Shards of Life

Shard VII

Nightmares teach Reality

"Cherishing what you have while you still do is a duty you should bid to her happiness. Do not wait for regret to teach you value."

She could not forgive him. Things had changed drastically since their younger and happier days. Life used to be so pleasant with each other's company, but then, everything had changed.

Standing outside their house, she saw in a distance that he was talking to an old friend. She could not place anything for her thoughts were scattered and racing. Keeping up with them oddly seemed to be a hard task.

She felt something vibrate in her pocket and when she thought it might've been her phone, she pulled it out to see an incoming call. A great disturbance sounded from where he was standing and the first thing she thought was if that was a fire. Immediately, everyone around in the street seemed to be running to the place behind her where she turned to see a horrific blast and flames and smoke.

Her entire life flashed before her eyes as she ran like a mad woman, her heart splitting with fear, her feet numb. It felt like the distance between her and the fire increased the more she pushed herself forth until she forced her mind to wonder what the calamity could have caused.

Everything in her vision blurred with tears flooding her eyes as she finally reached where some bodies lay as ashen figures. She cried aloud in sorrow as his familiar face was there, eyes closed. Her heart shattered at the sight as she fell to her knees, regret and unimaginable sorrow embracing her being.

Eyes closed, she threw her head back and wailed, hoping all this could stop. Her body felt weak and her heart hammered against her chest as she woke up with a start. She sat there on her bed, still panting, out of breath like all that had really happened, her heartbeat still racing and cold sweat on her face and palms.
Her body still pulsed to the fear of her throbbing heart.

Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks uncontrollably when she saw him laying there peacefully in slumber. A whimper escaping her mouth and his sleep was disrupted to tend to his weeping wife. In a warm embrace, she cried her heart out, realising one thing: Nothing is granted, even if it lasts long in one's hold. Laying her pride down to apologise or accepting people as the change and loving every bit of them weighs greater than the regret when it is too late.