Time Ended

The warm glow of the sunset came in through the kitchen window, hitting her face softly. She hummed along to a song that played quietly on an old radio in the background. Up to her elbows in warm, soapy water doing the dinner dishes and she seemed content. Just seeing her would make you calm, happy even. Like contentment just radiated off of her, infecting all those within a certain proximity. The song on the radio ended, and the hourly news began. "Breaking news. A Canadian soldier has died in Afghanistan today. Private Danny Nilson was killed when the vehicle he was driving hit a land mine. 4 other soldiers are reported to be injured, but in stable condition." The glass she was holding fell to the floor, and shattered into a million sharp shards. She rushed into the living room, not bothering to dry her soapy hands, and turned on the TV. There it was, on the news. Private Danny Nilson, dead. They even showed his picture. It was him all right.

It all sank in slowly, as the information seeped past the protective wall that shock had put up around her... She would never get lost in those green eyes ever again, never run her fingers through his thick, dark hair. Never again would she feel completely safe in his strong arms, or comforted by the way he gently squeezed her hand. She would never taste his lips, or see him as she walked down the aisle. She would never have his children, or grow old with him. He was gone. Her high school sweetheart, her fiancee, her Danny... Gone forever.

Somehow she managed to turn the TV off before she sunk to her knees. The tears started to flow, warm and salty down her cheeks. As she crumpled and fell to the ground, the crying really started. Her body shook violently as she gasped for air. She cried until her eyes ran dry, but even then the violent shaking did not stop. The sun set, and she was enveloped by darkness.

Eventually, she fell asleep, and dreamed about the perfect wedding; Complete with Danny and all. She was walking down a sandy aisle and was wearing a beautiful, simple, white summer dress. She held a bouquet that was composed of a rainbow of flowers. She looked past all of the guests, her crying mother, her smiling best friend; All she saw was Danny. The look on his face was exactly how she felt, overwhelmed with love for one person. And at that moment she knew that she could not live in world where he did not exist. She reached the end of the aisle, and took his hand. They said their vows and exchanged rings. The priest uttered those famous last words "You may now kiss the bride." and time seemed to stop. She stared up into his bright green eyes, and all she could see was love; Love for her. He leaned in and pressed his lips gently against hers. The kiss became passionate as she locked her arms around his neck, and he wrapped his around her waist, pulling her closer...

Time did indeed freeze for Lisa that night. In fact, it was so frozen it ceased to exist at all. Time ended; Lisa never woke up.