Dating the Dead • lrh

38: a thousand years

"Heart beats fast, colors and promises"

I fluttered my eyes open. Her lovely voice filling my ears. She continued to sing as I finally woke up.

"How to be brave"

My lips curled up in a smile. Just by seeing her made the pain go away. My body didn't seem to be hurt at all.

"How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?"

I sat up straight. My head hurt a bit but I didn't mind. As long as I know she's okay, I'd be fine.

"But watching you stand alone"

My eyes couldn't look away. She looked as beautiful as I can remember her. It was as if, she didn't get hurt in the accident. Which was a relief.

"All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow"

Tears rolled down her cheeks. I tried not to be emotional. Even though my heart felt like it could burst into million pieces. As I stared into her eyes, I couldn't help but notice them to be a few shades lighter. Maybe it was all because of the lights around us.

"One step closer," I sang with her.

She smiled at me, tears continued to stream down her face. She went to my bed and hugged me. I've never felt more loved.

We lied down on my bed, her head resting on my bicep. While I stared at her, she stared at the bright light above us. "A penny for your thoughts?" I said to her ear.

"What did your final essay for Lasetter mean?" Her voice was low but I heard it clearly.

It took moment to respond. "I dunno," I exhaled, hoping to ease some tension. "I just think I wasn't maximizing my life, you know."

She nodded but didn't say anything.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before continuing. "I see all these people running around like headless chickens. Chasing time for things that didn't matter. And then I realized I'm like them. I don't know my purpose. And that scared me.

What if I die before I made any difference in this world? I couldn't even make a difference in my own life. Then I see people struggling. Somewhere, someone's dying. Some with a life well lived but most without.

Wars have as much casualties as calamities. We have diseases. And then accidents. You'll never know when your time is up..."

"I do," she whispered between my ramblings.

"What?" I asked as I felt her sigh beside me. She sat up straight while I remained lying on my bed. "Shelby." I reached for her hand but she was already standing. My fingertips barely touched her skin.

Tears fell down the sides of my face. I couldn't get up. I kept calling for her name until my voice became hoarse. She was crying silently beside my bed.

I closed my eyes as she bent to kiss me on the forehead. "You need to wake up," she whispered.

My eyes blinked open. A bright flash of light greeted me. A few more blinks and I could make out silhouettes moving around me. Voices were muffled. My whole body hurt.