Remembrance

Prologue

The loud music echoes through the hotel ball room as couples all around me sway to it. But not me. I stand on the outskirts of the dance, worriedly looking in every direction to see if I can spot him making his way towards me. I'm so confused as to what had happened. One minute we too were swaying closely together and the next he was grabbing his head and chest in pain.

He started to stumble away and I tried to follow after him but he seemed to have the ability to outrun me still, even with whatever pain he was in.

That had been 25 minutes ago. I had searched everywhere I could think of for him but he wasn't there. So there I stood, waiting for him to return. Something felt so off about this whole situation. It had my stomach twisting in knots.

"I have to get to him!" An urgent, now familiar voice whispered in my head.

The next instant, I was struck with a new memory. The strongest one yet.

I'm in an exquisite-looking ball room made completely of marble. I see my friends and family mingling among the other guests. I catch Mama's eye. She raises her eyebrows and gives me the look. The look that says my manners are lacking and I should be dancing with any and all eligible men in the room. She desperately wants to find me a husband. Most women my age are already married off.

I'm not interested in any of them though. she knows that. Both her and papa know that there's only one man for me. One man that makes my heart beat faster just seeing him smile at me. One man that makes me feel like I'm the only woman in the world in his eyes. I wish they would be more accepting of him. But it doesn't matter. Somehow, we will find a way to be together.

Just as I start daydreaming about a beautiful white dress and gliding down a flower covered isle to the man I love, I see him walk into the ball room. He spots me and smiles that dazzling smile he saves just for me. He is looking particularly handsome tonight,  in his dark suit, with his messily tamed chestnut colored hair.

We slowly make our way to each other, ignoring any glances cast in our direction.

He bows over my white gloved hand and softly presses a kiss on my knuckles. "Would you like to dance?" He murmurs softly.

I feel like melting at the sound of his voice. I know the polite thing to do would be to curtsy and say yes but all I can do is nod meekly as I stare up into his gorgeous face. He whisks me onto the dance floor pulling me in close. He glances down at the dress I carefully picked out for tonight. It is a beautiful light blue with cream colored lace lining the hem and collar.

"You look so beautiful, my love." He whispers in my ear.

I feel myself blush as I look up at him with a slight smile.

"Thank you." I reply softly.

Suddenly, I'm myself again. Only for a moment though as I am once again pushed into another memory.

"Cal!" I cry out. I couldn't comprehend what had happened.

We were dancing closely. So closely, when suddenly he went pale white, his breathing going ragged. He clutched at his chest as he turned and stumbled towards the doors, mumbling something about just needing some fresh air.

Where could he have gone when he was in such a state? Then I remember, our special spot wasn't too far from here. Easily within walking distance. I start in that direction, lifting my skirts, running as fast as I can in my heavy dress.

As I reached our spot by the river I see him lying face down on the damp earth. I dropped down next to him and rolled him over. I put my face close to his mouth to feel if he was breathing or not. He wasn't.

"Help! Somebody help me!" I screamed into the night, tears racing down my cheeks, hoping beyond hope that someone would hear. He was so still and cold, I feared I  had found him too late.

I look him over for some kind of wound that would explain what had happened to him, but there is nothing. No blood. Not even a scratch from what I can see.

I sit there for what seemed like forever, shaking him and yelling his name over and over. There was never any response. He was gone. My love. My life. Gone.

I come back to myself again but am still reeling from the urgency and heartbreak of Miranda's loss.

I heard her voice again, "Find him!".

I know where to go, and so, I run. I run like I had never run before. He was at our spot. The same spot that had once been Miranda and Cal's. 

As I approached, My stomach clenches in horror as I see a figure on the ground. I rush towards the figure to find him lying crumpled on the ground, not moving. Much the same as Cal had been. No! This couldn't happen again! I wouldn't let it! After all this time, we finally found each other and now I could lose him all over again. No!

My chest burned with determination as I run the rest of the way to him, disregarding the rain coming down around me and the mud being flung onto my once pristine white dress. As I reach his side I fall to my knees. My fingers fumble at his neck checking to find a pulse. Nothing. My hands start shaking and a sob tried to tear its way out of my chest.

Shakily, I pull his phone out of his suit pocket and dial 911. As I hear the ringing of the phone I hit the speaker button, throw the phone down next to me and immediately start doing CPR.

"911, whats your emergency?"

"I need help! I just found my boyfriend collapsed and he isn't breathing." I say, not looking away from his pale face as I continue chest compressions. One... Two... Three... Four...

"Ma'am where are you?" The woman on the other line asked.

"Just off of West Woods Trail by the river." I reply.

"Ok. I have an ambulance on its way." She assures me. "Do you know how to do CPR?"

"Yes!" I have to shout over the rain that has now picked up into a steady downpour. "I have been doing it since I first found him."

"Good. Continue to do so. I will remain on the phone with you until the police and ambulance arrive."

I grunted in response. One... Two... Three... Four...

"Come on! Come on!" I shouted at him, disregarding the woman on the phone. "Don't do this to me! I love you! Don't you leave me again!"

I hear sirens in the distance.
One... Two... Three... Four...