Second Chances for Tyler Landry

It's Not Your Time

Mackenzie's spirit opened, letting in all the light.

There was no sorrow. There was no pain. There was no regret. All she felt, was a love that was so overwhelming that it burst out of her like rose petals flying out of an open window.

Her world that was once nothing but a trail of darkness, filled with a light so bright that the happiness exploded.

It was fireflies on a summer night, running barefoot with your best friend trying to catch them.

It was waking up on Christmas morning to a foot of snow with no chance of stopping.

It was reading Romeo and Juliet for the first time, and believing in love at first sight.

It was a sunset at the beach.

It was the air after a storm.

It was everything she ever wanted out of living but never got.

Mackenzie didn't know who she was or where she had gone, but it must have been heaven because her heart smiled through her eyes and her soul glowed like a star.

"Mackenzie?" a voice sang.

It was the sound of everybody's favorite song.

Mackenzie looked around, still combusting from the absolute glee.

Did the word pain even ever exist?

And there she was, even more beautiful than she remember.

"Mandy Maria." Mackenzie said whispered in shock.

Maria smiled, she truly was an angel.

She always was.

"Oh Mack." she said, tinkling and refined.

"Maria, can you believe this place? I've missed you so much! I can't believe I'm here with you." Mackenzie said, so excited.

This is the rest of forever. Mackenzie thought.

Maria looked at Mackenzie, a bit of regret in her eyes.

Mackenzie's smile started to fade, "What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me?" she asked.

"You have to go back Mackenzie. You don't belong here right now." Maria said, coming closer to Mackenzie.

She glided across the light, it rippled like water as she passed through.

Mackenzie's soul dropped, instead of the love she felt, she felt the feeling she was trying to forget, trying to leave behind. Rejection.

"No, I can't go back Maria. You have no idea how horrible it was." Mackenzie said, pleading.

Maria shook her head, "It's not your time."

"It wasn't yours either!" Mackenzie defended.

Maria just kept shaking her head, "Mackenzie, you have to keep living."

"But, I don't want to! There's nothing there for me to live for!" she said, begging still.

"You have no choice, Mack," Maria explained "You can't die yet."

"Why?! Give me one reason!" she said, she was so hurt, so heartbroken.

"You already know the reason Mackenzie."

And like that it hit her, who she was leaving behind.

"Maria, don't you understand?" Mackenzie asked.

"I understand that everyone, everyone who deserves it, gets a second chance." she said.

And with that, Maria took Mackenzie's hand, and threw her back into the body that she had worn and torn for years.