Making a choice

Prologue

I could hear my heart thumping loudly in my chest, as I frantically ran along the cold dark streets. I turned into a deserted alley, and immediately clamped my nose. The stench was unbearable, stale garbage filled every corner of the narrow street, I looked away in disgust. But even after these difficult circumstances, I kept running, because I had to see him, this might be my last chance.... My noble cause, was soon overtaken by stupidity. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't see the broken streetlamp in front of me and I mercilessly tripped, twisting my ankle. I screamed out in pain as I helplessly hurtled to the ground, I cursed the damn thing silently under my breath. My ankle throbbed with pain, but I wasn't one to be stopped by a mere obstacle, so gritting my teeth, I got up. I cried out in pain as pressure fell on my right leg which had been badly sprained. But I was determined...to see him. I wiped the sweat off my face and threw my open hair back as I started limping as fast as humanely possible. My desperation grew as I neared my destination....my desperation to see him...

I reached the park, and turned into lover's lane. It looked horrid in the dark. The trees, which usually blossomed and lightened up in the sunlight, were now pale and gloomy. Their long branches formed crooked arms, with deadly thorns. There were no birds chirping and the normally leave-covered pavement was cold and...bare. I shivered slightly, still limping. As I trudged along; my hand went to the crumpled paper inside the pocket of my jacket. I clutched it hard, as if someone would take it away from me if I didn't. I took it out, and spread it open. I smiled at his clear, crisp handwriting, and his complicated sign...he had written this...yes, him. I cried in relief, he was alive. I stopped walking for a minute and just gazed at his note, longingly. My enthusiasm and will revived. I ignored the pain in my ankle and walked on, with a new sense of determination.

Kat,

Yes, its me and I am alive. Meet me at lovers lane at the only lit streetlight. I will be waiting at 11:30. Please....I know your mad at me but please...come...one last time.

-Ash

'One last time' my voice echoed my heart...I walked forward, everything else was dark. I was only guided by that single lighted streetlight. There was no one there, but my eyes never left my destination, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of him. Because of the lack of vision, I couldn't see where I was going and because of the limping and my sprained ankle, I stumbled numerous times. I finally reached there. I checked my watch; it was exact 11:30. I suddenly felt very worried,

'What if he didn't come? What if this was just a hoax?' I thought. I silently prayed that it was not one of the wild speculations I was predicting in my mind.

"What if you didn't come?" I said out loud, voicing my thoughts to no one in particular. I felt despair grip me.

But as if on cue it spoke, "I came, Kat".

I whirled around but no one was there. The voice seemed to have come out from the shadowy darkness which had surrounded me and the tiny streetlight. It was his voice alright, I clearly remembered his deep, calming voice and this was just that. Relief coursed through my body, at least he came. "Where are you?" I say curiously, desperate to hear his voice again and also the assurance that this wasn't just my imagination playing tricks.

"I'm here" he replied almost immediately, I almost cried in happiness. "Oh Ash!" I say, "I...I...missed you. Please come out" I pleaded keenly.

"Kat..." I loved the way he said my name "I don't know if I would be able to control myself" he admitted, with a hint of resentment in his voice.

"Please....Ash...please, don't let this effort we made go to waste, If you ever valued the beautiful thing we had together then you will come out and stand here before me so we can have a proper goodbye. I want to see you, one last time" I closed my eyes; I was at the verge of tears. As much as I tried to hold it back, a single tear dropped from my eyes anyways. I wiped it off, hoping he wouldn't have noticed.