Living Death (Extension)

Living Death1

It is a cold, autumn day.  I stand there as I have every day since…since then.  No words break the silence.  The brisk wind wafts my curly blond hair, too long for my own good.  But that was always what he liked.  My hair.  Along with the rest of me.  But especially my curls.  He would run his fingers through them when we were together.  Just because he liked them so much.  My mind drifts back to…that day.  The day I lost him.2

He knew he would be leaving us.  He always had a knack for seeing the big picture in ways nobody else could.  He saw all the important things before they happened.  And always accepted them.  No matter how bad they were.  I remember seeing that cold look in his eyes.  He woke up and knew he was going to die that day.  And he didn't even try to stop it.  We could have just stayed indoors.  Never left the comfort of our house.  Our home.  We should have.  Part of me almost wants to forget about him.  He left me.  The angers stirs every time I think about that is so strong.  But even stronger is how much I love him.  I will never forget him.3

Looking at the gravestone in front of me, I can't help but remember what he said to me the day we met.  Everything in life happens for a reason.  That's what he said.  What reason was there for this?  Why did you have to leave me?  What purpose does it serve?  So much pain has enveloped me these past months.  If I'm supposed to get stronger because of it, fine, I'm stronger.  Now give me back my life.  My love.  Every day I wake to an empty bed.  A cold bed.  How is that supposed to strengthen me?  My life is over and I'm not even twenty five.  I want to be in his arms again.  I want to be holding him again.  Not standing over his grave.4

He risked his life for me that day.  Fought six guys who were trying to kill us and won.  Never even stopped to think for a moment that maybe that was the way he went out.  He didn't give a damn about himself.  All he cared about was me.  He took down six guys at once because he didn't want them to hurt me.  And then topped that by sacrificing his life for the leader of that little group.  Dan was staring death in the face.  After getting beaten to a pulp, he stumbled out onto the road.  Right in the way of a bus.  But he couldn't allow Dan to die.  He had to save him.  Even if it cost him his own life.  I saw him leap.  I saw him stare death in the face and not even blink.  I saw his smile.  That almost evil one.  He knew he was going to die.  But he still didn't stop being my hero.  He did everything expected of him and more.5

After that, things get a little hazy.  The first clear memory I have is the funeral.  It was interrupted.  By Dan.  He came to pay his 'respects'.  By pissing on the grave.  I lost it then.  Completely.  Utterly.  Dan didn't know what hit him.  Knee deep in dirt, I pummelled him.  My trousers were wet.  Dan's urine.  I punched harder.  He wasn't more than a red stain by now.  And still I kept punching.  Through it all, I could hear one thing.  Laughter.  Dan's laughter.  Louder and louder.  Till it drowned out every other sound.  Everyone was in shock.  Nobody even thought to try to pull me off him.  Exhausted, my bloody fists finally stopped crashing down.  Tears ran from my eyes.  Then I saw it.  Dan's deathly still form.  He wasn't breathing.  He was dead.  I knew it.  And I knew I had done the wrong thing.6

The man in the coffin I stood on wouldn't have wanted that.  Even though Dan deserved it.  He saved Dan's life.  But not so I could take it away.  I couldn't breathe.  I had just killed a man.  I wanted to run.  Just run away from it all.  From life.  God knows, it felt horrible.  But my legs, soaking in Dan's urine, wouldn't move.  I felt something then.  Something growing inside of me.  It kept building seemingly endlessly, spreading from my heart out through my body, down my arms, through my fingers.  As it reached its crescendo, the lightning reached into Dan.  Infusing life into him.  Where once his heart lay still, it now beat with the fever of an African drum dance.  I could feel it.  Feel him.  I could take that life spilling out of him and just put it back into Dan's limp and lifeless body.  I could rectify my mistake…7

The irony hit me like a meteor.  He had always talked about how everyone is unique.  Everyone has a certain magic in them.  And I had just found mine…too late…8

Dan was in the hospital for a week, everyone desperately running tests, trying to find the mysterious factor that had given this man a second lease on life.  No answers presented themselves.  He never even knew he had died.  But when he was released, there was a new, more vicious streak in him.  He was beating up anyone who got in his way.  For any reason.  9

About two weeks after that, he was found in a dark alleyway.  He was propped up against the wall in a pool of dried blood.  His blood.  Not a mark on him.  It was like it had just evaporated out of him.  Around his neck was a sign.  It read,  "Everything in life happens for a reason."10

********************11

I return to that alley.  Time and again.  Dan died here.  And it makes no sense.  Everything says it was him.  Mystic intervention for lack of a better word.  He came back to right the wrong.  His wrong.  Dan was supposed to die that day.  Not be saved.  The universe has a cruel sense of humour.  12

Standing there, looking at what’s happened with my life, I feel something.  A wind, almost.  Like an intense feeling so strong it can move the very air, bring forth the very elements themselves.  And he is there.  My love.  Returned to me at last.  My skin goosebumps at his touch, my eyes unable to stay open, enhancing my senses, his fingers sliding over my skin, round it, enjoying the feel of it.  It starts at the back of my neck, his fingers tracing my spine, my body intoxicated with the feeling, wanting, no, needing more of it, to experience it again.  And with that, its gone.  The fingers slip off my skin grudgingly, wanting to touch me again, longing for the feel of me.  And my eyes snap open.  13

What was that?  Did I experience Heaven again, just to lose it once more?  And then I feel it.  A body.  Someone is here.14

Frantically turning, I see his face, my love once again.  But it’s not.  Similar.  Exactly the same, only different.  His face is haunted.  His features frozen in shock.  He stands there, staring at his hands, quaking, shaking with some emotion…almost fear.  Was it his touch I felt?  Did he make me feel whole again?15

