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ISABELLA

"Wait, when did he leave for Philly?" Jasper questions as we sit in the booth of Rosie's.

After we got off the phone last night, I had a meltdown. To be completely honest, I'm not sure why. There could be many reasons: me being upset over his loss, me not being able to console him, or the memories of my father's passing.

I cleaned up the glass in his foyer, made his bed, then left. I didn't want him to have to deal with cleaning if he came back soon.

"He must've left right after I left his apartment," I sigh, finishing the remnants in my cup.

Jasper looks at Addy for a quick second, then back at me. "Have you heard any more news?"

I shake my head. "No, I figured when he's ready to talk, he'll tell me what's going on." I let a faint smile form on my lips.

Addy reaches across the table and grabs my hand. "How are you doing?"

"I'm not sure how to feel about it. I didn't know her, but I knew Miles loved her," I answer, pushing my empty cup around. I wish I knew what was going on so I could help somehow. I hate sitting here and not doing anything.

When we get back to our apartment, Addy says, "Call me if you need anything, I'll be at the library."

"I will," I say as she shuts our apartment door. Once I'm alone, I walk down the hall into my bathroom where I have the tub filling. These last couple of days have felt like a blur, so much has happened. The gala, the rooftop, Miles' mother...

Now, I'm trying to wrack my brain around everything.

I sink into the warm water and feel the tension leave my body. The heat makes me sleepy, and soon enough I feel myself drifting off.

"Daddy, daddy, look what I learned!" I shout, tugging the bottom of my daddy's black shirt. He's working right now. He's building Sierra and me a dollhouse.

He leans down and kisses my head. "Hold on sweet pea, I'm almost done."

I skip back to the enormous piano that my mommy and daddy bought last year and climb onto the seat. I play the song I'm going to show my dad.

"Okay, ready when you are, Miss Izzy." He nods his head, taking a seat on the bench beside me. I hum out loud as I hit the white and black keys.

"Was that hot cross buns? That's impressive." He claps his hands together as I giggle.

"Hey sorry to interrupt the piano recital which sounded great baby girl," Mom interrupts, standing in the doorway. "But daddy has to take his medicine."

"I'll be right back, sweet pea." He kisses my head again and stands ups.

Every day daddy has to take his medicine because he's sick. He told me that the big pills will help him feel better. I don't like when he feels sick because we have to go to the giant building that smells funny.

I jolt up when I hear a knocking at my door. The water sways back and forth as I hastily climb out, throwing my robe on. "Just a minute!" I shout, needing to put something appropriate on.

When I'm dressed, I dash to the door, and my breathing hitches when I open it. "Miles."

He is staring at his feet; his hands hang at his sides. When his name leaves my lips, he looks up at me earnestly. He looks so hollow. His cheeks are sunken in, and he has dark bags under his eyes. That's not all, he is also as pale as a ghost.

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to keep my emotions under control as my heart shatters into a million pieces.

"Hey," I say, slowly reaching upwards but contemplating whether or not to touch him.

"Hi," he replies, looking me in the eye. Without thinking, I extend my hand out the rest of the way and cup his cold cheek. He closes his eyes at my touch, letting out a sigh.

I usher him inside and perch ourselves on the couch.

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

"Do not apologize. You have nothing to apologize for."

He looks up at me once more, causing a chill to run down my spine. "Millie's gone."

Woah, wait, what?

"Millie?" I mutter in disbelief. Did I hear him right? The Millie I met at the Gala? Mrs. Landon?

"Yes," he says. "And my mom."

"How?"

"A car accident." He stares at his feet. We sit there in silence while I try to process what has happened. I thought it was his mother that had passed, but both Millie and his mother are gone. Both of his motherly figures, taken from him at the same time without warning.

He releases a scant breath and presses his palms to his eyes. His body shakes as tears spill out of him. "They're both gone, Bell. I didn't get to say goodbye."

Without hesitation, I move as close to him as I can, pulling his body into mine. He doesn't fight it. Instead, he relaxes into me, releasing all of his pent-up tears.

For a moment I let him cry and keep quiet. It isn't until he calms down when I delve into my advice. "I'm not going to tell you it's okay because even if I do, you won't feel alright. It will hurt for a while, but that's the beautiful thing about being human... we can feel emotion. And right now, you are going to feel it all."

He continues crying softly.

"I've been where you are." I gently run my fingers through his hair. "Just know that it will eventually get better. When I lost my dad, I thought my life was over. I thought about how he would never get to walk me down the aisle, how I would never get the joy of telling him he would be a grandfather, or how he would never see me go off to college. But the day I started healing was the day I stopped thinking about the things we will never get to do. Instead, I started thinking about all the wonderful things we did."

"I feel like I didn't spend enough time with them." He chokes.

"Hey, they're still here. Maybe not physically, but mentally and spiritually. They will still help you every step of the way and watch you grow, I promise you. Just cherish all the memories you have with them."

He lets out a long breath, taking in everything I said. "I love you, Bell," he says into my lap, and I freeze.

Those three words frighten and ignite me all at once. Miles Cunningham loves me. I'm not sure why I didn't expect him to say it so soon. I can't tell if he said it because he is vulnerable right now, or if because he truly means it.

I continue caressing his back. "I love you too, Miles."

My beautiful, broken boy.

Miles passed out cold in my bed. I don't blame him. He probably hasn't slept well lately. After our talk, I had made him a cup of tea and we sat in silence. Then he kind of just curled up under the covers and fell asleep, with no more tears, thankfully. It was too painful to watch him cry.

Now, I'm sitting in my comfy chair beside the bed reading Tess of the D'urbervilles. I have to go to work soon and I'm not sure if I should leave Miles here alone. Should I wake him up? Or let him sleep? I think the least I can do is tell him I have to go.

So, I set my book down and crawl up beside him. "Hey Miles, I have to go to work," I whisper as softly as I can.

He takes a deep breath and begins opening his groggy eyes. "What time is it?" he questions, looking adorable. His hair is all tousled on his head and he is jutting his lips.

"It's five."

He lets his face fall back into the pillow with a sigh. "I should get back. The funeral is on Friday."

"Okay, I'll be there." We lie there in the quiet, staring at each other. It's funny how much has changed. I never thought I'd be where I am with Miles today. He truly has changed me in a good way.

Abruptly, his hand extends to my face, and he tucks a stray hair behind my ear. "Thank you, Beauty."

"Of course, I'll always be here for you." I smile.

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QOTD: Do you do any extra-curricular activities?

When I was in high school, I did musicals. I miss them a lot.

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