Taken

It never occured to Aurora, that what was in the envelope could have been anything bad. She never thought it could be something that would make her heart stop when she read the words written on the paper, but then again, she never thought that Tommy would be leaving her anytime soon.

Aurora opened the letter after she'd eaten her starter. Her heart beat thudded heavily as she pulled the white paper out of the golden wrapper, she placed the empty envelope on the table next to her. As she unfolded it, she looked up at Tommy and smiled, she watched as his smile faded away. He had tried to hide it, but he couldn't - he knew, and she was about to find out.

'To my dearest Aurora,

This time the letter isn't as happy as the first one, and for that I can only apologise to you, but I thought it would better for you to know. For me, the nights are the hardest, after you've quietened down, and you've fallen asleep, I lay there alone with all my thoughts and fears. Every morning, I wake up and hope it was all a bad dream, but then I regain my bearings and I'm faced with the challenge of how to get out of bed each day. And Aurora, you are the answer that solves the challenge, you help me get up each day, and to live my life. Now, the bad news...My life, has been cut short, in the most devastating way. Aurora, I don't want you to be angry, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, I just want you to be here for me. Rory, I have been diagnosed with lung cancer, and I don't have very much longer, but I want to spend the rest of my days with you. You make my days better, and worth while...'

Aurora looked up at Tommy, her eyes full of sorrow, brimming with tears. Tommy looked down at the floor, he could feel his eyes welling up, he didn't want to cry in front her. He couldn't cry in front of her. She carried on reading the letter, her heart breaking with every word.

'I don't want you to feel bad, because none of this is your fault, and I'd rather it me than you any day. You know Aurora, you mean more than the world to me, I'd give my life for you. Maybe that's what the universe is doing? Taking my life for yours. Maybe it's for the best, you could make a new start. I don't know, now I'm just rambling on, but I want you to understand, that I need you here with me, until my days run out.

Always yours,

Tommy'

Aurora wiped a tear from her eye, before looking up. Tommy wasn't in his seat, her heart raced as she searched the restaurant. She couldn't see him at all. Getting up she grabbed the letter and ran outside looking for him. The rain poured down, the droplets running down her face. Aurora rubbed her eyes, looking for him still, she looked down and re-read the last part of his letter. The rain drops spattered across the page, making the ink run, and splodge. Running her thumb over the page, she looked up once more, where had he gone?