That night, Jackson took me to a beautiful Italian restaurant overlooking the city. We sat on the patio, watching the sunset as we sipped wine and talked.
I couldn't believe how easy it was to be around him. We laughed and joked, sharing stories and getting to know each other.
As the night wore on, Jackson reached across the table and took my hand. "I'm really glad we're doing this, Cecilia," he said, looking into my eyes.
I smiled, feeling a flutter in my chest. "Me too, Jackson. Me too."
The rest of the evening flew by in a whirlwind of conversation and connection. As he drove me home, I felt like I was walking on air.
When we pulled up to my house, Jackson turned off the engine and turned to me. "I had a great time tonight, Cecilia," he said, his voice low and husky.
I smiled, my heart racing. "I did too, Jackson."
And then, without another word, he leaned in and kissed me. Softly, sweetly, and with a gentle passion that left me breathless.
I knew in that moment, I was in trouble. I was falling for Jackson, hard. And I had a feeling that this year was going to be one wild ride.
As our lips touched, I felt a rush of emotions. It was like a dam had burst, releasing a flood of feelings I'd been trying to keep in check.
Jackson's arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer. I melted into his embrace, my heart racing with excitement.
"Oh, Cecilia," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. "I've wanted to do that all night."
I smiled, feeling shy but happy. "I've wanted you to," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
We sat there for a moment, holding each other, the world around us fading away.
Then Jackson pulled back, looking at me with a serious expression. "I have to tell you something," he said, his voice low and husky.
My heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
Jackson took a deep breath. "I think I might be falling for you, Cecilia. Hard."
My heart soared. "I'm already there," I replied, my voice trembling with emotion.
Jackson's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Really?"
I nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Really."
We sat there for a moment, grinning at each other like fools. Then Jackson leaned in and kissed me again, deeper and more passionately this time.
I knew in that moment, I was all in. I was ready to take a chance on love, no matter what the future held.
As we pulled away from each other, gasping for air, Jackson's eyes locked onto mine. "I don't want to lose you, Cecilia," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
I smiled, feeling my heart overflow with love. "You won't, Jackson. I'm not going anywhere."
He smiled back, relief washing over his face. "Good. Because I think I might be addicted to you."
I laughed, feeling happy and carefree. "I'm addicted to you too."
We sat there for a moment, hands entwined, looking into each other's eyes. Then Jackson spoke up again.
"You know, I never thought I'd be the type to fall in love. But here I am, head over heels for you."
I squeezed his hand. "I know exactly what you mean. I never thought I'd find someone like you either."
Jackson grinned. "Someone like me?"
I nodded. "Yes. Someone who makes me feel seen and heard and loved for who I am."
Jackson's expression softened. "You deserve all that and more, Cecilia. I'm so glad I get to be the one to give it to you."
My heart melted at his words. I knew in that moment, I was exactly where I was meant to be.
As we sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, Jackson whispered, "I don't want to go home. I want to stay here with you."
I smiled, feeling a flutter in my chest. "You can't stay here, Jackson. It's late."
But Jackson was persistent. "Just for tonight, please? I promise I'll be gone before dawn."
I hesitated, feeling a thrill at the thought of having him stay. "I don't know..."
Jackson's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning with intensity. "Please, Cecilia. I want to be with you tonight."
My resolve crumbled, and I nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. "Okay, fine. But just for tonight."
Jackson's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Thank you, Cecilia. I promise you won't regret it."
As we went inside, Jackson's arms never left my waist. He held me close, his lips whispering sweet nothings in my ear. "I love being with you, Cecilia. You make me feel alive."
I smiled, feeling my heart soar. "I love being with you too, Jackson. You make me feel seen."
We stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around us fading away. Then Jackson spoke up again, his voice low and husky. "Can I hold you all night? I promise I'll be gentle."
I nodded, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "Yes, please."
As we lay in bed, Jackson's arms wrapped around me, holding me close. "I never want to let you go, Cecilia," he whispered.
I smiled, feeling my heart overflow with love. "You don't have to, Jackson. I'm not going anywhere."
And with that, we drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, our hearts beating as one.
