the applause was shattering. My mom and hazel were all in tears and Oliver was jumping up and down screaming for me as if he had just scored a winning goal. I almost didn't notice it. All I could focus on was the one I loved clapping for me from box 5. Nothing mattered in that moment, not the performance, my triumph, or the applause. I realized that in that very moment, all I needed was Jonah. I took my bow and went back stage. As the other performers were silently judging each other, gossiping or simply watching the others, I sat down and looked at the pocket watch I had stowed away in one of the pockets I had hazel sew in.

flashback*

I was walking into Hazels dress shop with my dress in hand. As I walked in I heard the small bell ring, and saw hazel look up from her sewing machine. "Hello my dear, is there something I can help you with?" I sat down next to her."yes actually, if you don't mind, I was wondering if it would be possible to sew in a small pocket in the skirt of my dress." She looked at me with curiousity. "I know, I know. It's just that I have something I would like to take with me onstage for good luck, and it won't exactly fit under my corset." I said laughing. She looked up at me and smiled. "Of course dreary, I see you brought your dress with you, would you like to get started?" I nodded "how much do I owe you for doing this for me?" "Nothing at all." I couldn't not give her anything in return, after all she's done for me and my family. "No, please you've already done so much for me." She picked up a roll of black satin from a large bin and proceeded to cut out a pocket. "Don't worry your pretty little head, I don't need anything more than your kindness." I nodded "At least let me buy you a coffee at some point." She nodded "Deal, I do enjoy those, what do you call them fraparrinoos?" I laughed "you mean a frapucinno?" She nodded as she took my dress and the pieces she cut out to her sewing machine."Yes, I'll save that date." She finished the pocket within ten minutes, this woman really is a magician when it comes to dress making. "Now, you said you have a good luck charm?" I nodded. "Just out of pure curiosity, do you have it with you?" I felt the weight of the small pocket watch in my vest, "yes, I do." She reached out her shaking hand "would you mind if I took a look at it." I hesitated, although there wouldn't be a possible way, what would happen if she found out about jonah? No, that's not possible, after all she's done for me one small request can't hurt? Can it? "Yes of course, here." I handed her to pocket watch. She looked at it intently and started to tear up. "What's wrong?" She held it close to her heart "Young lady, do you ever hear creaks in the middle of the night, or see things you simply can't explain? In simpler words, do you believe in ghosts?" I started to sweat. "Y-yes do you?" She nodded "would you like to hear a story?" She was holding back tears. I sat her down and held her hand in comfort. "Once, a long time ago, there was a young girl who lived in this town. She came from England and she was terribly sorrowful since she missed everyone she loved back home. One day she met a boy, a boy with ice blue eyes and jet black hair. He always looked out at her from his window and she looked back. One day they had the courage to meet in person, and they fell for one another instantly. They though it would last forever, and he gave her a silver fob watch to prove it. Until that one night he vanished. She knew deep in her heart that while he was dead, he hadn't left her. One day, she found her strength again and pursued her dreams of making young girls feel happy and beautiful. On the anniversary of his death, she laid the watch on his grave, to finally forget and move on. She thought that old thing had been stolen, but now here it is in your hands, the hands of the one he loves." Tears were streaming down both of our faces. "So it was you he led me about, he believes you dead. Hazel I'm sorry I didn't know, I-." She smiled "there's no need to apologize, I moved on many years ago, now he's found love, and so have you, all it does is bring me joy." I hugged her and sobbed into her shoulder "thank you, I promise you I will love him more than anything." She patted my hair gently "I know, and tell him I'm not dead, and will see him on the other side once God decides it's my turn to arrive." I nodded, "thank you hazel, for everything."

