Lost

Goodbye

Taylor and Michael sat on the small bench facing the pond. The sun shown overhead and cast a warm radiating beam over the forest. Taylor sat with her legs on the bench and her head on Michael's chest, wrapped up in his arms. They both stared blankly at the pond, the small coi fish lazily swimming back and forth, peacefully unaware of the problems of the outside world. After watching the images in the crystal ball, Taylor had said nothing. She just sat blankly, comprehending what she had just saw. After thanking his grandmother and saying he loved her and telling her many times that he'd come and visit her more often, they left the small building and headed for home. But Taylor didn't want to go back to Michael's house, she wanted to go somewhere open and safe and serene, and there was only one place that fit that description.

As they sat on the bench intertwined in each other's arms, they each felt a sense of relief, like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Michael spoke gently, "So, now we know what happened. That means that you can move on now and be free." As he spoke a sadness came into his voice and he hugged Taylor tighter. Taylor sat silent for a moment, watching a mother deer and her faun graze. This made Taylor think of her own mother and for a brief moment Taylor thought of how much she would like to see her mother again. After a moment Taylor spoke with softness that Michael had never heard from her. "I, I don't know Michael. I don't know if I accept what happened. Its just, the police were right there and they just, left."
"They couldn't have known that he had you there, I mean what mad man stays right where he just murdered someone while the police search for him?"
"I know but," here Taylor gave a long, slow sigh, "I guess I have to come to terms with it, but, I don't...." Taylor trailed off as if mesmerized by something else. Michael looked down at her for the first time since they had been sitting there. She looked so beautiful, and for the first time Michael realized how young she was. A 16 year old girl taken away from this world by a maniac. This thought made Michael's eyes fill with tears.

"You don't what?" He asked.
"I don't want to.....leave you." She said meeting his gaze. They sat like this gazing into each others eyes. Then Michael pulled away from Taylor and stood. "Come on, its time to go." He said holding out his hand. Taylor stood and held his hand, they walked to the edge of the pond where the sun was shining brightest. They stopped at a small dock leading out over the pond. Here they looked at one another, hands locked together, knowing what was coming. "Taylor, I hope you have a peaceful afterlife and I hope you are never alone." Michael said studying her face. "I won't mind being alone, but what about you?"
"Me? Taylor I've never been happier. Taylor you've given me something that I thought was impossible to have."
"What?"
"Closure over Mia. I don't know why, but some how in helping you I feel like I've made up for not being able to help her." They stood in silence for a moment. "I hope you find happiness and someone to love." Taylor said caressing Michael's cheek with the back of her hand. Michael grabbed her hand and held it to his face. "OK, its time." He said letting go of her hand, tears had filled both their eyes. "Taylor Drizzle Collins, do you in all truth accept and come to terms with the fact that you are no longer of this world?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then by the powers of earth and nature, be free." As Michael said this he released Taylor's hands and took a step back. The sunshine shown upon Taylor and outlined all of her features, her hair, her eyes, her body. Her clothes melted away and she was clothed in a beautiful white dress, her body became translucent and in the midday sun made her look like an angel. Her feet were lifted off of the ground and she ascended into the sky, then, like a wisp of smoke, she was gone. Just as abruptly as she had appeared in his life, she disappeared. Michael stood staring into the sky for a moment then began the long, lonley walk home.