Meet Me In The Stars

Before

"Yeah I really think tonight's the night Lonnie!" I squealed down the phone to my best friend.

"Oh my god!! What are you gonna wear?" She says, just as excitedly.

"Nothing too fancy. I don't want him to know I know. Maybe the pastel yellow dress he bought me last weekend?" I say.

"The shoulderless one with the slit?" She asks.

"Yup." I say picking up the dress and holding it to myself in the mirror.

"Ooooh yes. Very classy." She says.

"Okay, well I'll call you after the date." I say.

"Okay bye, I love you. Be safe Sylvie." She says.

"I will, bye Lon." I reply, hanging up.

I quickly get dressed and brush out my straight blonde hair. I apply some lipgloss and I hear his car pull up.

Honk honk.

I race down the stairs and open the door to see him standing in a half suit. Black trousers, suspenders, a white dress shirt with one button undone. His brown curly hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.

A bright smile escapes his lips.

Oh my love.

I lock my door and run to him. His arms wide open. He picks me up and hugs me warmly.

I dig my head into the crook of his neck.

"You ready Princess?" He says.

"Yup!" I say excitedly.

He opens the car door and I get in.

He hops in the other side. His hand rests on my thigh and we begin driving.

"So, where are you taking me?" I ask.

"Not telling."

"Is it far?"

"About a two hour drive but it's worth it I promise." He says.

I smile.

We drive and drive and drive, listening to our favourite songs, singing along, laughing, chatting.

I realise we've been on the same road for about an hour and a half. It's a long straight road with massive trees on either side. It's beautiful.

After a while we go down a little road and we stop.

What?

He gets out and gestures for me to get out too. And I do. He walks round the back of the car and goes into the boot and rustles around and grabs something. He closes it and walks back round. It was a picnic basket.

"Aww you're taking us on a picnic?" I say excitedly.

He holds my hand and we walk towards a grassy field. The grass was tall and tickled my leg where the slit was. There was a little path that he lead me through and he laid down a blanket on a open patch.

We sat and bathed in the sun, eating snacks (strawberries and chocolate).

He stood up and yanked me up with him.

He tapped my shoulder and shouted, "Tag you're it!" and began running around. I chased after him until I got his shoulder. I ran fast in the opposite direction.

I ran through the grass and crouched down.

"Boo." I heard him say as I felt his arms wrap around my waist. He kissed my cheek. "Tag. You're it." He said. I giggled and soun round and jumped on him. We burst into hysterical laughter while he hugged me tight.

We sat back down on the blanket and he read me poetry while I watched the sun set.

We sat and watched the stars. It was a perfect night. He sat up and guestured for me to sit up too. I did. I faced him and smiled.

"Sylvie. I love you. You're the stars that light up my sky, you're the heart that beats into my soul. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?" He says pulling out a glass ring with a jewl.

"YES YES YES YES YES!!" I squealed. I smiled.

It started to rain heavily. Thunder and everything.

We packed everything up and got to the car.

When we got to the straight road again they were empty. Dead silent except for the pitter patters of the rain.

We played the radio and chatted about wedding plans and moving in together.

There was thunder crashing and banging above us, lightning screeched across the sky.

The road was slippery.

I felt calm though. Safe in Elliots presence.

(Play As The World Caves In)

A sharp pain stung at my eye. I screamed in pain. I moved my head around, trying not to move my eyes, but trying to figure out what happend. Did I fall asleep.

"Elliot?! Elliot!" I shouted.

"Yes baby, I'm here. He said reaching his arm across to me. I turned my head to see him. He looked startled when he saw my eye.

"What? What is it?" I asked panicked.

Elliot

She had a shard of glass in her eye. I couldn't scare her. I can't do that to her. We're 30 miles away from the nearest hospital, the roads are empty. We're not going to make it through this.

There was a branch lodged into my thigh. I can't let her know I'm bleeding out. I could feel the car getting warm. It was on fire.

We were going to start a life together. A family.

The grief of what could have been hits me like a bus. Or a tree.

Sylvie

"Nothing baby. I love you." He said, tears filling his eyes.

I tried to move towards him when I realise I'm stuck. I look down at my side and see a  tree branch peircing me in my right side.  I let out a quiet wimper. I know we won't make it. My hand squeezes him tight, as his does mine.

I'm not ready to let go of him. I'm not ready to let go of our life. It's not supposed to end this way. We're supposed to die of old age, with our kids. God no, please.

"Princess." He says.

I look at him, "What?"

I could feel myself getting drowsy, and I was getting hot. Really hot.

"If, IF we don't make it my love, meet me in the stars?" He says tears falling down his cheeks. I hated what he was saying. I didn't want it to be true. I couldn't lose us now. Seeing him cry breaks my heart.

"Of course. I love you always." I say.

It's peaceful. Dying. Not before. But during actual physical death. It's peaceful. I knew I was safe.

The familliar white light absorbed me. And once again I was being pushed out of some womans uterus. But I love her.

Suddenly as the smell of the hosptial room hits my nose, so does every single heartbreak, every physical and emotional pain tears me apart. The longing for a family Sylvie had, a life with Elliot. I'll cry like this until my new body develops memories. This is just how it works. It hurts.

Here we go again.