Let me fly.

Taylor sat down on the grass, watching the setting sun shine through evergreens. The ground was speckled with dancing shadows, making her eyes twinkle happily. Birds called, and clouds glided serenely across the sky. A golden leaf detached itself and floated down to her, lifted up by a gentle breeze.1

Taylor watched it spinning closer, then fall into her lap. She smiled and picked it up, feeling the knobbled skin under her soft fingers. She lifted it up and breathed in its scent, feeling the spicy smell of Nature invigorating her mind, and bringing back memories of another time and place, with Liam.2

* * * * *3

She lay down, her head in his lap, as they watched Autumn transfigure the heat of Summer. Liam gently ran his fingers through her hair, she felt him teasing out the knots and his warm hand on her neck. Time seemed to slow as they lay there together, in a companionable silence watching the sun go down.4

"It's beautiful." Taylor whispered softly.5

"Yes, incredibly." Liam gazed down on her lovingly.6

"Hey! You aren't even looking!"7

"Oh, what are you talking about?" Liam glanced around in mock confusion.8

"The sunset, you?"9

"You." Liam pulled her into an embrace. Taylor sighed with happiness, a joy that consumes you and makes all your worries disappear, until tomorrow. "Hey, Taylor,"10

"Yeah?"11

"I love you."12

"I love you too." Taylor leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.13

"Taylor, will you make me happy for the rest of my life?" She stared at him blankly, her mind trying to understand what he was asking her. Even as she watched he went down on one knee opposite her, vaguely she could see a star burst into life in front of them.14

"Taylor, will you marry me?" Liam asked cautiously, holding up a ring with trembling fingers.15

"Liam, I - of course!"16

"Really?"17

"Yes!" Taylor pulled Liam towards her and kissed him deeply, up above fireworks exploded like they were celebrating their love. 18

* * * * *19

Taylor wandered through the forest, being quiet so she didn't have to disturb anything. Her feet crunched as they stood on the carpet of leaves, sinking down to her ankles. Sunshine shone through the canopy of swirling leaves, illuminating them as they flew in the wind away from their branches. It was a year since Liam and her had been married, yet it felt much shorter.20

She fingered her engagement ring, the small diamond glinting softly. Already the chill of winter was invading the still air, like mist hovering just above the beauty, waiting for the right chance to darken all that's light.21

* * * * *22

"Taylor, I joined the army." Liam approached her with this as they were eating dinner outside, his face studiously turned away from her outraged one.23

"What?!"24

"This country has done so much for me, gave me a home, a job, and ... you," His voice softened at that but her heart was turned against him. "It's time I gave something back. After all, 'ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for you coun -"25

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Taylor interrupted. Liam had always been dramatic.26

"Well, I have to go away for a few weeks, just to fight once, okay?" Liam pleaded with her. Taylor turned away from him, fighting tears.27

"Don't go."28

"Taylor, I have to."29

"No, you don't."30

"Taylor, I - I leave tomorrow."31

"Fine." 32

That was the last word she ever spoke to him.33

* * * * *34

By now the fog had concealed the sunshine, helped along by dark storm clouds. Thunder boomed and crashed as lightning flew across the horizon. Rain poured down, and merged with silent tears that trickled slowly down Taylor's face. She stood their, bedraggled and soaked, and let the final painful memory take over...35

* * * * *36

She opened the mailbox and took out letters, flipping through the bills as she walked back down her cobblestone path. Nothing, nothing, noth - wait a second. She ran to a particularly sunny spot and crouched their, her eyes running over the text.37

'Mrs Taylor Smith.38

Your husband Liam died in battle bravely, with no pain at all. He was an amazing person and inspirational to us all. We sincerely miss him, please accept our deepest comfort.'39

She slumped back against the wall, unable to believe it. Her vision closed down to a tunnel with panic, blurring with tears. The ground she was staring at began to spin and her throat caught with sobs so large they threatened to break her in half. He was her life. He was dead. Therefore she was dead.40

* * * * *41

Taylor wandered on and on, as the short rain stopped abruptly, even if the mist and clouds still hung there, leaving her wet but warm. Her feet seemed to travel of their own accord, as if she had no control over them. She found herself on the edge of a rock, with a steep drop down.42

She leaned forwards, feeling the wind catch at her dark hair and long white dress. The dark clouds hung over her, a bad omen. Slowly she fell forward, her arms outstretched. The wind lifted her up as easily as the leaves, 43

and she flew...