P R O M I S E

“Do you think there’s a heaven?” I ask breathlessly, gazing into the great depths of his lifeless eyes.
“I know there is a hell.” he utters in a raspy voice, lightly rubbing the skin underneath his sweater.
“How?” my voice cracks, tears glazing over my questioning blue eyes.
“Because,” he said simply, “I’ve seen it.”
“There- there has to be something else!” I sputter in disbelief.
He drags out an exasperated sigh and looks up at me through his long, dark eyelashes.
“I believe that there is a better place, for people like you.”
“And what about… people like you?” I ask bravely.
My breath becomes heavier as he leans in impossibly closer.
“I would look through the very eyes of God and confess my every sin, just to get to you.”
“Promise?” my bottom lip quivered like a crying child, shivering as his skin caressed my own.
“Promise.”