End flashback*

Once all the performers took their final bow, I went and found my mom, Hazel and Oliver. I was practically tackled by Oliver who was trying to squeeze his little arms around my huge ballgown. "You sang like the Angels in heaven child." Said hazel, my mom and hazel both embraced me and forgot that Oliver was still engulfed in my gown. "Hey! I can't breath!" We all laughed as they let me go to give Oliver some air. "You were perfect! All those other girls had on way too much makeup and I could see up their skirts, but you were-" he was cut off by my mom who covered his mouth and began telling him to be quiet and that we're not the only people here. I laughed and hazel gave me a hug."I saw him too, you were absolutely stunning. He will be very proud." She whispered. "Thank you." As she let me go, our faces said everything we needed to know. After we got out of the theatre we drove home. My mom ordered a pizza to celebrate my performance. After we were all done eating, she sent Oliver to bed and stayed at the table to get some celebratory ice cream and milk, ( since she insisted that I not have any before my performance). "So how did it feel?" I took in a breath and remembered Jonah "Amazing! I was so happy it seemed almost unreal." My mom nodded "That's just what I wanted for you, and I have a small surprise for you, since you didn't get much for your birthday and you did so well, hold on." She tied a scarfs over my eyes so I couldn't see anything. She came back and place a small box in front of me. "Alright, open it." She removed the blindfold and I looked down to see a small black box tied with a blue ribbon. I untied the bow and opened the box to see a small note. It read-

"my dearest Stephanie,

I told your mother to wait for the perfect moment to give this to you, I'll be gone when you're reading this, but know that while I'm not here, I haven't left you. This is just a little something to remind you that your important, loved and the brightest star in the sky. I hope that you can look at this and remember that I'm always looking down on you, and I'll love you no matter what. Remember to always shine and light up everyone's lives the way you did mine.

with love,

Your Mary Anna.

i had tear in my eyes. I looked in the box to see a diamond starburst necklace. I held it up and held it close to my heart and let the tears drain from my eyes. 'I'll never forget you, grandma.' My mom hugged me after she fastened it around my neck. "She may not be here, but she's never left us." I nodded and smiled. "Thank you." My mom nodded "I'm going to bed, Stephanie, I love you, and you shine brighter than any of those little hoes we saw earlier." We both laughed. " I love you too mom, goodnight." and went downstairs. I sat on my bed and touched my star necklace. My grandma passed away 2 years ago, and I was absolutely devastated. She was one of the few people I confided in, and the only one who was able to help me with my depression. Until last year, I struggled with depression and she was the only person who could make me happy, that is until I found Jonah. She always told me that I was perfect no matter what everybody told me. She gave me all my vintage jewelry and took me out shopping to thrift stores to pick out all my vintage pieces. After she passed was when I truly started living for the past, I guess you could say, that I lived for her after that. But now I have Jonah, and a small piece of her to remind me that I'm never alone.

as I made my way downstairs, I found Jonah waiting for me. I was still in my ballgown, and he was still wearing his tux. "You were dazzling." I hugged him. We were suddenly broken apart by little bobby, who looked up at me with his head poking out of the folds in my dress "you sang like an angel! You were beautiful!" I knelt down to his level "thank you, you were the perfect little gentleman." I poked the tip of his nose and he blushed. "Thanks, now Jonah, can I get out of this stupid thing?" His tie was hanging around his shoulders and his vest was unbuttoned, he was very uncomfortable to say the least. Jonah nodded "yeah you can." Bobby ran and disappeared into the walls. "Thank you." I whispered into Johan's ear as I hugged him, he kissed my forehead and stroked my hair gently. "For what?" I looked up at him. "For watching me tonight, having you there meant the world to me." Jonah smiled "I just wanted to show you that you mean the world to me." He lifted up my chin and kissed me. I swear that feeling of sparks will never fade whenever he shows affection like this. "I'm exhausted, I have to get out of this dress, it's heavier than it looks." He nodded and faded away. I unlaced my dress and left it on the back of my chair. I ro moved my gloves and put them on my dressing table and went to take a shower. After I was done I put on a pair of pajamas and braided my wet hair to keep it out of the way. I kept on my necklace since I didn't want to part with the small trinket that gave me so much joy.

