The Power Of Night

The Sunrise

They held each other for just a little longer,
After a while the tingling that shook through Delaney's body still stayed just as energetic and alive.

"It's time to go." She hears him whisper.

She reluctantly stands up, wishing the night would never end.

The world is becoming lightened around them, as their feet move them across the ground that had gained it's expossed color.

Instead of slower, they moved faster. This night would not allow Delaney to slow down, to take on all in. Not anymore. She was going to race the time she was running out of . racing to keep what was slow. They were the night racing the sun.

With every step that their feet touched it ignited the ground. When passing the river no longer the moonlight reflected in a certain spot, but the whole sky was starting to ease upon it.

When they reached it, Delaney forgot she was standing on that bridge entirely. Because the sun was all that mattered.

As they stood there triumphantly, the sun was there to greet them and congratulate. Saying, you made it. Both of you.

Seeing the world light up right before there eyes, knowing they made it to tomorrow.

Carter looked at Delaney expecting an answer.

"So, you've made your choice then?" He says with a relieving smile.

Delaney looks to the sunrise and leans her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah." She says.

She can't help but breathe out a fresh breath of air, just to show the world she still pocessed that ability.

"Thanks to you." She turned to his face.

"Thank-you, for giving me life."

He looked satisfied, but weary to see her go. A fulfilled but pained smile.

"You're welcome."

Delaney was here to stay.

She looked at the new day dawning, it was hers now.

The pride she felt was undescribable.

She had battled Carter at first,thinking there was no way for her to change her mind.

Then it became a self proclaimed slaughter, where for a while where she realized nobody won.

The longest had been the night. It put up a good fight too. Fighting to stay alive, to win, to breathe.

But the sun beat them all.

And that's exactly who Delaney was.

Rising above the night no matter how dark it became in the evenings before.

She looked to the boy standing next to her, knowing, the sun can't rise alone.

Yes, night would fall and it would be dark. But just think of the stars. The tiny glimpses of light that mimick the coming of the sun.

"I'm still scared I might someday..." Delaney trails of.

In the nights to come what if she took a walk here once more. Forgetting the satisfaction of this morning. What of none of this was worth it?

"If you ever try to jump, I'll be here."

His blue eyes shot to hers and stayed put. She felt his words ring true.
Crater didn't just say things, everything had a purpose, some affect that it could have.

She believed him. She knew it all would be okay. And if at times she didn't, there would always be him and her memory of tonight.

She wraps her arms around him and held him in. Delaney memorized the feel of him so she could never forget.

The melted in his arms just to listen to him warm heartbeat.

"You have a beautiful heart, Carter."

The words escaped her easily, she hadn't given them much thought. But she felt as though she should say them.

And what she said was true.

When hearing this, she felt Carter jump. His heart did a leap, almost.

Delaney could hear his smile break through the morning air.

She felt like never letting go.

"My jacket." Delaney remembered quickly. She by no means cold, but she could feel she was unhidden.

"I left it in Brady's car." She tells Carter,

Maybe this night could continue in the day.

"He'll get it back to you, I'll make sure he does."

Delaney didn't understand why he couldn't give to her himself, but she didn't care then.

She was preparing herself to the next time a night would feel like this.

The sun filled every inch of the air, it was waking them up from a sleep that was never slept.

The wideness of Delaney's eyes somewhat dimmed, she looked straight into the light and yawned.

"So what's next?" She asks still full of wonder.

"We go home, get some sleep, and wake up to a new world." He smiles tiredly,

He too wished there was more time.

He fumbled through his pocket until he takes out the yellow piece of chalk that had been sitting there all night.

He runs his fingers across the cool cement of the bridge.
His hands started to write.

Carter was here

Delaney shifted her hand about the pockets in her jeans. Holding her forgotten purple chalk.

She added

And Delaney

.

Both of them satisfied, Delaney made herself believe it was finally time to go.

She hugged him one last time and kissed him unexpectedly, as all of them felt.

She couldn't thank him anymore. Now it was up to her, even if it was because of him.

She started to walk down the street.
The road ahead back to her house. She turned around to look back at Carter.

He was staring thoughtfully into the morning still holding the chalk in his hand.

He looked smaller now than he did that night, sometimes the day shows more than it realizes.

His face seemed pale, his skin clung to his hollowed out cheeks.

He filled them with a smile and waved one last time.

She walked away guided by the morning's light and waited for the next night to fall.