We Need Each Other

Chapter 2: Día de los Muertos

3 Months Later

   It was another beautiful day in the Land of the Dead.  The air was clean, the sun was out and all the skeletal birds sung their happy tunes. 

   I walked through the streets of the city looking around in wonder as I saw skeletons putting up decorations all over the place.    Streamers here, lights there, they saw to it that every nook and cranny of the city looked festive for the holiday. 

   Día de los Muertos.  The Day of the Dead.  It was finally here.  Tonight, everyone in the Land of the Dead who had photos on an ofrenda would cross over the marigold bridge to visit their loved ones in the Land of the Living.  It's a beautiful holiday. 

   I looked around gawking in wonder at everything around me.  Watching people transform our fair city into a Day of the Dead fiesta was almost a magical experience. 

   I suddenly felt a strong arm wrap around my shoulder.  I smiled instantly knowing who it was. 

    "Aldina, there you are.  I was wondering where you went."  A smooth voice said,

   "Don't worry, Ernesto.  I was just checking out what they're doing to decorate the city."  I replied,

   Ernesto pulled me closer to his body.  He wore the crisp clean white sparkly suit that Ceci and I managed to make for him to wear on Día de Muertos.  It fitted him perfectly.  I designed it pretty good if I do say so myself.  He looked so handsome in it. 

   He then took my boney hand in his and ran his thumb along the top.  "Novio, why didn't you wait for me?" He asked me sweetly,

   "Well, you were signing autographs.  After seeing the long line that was forming I figured I could slip away for a moment while you were doing your thing.  I know how dedicated you are to your fans."  I told him,

   Ernesto pulled me closer.  "Querido, I was really worried about you.  I don't want to lose you.  Okay?"

   I smiled and blushed as he moved a strand of hair out of my face.  "Okay."  I said,

   He smiled back at me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.  I let out a sigh as I pulled him closer  in and kissed him back. 

   Yeah, so we were now dating.  We had been since we met a few months before.  When he came in to give us measurements and check on the progress of his suit, he and I would talk for hours.  As time went on we got closer and closer until we ultimately started dating.  It wasn't long until he offered me a room in his massive guest mansion.  I gladly accepted.  He was so sweet to me, he gave me all the love and attention that he could give.  Well, when he wasn't focused on his fans. 

   When I was still in the living world, I fell in love with his music.  Now in the Land of the Dead, I fell in love with him.  I don't think I've ever loved someone so strongly before...

   ...Well, except for when I was alive...but I don't like to talk to anyone about that...It's just too painful to talk about, even after forty seven years...

   But that didn't really matter to me anymore.  I had Ernesto now.  The sweetest, most talented and charming man in all of Méjico was mine. 

   We kissed for a good few seconds until we heard a clicking sound and there was a flash.  We broke apart and looked to the source of the disturbance to see a guy in a press cap holding an old fashioned camera that no one uses anymore.  He lowered the camera smiling at us. 

   A female reporter came up next to him holding a microphone.  She was tall in a blue dress with her black hair done up in a bun.  Her face was covered in red, orange, and yellow markings.