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A one-shot I wrote while listening to Nickleback's "Savin' Me". It was inspired by the line "Say it for me/Say it to me/And I'll leave this life behind me".

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He looked down into her eyes, into her soul. A quiet sadness shone through both their eyes as green and blue met; as earth and sky collided. She was the first to look away, tearing herself from his crystal gaze. She knew what he was about to say, she had heard it before and her heart ached at the choice he was about to give her.

“All you have to do is ask and I’ll stay here with you.” He whispered.

She closed her eyes and bit down on her lower lip, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to fall. She wanted with all her heart to tell him to stay, but there was that part of heart that told her that it would be unfair to keep him with her in a gilded cage. No. She wouldn’t be so selfish as to do that to him. She loved him too much for that.

“You know I would do anything you asked me to do. I love you. I always have, and I promise that I always will. All you have to do is ask.” He said, reaching to wipe a rouge tear from her face.

She shook her head. “No, I cannot ask you to stay; it is not who you are. You would be miserable, and I don’t want to watch you slowly die, day by day because of me. I know you love me, and I love you too. That’s why I’m not asking, because I love you. I would rather live a half life knowing that you are as happy as you can be without me then have you by my side suffering.”

By now the tears were freely flowing from her eyes, and he was fighting off his own. He quietly gathered her in his arms and held her as she tried to gather herself. She slid her arms around his waist and relaxed into his embrace. As they stood there a cold breeze stirred up the red and gold leaves, carrying them down the path. She shivered and sank deeper into his arms.

After what seemed like eternity, they broke apart. He brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face, and she looked up at him. She had loved him for so long, even after the first time they parted. She had never stopped loving him, and she knew she never will.

“I would ask you to come with me, but I know you would be no happier wandering then I would be settling down.” He said after a long silence. To him, this was the hardest part, confirming their separate paths and saying good-bye. It nearly killed him last time, and it was killing him again. He saw the same pain reflected in her eyes too.

“We weren’t meant to be together in this lifetime.” She said quietly. “But at least we got to know what true love is, right?”

He nodded, but said nothing. In the distance a lark sang a sad tune and the air grew still. The gray sky opened up and soft raindrops fell slowly to earth. It seemed as if the whole world felt their pain. Suddenly, she smiled.

“You saved me, you now. Before I met you, I was beginning to believe that this world was too dark for anything good. But then you came along and showed me that the world wasn’t so bad as long as we had love. I kept that lesson with me even after you left.”

He looked at her and smiled. “You saved me too. You showed me that there was hope for redemption, and what forgiveness was.”

Both their hearts lightened a bit, even though the rain continued to fall. They both knew that it was nearing time to say their final farewells.

“Please remember me.” She requested, looking pleadingly into his eyes.

“I will never forget you as long as you remember me.” He replied.

She nodded, “Of course I will. Perhaps we can be together in another lifetime, or maybe someday we’ll be together. We will just have to wait and see what Fate has in store for us.”

He reached out and touched her cheek. Feeling her lean into it, he began to close the space between their faces.

“Until we are allowed to be together.” He whispered as he planted a soft, yet passionate kiss upon her sweet lips. It seemed to last forever, but ended too quickly.

No other words were exchanged, but their eyes said it all; it was time to part. He took her hand and kissed it before turning away. They kept their hands together until he passed out of arm’s length, and she watched as the one man she could ever truly love leave her life for the second time.

Though neither of them knew if they would ever see each other again, they both knew that the old cliché was right: It was better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all. They would go on and live their separate lives and find their own happiness, but they will always remember each other and what true love really was.

its nice, I really liked it

Dying isn't all that bad. I thought as I fought to keep my eyes open while my various wounds bled and festered. The last rays of daylight filtered through the small window of the room, creating a soft golden glow.

As each minute passed, I began to feel lighter and lighter, and soon I allowed my eyes to close, letting the darkness take me. All the pain soon disappeared and I felt strangely detatched from my body. I lingered there for a moment, in a kind of space between life and death, before I was completely severed.

Slowly, I rose up, looking down on the broken vessel that I once inhabited. It was badly bruised, broken, and emaciated; it was indeed a sad sight.

