The quiet night filled with sorrow and the flict had cooled down as the cold wind breeze through. Elena k o her injured husband, her hands trembled in fear around his body. Norris asked Elena to e closer as he breathed his st. He held Elena’s haly and as he y out his final words, he said, “Sorry… that… it has to… be like this…”

  “Looks like… I’m dying… As a… Hero… Heh,”

  Everyoched in sadness and grief, the sery had been filled with woe and sorrow. Elena began to shed tears as she held her dying husband.

  “Just know… that… I… Love… You…”

  Finally… Norris had succumbed to his injuries and died in Elena's arms. Her sobs grew louder as she felt the ess of her husband’s corpse. Tears falling down onto his lifeless skin. The night had bee bittersweet, their enemy was gone, but so was one of their family.

  Despite the i just passed, there was no happiness, only grief and sadness. The news of his death shocked and filled their hearts in sorrow. Eveian and Manuel were taken ababsp;

  They then held a funeral at the church where they got married. After everyo, Elena stood o Norris’ coffin for a while, trag her hand across it as she said, “Isn’t it ironiorris? This is where we unite and… separate.”. Ignacio ehe room then walked to his mother. He g his te father’s coffin, his expression seemed dead aionless.

  He excused himself but Elena wasn’t bothered by it. She knew what lied in his heart, what he actually felt. Ignacio was alone in a room, he shed a lot of tears and fell on his knees. Pung the floor as he ago the loss of his father. He tio punch the floor until it broke, the feeling had weighed on him too much.

  Noelia sat outside still m, his sister was taking quite long. He didn’t want to wonder what she was doing, but there was a bit of . “Sofia, I’m going to che your aunt. Look after Julio for now,” Noelia requested.

  His breath hitched for a moment wheered, Elena suddenly held a pocket knife aimed at her throat, her hands violently trembling and the cold glint of the knife was ready to ssh. As she was about to it the unthinkable, Noelia rushed and jumped in to stop her from doing so.

  “What are you doing?!” Noelia asked.

  “Why… Why… Did you stop me?” Elena shakingly asked.

  “This isn’t right!” Noelia replied, holding onto the knife.

  Eleed but she saw Ignacio watg the whole se. She let go and dropped the khen she bursted into tears. Bearing the loss was too hurtful, he was loved dearly, he was hard to imagine life without him.

  Noelia ed his hands around Elena f her. She noticed blood on her hands, she looked over to see it was ing from Noelia’s right hand and Ignacio’s footsteps got her attention. For the first time, she finally saw a siear from her adult son.

  Elena hugged herself, curling inward trying to disappear as she drowns in guilt. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” she whispered between sobs. “I… Just wahe pain to stop.”

  Although he was voiceless and had no words, all he could do was hug his mother and grieve together, being at her side. Noelia joined in too as he ed his arms around them, assuring them that they’re not alone.

  Several hours after the funeral, day had shifted to night. Rustling of leaves blowing through in the cold breeze. Julio gripped on the railings, watg a few scattered stars shining brightly. He saw a shooting star that had fallen from the sky. But, he didn’t get the ake a wish. “Still up?” Noelia asked from behind.

  “Padre,” Julio respohe night is surely cold this time,” said Noelia, joining his son.

  “So, Unorris’ gone now?” Julio asked.

  “Yeah, it’s really sad,” Noelia answered. “He was a great man.”

  “I still feel bad for Tia Elena and Ignacio,” said Julio.

  “Me too,” Noelia agreed.

  Julio didn’t give a reply, his eyes stayed locked towards the stars. The two didn’t mutter a single word.

  After a while, Noelia spoke again.

  “Do you know some meanings behind those stars?”Julio turo him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. He asked his father what he meant.

  “Let’s just say stars are like people,” said Noelia, “And the rest, you’ll figure it out.”

  Noelia realized the time, he told his son to go to bed as he went to his bedroom. Julio looked up at the stars one more time, perhaps he had finally uood the meaning from those stars. He ched his fist as he felt a certain feeling.