True Romance

"Is this what you wanted, Nikki?"1

"Derek, don't start," the girl snapped, throwing her brush down and heading to the closet. She began to shuffle all her clothes around, trying to decide which dress to wear. Derek watched her do this, loving the way her blonde hair fell over her shoulders so elegantly. Even as he contemplated all of Nikki's past "mistakes," he still thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world. He still loved her.2

"Nikki..." he sighed. "I love you to death, but I can't take this much longer."3

"Take what, Derek?" Nikki glared at him over her shoulder. "If I say that I am going to a job interview, then I'm going to a job interview. Why can't you just trust me?"4

"Going to an all-night job interview? In that, no less?" He indicated the skimpy black dress that Nikki had over her arm. He sighed again. "Nikki, I really do love you, but I hate it when you lie to me. If you don't love me, then just say so."5

"Whatever, Derek," Nikki snapped, annoyed. She stomped over to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her, leaving Derek alone on the bed. He grabbed the TV remote and began to flick through the channels numbly, seeing nothing but the last look Nikki had given him just before she slammed the door in his face. He ignored the small, black-clad figure that stormed past the bed and out of the house, leaving him to wallow in his own numbness.6

Derek slept fitfully that night, unable to relax because of the big, gaping cold spot in the bed that was normally filled with Nikki. He woke up several times in the night, hoping that it had all been a bad dream, only to be reminded once again that he was truly all alone. When the morning finally came, he didn't feel any better. It was ten o' clock, and Nikki was still not home. Derek sighed and moved to his computer to check his e-mail and stocks.7

Gone.8

All gone.9

Perhaps he was too numb to feel it by then, but the only thing Derek could do by the time he registered his loss was close his eyes and exit the web browser. He moved back over to the bed and sat down, feeling the emptiness in his chest growing even larger.10

All his hard-earned money...11

It was gone.12

His only love...13

Gone.14

He contemplated this in silence, his eyes at half-mast and his mouth hanging open as if it were real anesthestia that was now running through his veins. Everything was so harsh and abrasive against his skin, yet he could not feel it at all.15

I just want this to be over.16

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open all the way. He knew what had to be done. The only way to make the pain stop...17

He understood.18

Derek stood up and walked to the kitchen on autopilot, his limbs acting of their own accord. It seemed like he had suddenly aquired tunnel vision; the only thing he could see was whatever was right in front of him, and even that was all miles away. The only sounds that reached his ears were the distant thumping of his footsteps a million miles beneath him and the muffled thudding of his heart in his ears. How it still managed to go on was beyond him, but he accepted it. He knew it would not be beating much longer.19

The knife.20

There it was. The only true butcher knife in the house. Ten inches long with a perfect, razor-sharp serrated blade... Derek hadn't even touched it ever since Nikki had admitted that she was a vegetarian. But now, it would have a use... now, it could finally fulfill its purpose...21

Derek removed the blade from its sheath slowly, allowing the flawless metal to catch the light. It was the second most beautiful thing he had ever seen, rivaled only by... but he didn't want to think about her. He couldn't even think of her name, lest the pain consume him again. No... he would make it all go away. Now, he could end it all in one fell swoop... with the help of this blade, it would all be over...22

He closed his eyes and lifted the knife to his throat, feeling nothing as the cold metal pierced his flesh and ended his life...23

* * *24

A million miles away, a girl named Nikki closed her eyes and turned over in her bed. She reached out as if by instinct for the other side of the bed, but her hands grasped nothing but empty air. A deep sadness ran through her as she realized the full extent of her mistake. She turned over again to face the wall, blinking back tears. Nikki knew it was her fault... and she accepted it. She was still beautiful, but she had let herself forget that. Her beauty was no use to her now... she could never love again. She let the aching in her chest consume her, remembering all the horrible things she had done.25

But she would be fine.26

* * *27