After one last glance of my former self, I began to walk around the room, adjusting to this new sense of...of what....freedom, perhaps? As I wandered, I noticed a shadow follow me, trying to beckon me to follow it. After a hesitant moment, I conceded and followed the shadow.

Soon, the small cell disappeared to be replaced by swirling gray mists. I stood in wonder for a moment before realizing that I was alone. I tried to move, but the mists disoriented me. I was lost, that was all there was to it. I silently began to pray, and wonder.

Had I been tricked into this place by some unkind spirit?

Or does everyone come here when they die, before moving on the the next world?

Soon, the mists gave way to darkness, but this darkness wasn't like the one before. Here, stars glittered all around for what seemed like forever, and moons shone brightly.

Memories of a long lost childhood came rushing back to me, along with others that I had long since pushed from my mind. It was then that I understood. Every soul has to pass through the gray mists, for it is a kind of waiting area, before they come here. Here, this ocean of night, is where the souls are given back their memories and remember who they truly were.

As this understanding descended upon me, my surroundings began to fade, only to be replaced by bright sunlight. Before me was a path, drenched in golden sunlight, leading to a house that resembled the one of my childhood.

I was home.

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This was written just now as I listened to Enya's "Evening Falls...". This will probably undergo some editing later, but I would really like some input.

I really liked the first poem El. It put me in a mind of like Ariel years after the Little Mermaid story takes place. I really like it. Its sort of the story after the 'happily ever after'.

The short story was really good, as always! I would put a bit more of what the spirit looked like/or think about after she had left her body. Like did she look at her hand and see through it? Did she think about her family? Love lost or that she might meet? That kind of thing. I like the way you endided . I would maybe hav her see like either her change to fit the memorie of where she was or like a child hood pet that had died...

Just my thoughts.

*Edited Version*


Dying isn't all that bad. I thought as I fought to keep my eyes open while my various wounds bled and festered. The last rays of daylight filtered through the small window of the room, creating a soft golden glow, adding an ironic air of peace to the dismal place I was now in.

As each minute passed, I began to feel lighter and lighter, and soon I allowed my eyes to close, letting the darkness take me. All the pain soon disappeared and I felt strangely detached from my body. I lingered there for a moment, in a kind of space between life and death, before I was completely severed.

Slowly, I rose up, looking down on the broken vessel that I once inhabited. It was badly bruised, broken, and emaciated; it was indeed a sad sight. It was an odd sensation just looking around; everything was the same, but at the same time, everything was different. It was like looking through the eyes of a new-born.

After one last glance of my former self, I began to walk around the room, adjusting to this new sense of...of what....freedom, perhaps? As I wandered, I noticed a shadow following me. I could find no clear shape for this shadow, but something about it gave it a human-like quality. It beckoned me, and after a hesitant moment, I conceded and moved towards the shadow.

As I approached, the small cell disappeared to be replaced by swirling gray mists. I stood in wonder for a moment before realizing that I was alone. I tried to move any direction I could, but the mists disoriented me. I was lost, that was all there was to it. I silently began to pray, and wonder.

Had I been tricked into this place by some unkind spirit?

Or does everyone come here when they die, before moving on the next world?

Would I ever again see the family I lost so long ago?

My family. I thought. My mother, my father, and my sister, all gone ahead of me from the previous life. I missed them greatly now, and my heart cried in anguish.

Just when despair began to set itself upon me, the mists gave way to darkness, but this darkness wasn't like the one before. Here, stars glittered all around for what seemed like forever, and moons shone brightly.

Memories of a long lost childhood came rushing back to me, along with others that I had long since pushed from my mind. Lost feelings of love and acceptance fell upon me like a refreshing rain. Hope was once again restored.

It was then that I understood. Every soul has to pass through the gray mists, for it is a kind of waiting area, before they come here. Here, in this ocean of night, is where souls are restored. The darkness all souls carry is swept away, and a type of innocence is given back to them. As long as a shred of goodness remains within the soul at the time of death, they are permitted onward.

As this understanding descended upon me, my surroundings began to fade, only to be replaced by bright sunlight. Before me was a path, drenched in golden sunlight, leading to a house that resembled the one of my childhood; a white Victorian style house with a wrap-around porch and evergreen shudders. The warm smell of cinnamon filled my nostrils and a soft piano tune drifted on the air. Best of all, my family was there, waiting for me.

I was home.