I woke up with a start, disoriented and confused. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw Jackson sleeping next to me me, his eyes fixed on me with a gentle gaze. His fingers were caressing my hair, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
I quickly sat up, my heart racing with surprise. "Jackson, what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jackson smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I told you I didn't want to leave," he said, his voice low and husky.
I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was still dreaming. "But...but this is crazy," I stammered. "You can't just stay here all night."
Jackson's smile never wavered. "Why not?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm exactly where I want to be." He pats my hair again.
I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "But what about your parents? What about Sophia?"
Jackson shrugged. "I'll deal with them later. Right now, I just want to be with you."
I felt a flutter in my chest as I looked at him. He was so beautiful, so captivating. And he wanted to be with me.
"Jackson, this is all so sudden," I said, trying to reason with him.
But Jackson just leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. "I know it's fast, Cecilia. But I feel it too. This connection between us. I don't want to let it go."
I shivered at his touch, feeling my resolve crumble. Maybe this was crazy, but I didn't care. I wanted to be with him too.
 I kept telling him to leave that it was wrong for him to be here, I was still 19 and we shouldn't be doing anything that we would regret.
Jackson's expression turned serious, and he grasped my hands in his. "Cecilia, listen to me. I know this is fast, and I know we shouldn't be doing this. But I can't help how I feel. And last night, I had a dream...a scary dream that you were going to die."
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at him, shocked. "What are you talking about?"
Jackson's eyes were haunted. "I dreamt that I lost you, Cecilia. That you slipped away from me, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. It felt so real, so terrifying. And when I woke up, I knew I couldn't leave you. I couldn't risk losing you."
I felt a chill run down my spine as I looked at him. His words struck a chord deep within me, and I knew that I couldn't deny my feelings any longer.
"Jackson, I...I don't know what to say," I stammered.
Jackson's grip on my hands tightened. "Just tell me you feel it too, Cecilia. Tell me you feel this connection between us."
I hesitated, my heart racing with emotion. And then, I nodded. "Yes, I feel it too."
Jackson's face lit up with a radiant smile, and he pulled me into his arms. "I won't let anything happen to you, Cecilia. I promise."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at Jackson, his eyes shining with determination. How could I tell him that his worst fear was already happening? That I was already slipping away from him, from life itself?
"Jackson, I..." I started, my voice barely above a whisper.
But I couldn't finish. I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. Not yet.
Instead, I buried my face in his chest, letting his warmth envelop me. "Just hold me, Jackson," I whispered. "Please, just hold me."
Jackson's arms tightened around me, holding me close as if he would never let me go. And in that moment, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, I could forget about my fate for a little while longer. Maybe I could just be with Jackson, and let him make me feel alive.
But as we held each other, I couldn't shake off the feeling that time was running out. That soon, I would have to face the truth, and Jackson would have to face losing me.
I gently removed myself from Jackson's embrace, my eyes avoiding his. "Jackson, I...I love you, but not to this extent," I said, trying to sound firm.
"What do you mean?" Jackson asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"I mean, I'm still a student. I have my whole life ahead of me. I can't just give up everything for us," I said, trying to reason with him.
Jackson's face fell, his eyes searching mine for answers. "So, what are you saying?"
"I'm not ready to start a deep relationship, it's not something I deserve..."
I took a deep breath, my heart racing with anticipation. "I'm saying...let's break up."
Jackson's eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging open. "Why? No, Cecilia, we can't just break up. Not after everything we've been through."
"What about the Contract?" He said.
But I stood firm, my mind made up. "I'm sorry, Jackson. I think it's for the best."
And with that, I stood up from the bed and walked away, leaving Jackson standing alone in the darkness.
But as I reached the door, I heard Jackson's voice, his words sending chills down my spine.
"Cecilia, wait! You can't just leave me. Not when I know the truth about your illness. Not when I know you're dying."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. How did he know? I thought I had kept it a secret.
And as I turned to face him, I saw the shock and horror in his eyes.
"Cecilia, why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.
But I couldn't answer. Because in that moment, I knew that everything was about to change. Forever.