Don't Forget Me

Chapter Ten

THREE YEARS AFTER

"Ash, we're here!" I called to my girlfriend, who found a way to become human two years ago, when I took a reluctant Ashlynn to a science lab.

I'll remember it as if it were yesterday, when the overexcited scientist made supernatural goggles and injected her with some green liquid.

"This is a risky bet," he had said, adjusting his funky green goggles, "are you sure you want to come back to life?"

She nodded, much to my relief, although she was screaming and crying during the shot. I squeezed her hand during that time, and we'd never been happier since. Her aunt finally realized why Ash's mom put an extra dinner plate at the table for all those years, and why she was told to not clean out Ash's room.

Snapping me out of my daydream, a beautiful young adult came rushing out the front door to our car. We're planning on visiting her grave today.

"Auntie, I'm going out! Take care of yourself!" she called.

We hopped in the car and drove out to the cemetery.

"Once we finish college, what do you want to do?" Ashlynn playfully questioned.

"Mm... I don't know, settle down in a nice neighborhood with you?" I responded, keeping my eyes on the road.

"I want to become a doctor." she said, "so I can help people escape death."

I glanced at her for a little while, her head tucked down, white scarf paired with a jacket that was much too big for her, although, I gave it to her during the night of our first kiss.

It was winter, about a year ago, when we went to the park together. I showed her the lake, and how she finally had a reflection, and we sat down at the bench where I met Tartar Sauce.

She was shivering, as the wind started to blow harder.

"Here." I said, wrapping my coat on her small shoulders. She smiled thankfully at me, and I leaned in.

She shut her eyes, and I did the same. We were both shaking, from the icy weather and out of nervousness. Our lips met, and-

"Dylan! We made it to the cemetery, come on!" Ashlynn eagerly opened the door and dashed from the car, into the graveyard.

I followed, thinking that she's the only one who can be excited at a place like this. She grabbed my hand, tugging me to the exact place where her family is. I pulled out flowers for each person.

"That's my little brother, my mom, and my dad. If I hadn't become human, my aunt would be here too." She said, and I laid down a rose for every family member she introduced to me.

She went further up ahead, and found her grave.

Here lies Ashlynn Rockwell, age 8. May she live forever in our hearts.

"I died during the car crash?" She asked, shocked. "Was my soul strong enough to stay here? Is that it?"

"Whatever it is, I'm glad you're here." I interrupted, wanting to see her smile again. "Hey, let's go. I have to show you something," I grinned.

"Can we go get ice cream?" she asked, wide doe-eyes scanning my face. She knows that technique is my weakness.

"Fine." Ice cream had been her favorite thing to eat with me since she came back as a human.

"Can we share?"

"I said, fine, but make sure you won't freeze to death," I huffed, "I don't want to have a ghost hanging around me again."

"Ooh, that was such a bad pun." She teased, as we strolled across the street to the car. We laughed and joked on our way to the ice cream shop, looking like total fools- total lovebirds- sharing a caramel sundae.

We visited the park again, specifically, the lake. They built a small, wooden bridge to cross it, and lucky for us, no one was there.

"I'm eeling over from all these puns!" she giggled.

"You're a little lake to be starting now," I replied, playfully.

She looked out at the lake, as if she were a five year old during Christmas. I wouldn't blame her, the water did look beautiful. We eventually crossed to the center of the bridge, and I got down on one knee...

"Ash," I said, making her spin around, confused.

"That's your serious voice. What's gotcha hooked, Dylan?" she asked, cracking an unsure pun.

She hesitantly faced towards me, then immediately started crying. I took a long sigh and said, "We're both 18, and I'm happy to have spent three of those years with you. You were... and still are... the best thing that happened to me.

Will you be mine, forever?"

She nodded yes, and passerby on the sidewalk took notice and applauded. I blushed at the attention, as if I've never received any throughout my entire life.

"I'm reel serious about us, Ash." I laughed.

"That was a horrible joke, Burnett with fire!" she replied.

"Don't go using your future last name, Ash. It'll all come back to ya." I winked.
"Hey, w-why are you crying?"

"Hey, Dylan. Don't ever..." she spoke, voice soft and slightly scared (of what, the world may never know),

"Don't forget me."