Isabella's life had been marked by a constant battle with illnesses since a young age. However, nothing could prepare her for the devastating news when she was diagnosed with Leukaemia. From that moment on, everything seemed to spiral out of control. 

The announcement of her illness had a profound impact on her family dynamics, resulting in her parents' divorce. This extra emotional burden only added to Isabella's already difficult journey. She was forced to face the harsh realities of her condition and the uncertain future that lay ahead of her. It became increasingly challenging for her to navigate daily life, and she longed for a respite from the constant struggles. Not long after her parent's separation, Isabella and her mother moved to Clearwater. 

It was there she met Michael and Isabella began to experience true happiness. Every moment spent with him brought joy and excitement. Their shared adventures, laughter, and tender touches made Isabella forget about her illness and any sadness that may have plagued her. She was grateful to Michael and the wonderful memories they created together, as they were the happiest days of her life.

The motivation behind Isabella's decision to keep her illness a secret from Michael was rooted in her strong desire to protect him. He was only fifteen back then. She never wanted Michael to be burdened with the knowledge of her condition. And the thought of him being careful and protective around her was unsettling. Isabella felt she could handle it coming from anyone else, but not from Michael. 

It was a difficult reality for Isabella to come to terms with, but she had no family left. Her sickness had worsened and her mother, Natalie, could no longer provide her with the care she needed. Natalie had taken Isabella to the hospital and left her there, promising to return after getting a soda from the vending machine. However, her mother never came back. Miss Jude, a nurse at the hospital, informed Isabella of this when she woke up later that evening. 

Upon Isabella's first arrival at the hospital, she was greeted by Miss Jude. As the one who welcomed her, Miss Jude became the closest person Isabella had to a mother during her time at the hospital. However, despite the warmth and kindness shown by Miss Jude, Isabella could not help but wonder if she truly cared for her or if she was simply one of many children who were abandoned at the hospital. This thought often lingered in Isabella's mind.

It was often said that forgiveness is a virtue, and Isabella embodies this belief with her remarkable compassion and understanding towards her mother. Despite the pain and hurt caused by her mother's decision to leave her behind, Isabella refused to harbour resentment towards her. She recognised that her mother's actions were not easy. While Isabella might not agree with her mother's choice, she acknowledged that it was a part of human nature and a part of life. 

Despite her initial hopes for a happy future, Isabella was disappointed to find out that she was running out of time. She had been looking forward to being healthy. However, luck was not on her side. As much as she wanted to reach out and call Michael for some time now, Isabella couldn't bring herself to do it. She did not want to burden him with her suffering and seeing him now only made her feel worse about her current state. 

Isabella was acutely aware that her life was coming to an end. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. Each breath she took felt labored and every movement ached. In the quiet moments, she could not help but contemplate whether she wanted to open her eyes again. The thought of surrendering to the darkness was tempting, yet she could not bear the idea of departing this world without seeing Michael one last time. As much as she longed for the end, she knew that dying without setting eyes on her love was simply not an option.

Michael carefully made his way over to Isabella's bedside and laid down next to her, taking her small hand in his own. She squeezed his hand tightly, despite her weak grip, and he could see the love and tenderness in her eyes as she smiled at him. Even in her current state, she was still waiting for him, holding on to him after all those years and cherishing this moment of being close to him again. He remembered how she always looked to him for comfort and be wrapped in his embrace. Michael knew that in times like these, he could make her laugh like no one else could, just like he used to do back in Clearwater. 

For hours, Michael lay silently next to Isabella. The only sound in the room was the rhythmic beating of her heart and the labored breaths escaping her lips. The gravity of her illness was still difficult for Michael to comprehend, and he felt dazed and confused by it all. He had always believed he knew everything about Isabella, that she was the one person in the world he was sure of. But as he thought back to how she had been before she disappeared, the fragility of her condition, everything started to make sense. 

There were small joys in existence that truly made it worth living. These treasures could be found each and every day, almost anywhere one goes. However, many people tend to disregard them. This was not the case for Isabella, as she took the time to value all of life's offerings. She adored the beauty of both sunrise and sunset. Watching the rolling clouds in the blue sky brought her immense joy. Gazing at the stars and moon in the nighttime was a favorite pastime, as was strolling barefoot on the sandy beach. The glimmer in someone's eyes always made her heart swell, but nothing compared to the happiness that Michael's laughter and kind words brought her.