still here together".

So they went back inside. Soon she slept. Luke strolled to catch some fresh air and clear his head. It had become his nightly ritual since this. He looked up. That's when he saw it. A red-tailed comet zoomed across the night sky. It was pretty fast. In seconds, it was out of sight. Wow! He was happy in that moment. "I wish she could have seen this", he thought. He went over all the beautiful experiences he has had with Angie. For those few months of happiness, he had forgotten all the troubles that plagued him. His heartbreak. His father. His joblessness. He now had a job- her. He now has everything- her.

He recalled the meeting with the doctor after the first of many fainting spells.

"Your test result have given us a conclusive evidence to believe that you have cervical cancer. We have tested and retested you. Multiple expert's opinions have been sought and all seem to agree with this diagnosis. I'm sorry Miss Angelie Brown."

"There must be some error somewhere", Luke immediately interrupted.

"How long do I have?" She asked bravely.

"With application of the best practices available, you have maybe 4-6 months. I'm sorry your cancer has already advanced". Doctor Kings adjusted his glasses. He tried to appear apathetic but even he was shaken by the news of a 27year old lady having to die of cancer. "Please take this as an opportunity to put your house in order".

"Oh God. I can't believe that there's nothing we can do doc." Luke looked at the doctor almost with aggression. Anger. Depression.

Luke was jolted back to consciousness by his ringtone. It was playing Angie's favourite song. Infact, it was their song. 'Who will be calling me by 1 am?' He dipped his hand into his pocket to see it was Nurse Fihda.

"Please you need to get here now. Something important just came up." Phone went dead.

He raced into the wards to Angie's lifeless body on the bed. The ECG monitor looked flat. No beeps.

"Oh my God! Angie! Angie!! Angie please don't do this!!!", he could still feel her warmth. She just passed this minute.

"She's gone to a better place Luke", the nurse helped him up and took him out.

Mark came over to help console him as Angie's lifeless body was being rolled to the morgue.

THE END

See Original contest link here: https://steemit.com/marveloustales/@playfulfoodie/marvelous-tales-contest-19-announcing-winners-and-the-next-contest