once I came back out, I noticed bobby sitting on my bed now wearing his usual clothes. "Hi bobby, what are you doing here?" He looked up at me "sorry, if you want me to leave I can," I shook my head, "No you can come here whenever you want, you're like another little brother to me." He smiled. I noticed he had something in his hand, an old black and white photograph. "Who's that picture of?" His face fell and he continued staring at the photograph. "It's my mother, I miss her so much, when I was in heaven I was with her for a short time, and even though she was happy, she was still sad that Jonah was trapped down here. That's why when I had the chance, she told the angel to send me down here to get him." He quickly put his hand over his mouth knowinat he had said too much. I stared at him in shock, although I understood, I didn't at the same time? Surely Jonah wouldn't leave me all on my own, or would he? "What do you mean by go get him?" He looked extremely nervous. "I didn't want to tell you since I knew how happy you and Jonah were, but when Aickman was sent to hell, I got a chance to come back to earth in exchange for him going to hell. The angel told us that it was either me or my mother, she knew that I would be able to bring Jonah to heaven easier, that's why she told me to go down here." I was shaking, deep in my heart I knew that eventually the time would come where me and Jonah would have to part ways, but now? I would understand his reasoning for leavzing, but that doesn't mean that I don't want him here with me. "Does he know?" Bobby nodded "no bobby, I just want you to know that none of this is your fault, and I'll understand if he does, but does he want to go back to heaven with you?" He took in a deep breath "he didn't give me a direct answer, but he might, but he told me that he doesn't want to lose love again, and wants to stay with you, but he also misses our mother." I nodded "I'm really sorry, Stephanie I didn't mean," I cut him off "no, you have nothing to apologize for, I understand." He nodded and faded away. I sat on my bed and let the tears fall, I don't know what I would do without Jonah, of course I would understand if he did leave me, but I don't know what I would do without him. once I stopped crying, I clutched into my necklace for comfort as my moms words echoed in my head, 'she may not be here, but she's never left us.' That was enough to give me a bit of strength, I decided that if I truly love Jonah, I will respect any decision he makes, and remember that the love between us will never die.

I sat down at my vanity and took out my braids. Just as I was brushing out my hair, I felt a cool presence behind me, I saw as Jonah began to take shape behind me in my mirror. He kissed my neck as He placed his arms around my collarbone. He lightly brushed my necklace and looked up at me. "Where's this from?" I smiled "it's a gift from my grandma, she gave it to my mom before she died and told her to give it to me when the time was right." "It's beautiful, but doesn't shine nearly as bright as you." I blushed deeply. "Thank you." I kissed him lightly on the cheek. "So bobby told me that you two had a conversation a bit earlier." He sat down beside me and looked down at the floor in somewhat shame. "Yeah he told me his real reason for being here." Jonah looked up at me apologetically "Stephanie I'm really sorry, I meant to tell you really, I just didn't know when was the right time." I pressed a finger to his lips "listen, I understand, really. I just want you to know that I'll respect any decision you make and true love will never die." He nodded. "youre right." I could feel my heart thundering in my chest as I debated as to whether or not ask him if he was going to go with bobby. Part of me wanted to know the answer and another part feared what he would tell me. "So i understand if you don't want to tell me, but are you going to leave?" He looked down at the ground in shame "I haven't decided, I love you Stephanie and I want to be with you, but I can be with my family on the other side, with bobby and my mother. I need time." I nodded and hugged him. "Whatever you choose, know that I'm with you every step of the way I can possibly take." He smiled and his crystal blue eyes glittered like the finest cut diamonds there ever was. I yawned and he caressed my cheek gently. I looked and saw that it was already 12:45. "Tired?" He asked "Try exhausted. Singing really does take a lot out of you." He snickered. I led him to my bed and got in, he stood there not knowing what to do with himself. "Jonah?" "Yes" "do you think tonight you can stay with me?" He smiled and crawled up beside me. He was cool, but not cold enough to make me shiver. I laid my head on his chest and he played with my now curly hair from the braids. "Of course I'll stay with you Stephanie, I will forever." I heard as I softly drifted off to sleep.

Hi! I hope you all enjoyed my 3000 word chapter I promised almost a year ago! I explained in my authors note why I took a long hiatus on my writing and I hope this somewhat makes up for it! Reviews are greatly appreciated and I'm so very grateful for everyone who reads this story! I unfortunately will be ending this story soon, so please let me know what you think will happen in the end! Till next time!