Corpse Bride

3

"Miranda I'm not having sex with you," Ben said seriously, crossing his arms.

"You think I want you to." She sighed, trying to make sense of it all.

"I can't Miranda. I just....can't. This is insane. I'm not a cheater and this---this is wrong. This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I thought I was just bringing you back, giving you a second chance at life. Now we are legally married in the real world and they expect us to consummate the union."

Miranda looked down, her eyes welling with unshed tears as she nodded slowly. "I know and I feel horrible about this. I don't want to do it either. But I don't know what else to do. Maybe there's another way. How much time do we have left?"

Ben turned his head and looked at the small grains of sand falling down, suddenly glowing green numbers appeared in the air marking the time. "We've got about 48 hours."

"Okay. Then... we won't do it. I don't want you to, Ben."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that if we just let the clock run out, I'll go back. I don't want you to compromise your values. I won't let you."

"And then what?  You die again?"

"Yes, and that's okay. I would never want you to betray who you are for this. You're a good man, and you love someone else. This isn't right. I didn't know that it would be like this when you brought me back, but I'm grateful for every minute of being alive again. Even if it's only for 48 hours. This is the best thing that has happened to me in 6 years. I've been waiting stuck in that place for so long, and now I'm free... even if it's just for a little while.

Ben's throat tightened as he listened. "Miranda..."

"Maybe this time, when I go back, I won’t be stuck waiting around, waiting for someone to save me. Maybe I’ll finally get to move on, find peace, or… maybe even heaven," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Maybe it won’t be so bad this time. I'm going to make a list of all the things I haven't done or want to do and do them over the next two days. I want to do all the things I was always scared to do. I regret being shy and timid in my youth. If I had more time I would visit Paris. I have always wanted to go."

Ben sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. He watched as Miranda wiped the tears from her cheek and composed herself. He had to respect her strength because choosing her own potential demise over compromising his values was true strength. But that didn’t make it any easier for his stomach or heart.

"Come on," she said softly, walking over to gather the containers. "Let’s clean this up."

Ben followed suit, quietly picking up the leftovers and stacking the dishes. The room was thick with unspoken words, but neither knew what to say. Instead, they worked in silence, as if cleaning might somehow bring a sense of normalcy or at least go back to before those papers showed up.

Miranda put the last container in the refrigerator before she leaned back against the counter, looking exhausted but at peace, in a strange way. "Thanks, Ben... for everything. For helping me, even if this didn’t go the way either of us expected."

Ben turned, wiping his hands on a dish towel before tossing it aside. "Don’t mention it. I just wish... I wish it was something else we could have done."

"Me too," she whispered, giving him a small smile. "I’m going to head to one of your guest rooms. Does it matter which one?"

"No, both of them are set up."

"Ok, good night and try to get some rest."

He nodded, watching as she left the kitchen, her steps quiet on the hardwood floor. Once she disappeared down the hallway, he sank into a chair at the table, burying his face in his hands. He had done what he thought was right, but now it seemed like no matter what he chose, someone was going to suffer. Maybe if he called Simone and told her the crazy shit he had gotten into she would understand or maybe he shouldn't tell her at all and just do it.