“What’s wrong?” I ask, hesitantly.  His wide eyed stare meets mine, and I freeze.  Those eyes…those are his eyes.  Windows into his soul.  I can feel them looking into me and realising something forgotten.  Am I being given another chance at happiness?16

“I couldn’t stop him, I couldn’t stop him, I couldn’t stop him,” he whispers, repeating it time and again.  He hasn’t slept in days…his jaw covered in the stubble of his brown hair, his lips draw me in.  Before I know what I’m doing, my lips meet his.  And heaven starts all over again.  One single kiss and the world falls away, slips out from under my feet.  My mind goes blank and for the first time in months, I lose track of myself.  And abruptly as it started, it’s over.  17

“I’m sorry.”18

“…What…?”19

He’s as lost as I am.  Again, I enquire as to what happened.  We stand there in the cold winter air as he explains.20

He was coming home from a late movie with his boyfriend.  Dan appeared from out of nowhere.  Dan threw the boyfriend to the ground and stabbed him, killed him in cold blood.  With a final gasp of “…run…” his boyfriend passed from this world.  And all that was left was Dan.  Without warning, his body lost control.  He doesn’t remember too much after that apart from standing over Dan’s body.  All the blood was drained from it.  Pooled in the alley.  And he saw the phrase on the wall.  He knew he’d done something wrong.  He tried to go to the police but the phrase kept on repeating itself over and over again in his head, drowning out any other thought…21

“And then I saw you, standing here in this alley.  The voice fell silent.  And I felt something overtake me, flow through me…and then…then you kissed me.”22

Silence.  Awkward silence.  We stand there staring at each other.  I see my love in his face, in his features, in his every movement.  But that’s not possible.  My love is dead.  23

“True love never dies,” he says…like he can read my thoughts.  What is going on?  Everything, every fibre of my being, every sign I need is there, telling me to say the words, to ask the question, to pursue future happiness.  But I…I…24

He says one word then.  One single word that changes my life.  He speaks my name and I know it’s him.  I know it’s my love.  My life is complete once more.25

“Everything in life happens for a reason, right?” 26

Author notes

Please read 'Death' first as this is the sequel.
Please let me know which version of 'Living Death' you prefer.  This one leaves things a little less unclear.

A contest entry

What did you think? Please comment!

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Comments

1 - 28 of 28

  • Justin-M-Bernard silver member
    June 28

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    This is a great short work of fiction. Unfortunately is looses a lot of deeper meaning without Death. I still alot of potential with your writing. I look forward reading more of your stuff!

  • Silver Heart
    May 17
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    good story, but kinda confusing. but i like it, good heartbreak. good luck in my contest!


  • HaydenLautner
    May 3

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    This was great. A really amazing sequel. I don't know why you didn't win more contests. You should have. I loved it.


  • Bethany
    January 28

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    wow, thats alot of contests you entered...
    i thought it was a good story line, but it was a bit confusing...
    good luck in the contests


  • KitterBean
    August 25, 2008
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    This was really great! but i am not sure it was right for contest. I mean, it was emotional and all...but...i don't know, i just didn't get the romance vibe. You have something great here though, don't get me wrong! Thanks for entering and good luck with the other contest! Yip!


  • moonwriter
    July 15, 2008

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    This was a little on the strange and confusing side, but I really liked it. It was very well written with great descriptions. Good job!


  • Noisome.
    July 4, 2008

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    I was rather confused as I read this. The writing was good and there were very few errors, but was this romance? Or was this a goodbye? It seemed more like a time of being reunited. Perhaps if you clarify a tad, I can reread and know it better. I enjoyed the details and descriptions and they were indeed captivating, but I'm not sure I understood this wholly.

    Thanks for entering and good luck!

  • HoneyAngel
    April 9, 2008

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    Wow, I liked it a lot. Is there more to it? Or something? Because I know I'd love to read more. It was fantastic.

    Good luck in the contest.

    Angel.


  • Zsadist Gates
    March 18, 2008
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    Okay, my first impression was that I was confused. This is very intriguing despite that. I like the way it's written, and I'll definitely have to read the prequel to this at some point.

    As it stands now, however, thanks for your entry, and good luck <3


  • tabbykat92
    March 11, 2008

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    I really felt the emotion coming from this, and it was so sad. Thanks and good luck in the contest.


  • Crying Angel Eyes
    March 5, 2008
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    Its sad


  • Crying Angel Eyes
    March 5, 2008
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    great thanks


  • Forgotten Anomaly
    February 8, 2008

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    It made no scence since I did not read death first. I would recomend that you enter the first one into a contest and non the second.


  • Yoko
    February 3, 2008

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    It was really sad. I can tell that girl was really mad. Sigh. Losing a really good friend is the worst thing that could happen. Nice way of writing it, and the story was really sad. Keep writing. Mew!


  • SaintSeaShell
    February 1, 2008

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    Hello,

    Thank you for entering the contest. I enjoyed reading your story; although, your story did not necessarily pertain to the topic of the contest.

    I would have to agree with a few of the other comments, that in parts it was a bit confusing. I think if you polished it up some grammatically, that this would be a really great story. Also, one line that stands out to me the most is where" he runs his fingers through her curly hair." It sounds kind of unrealistic, I guess because it is difficult to run finger through curly hair. My daughter has curly hair, it is very beautiful, but my finger would get stuck if I tried to put my fingers in it. Maybe, you could change that line somehow. Instead of running fingers through it, he could gently touch her beautiful curls.

    You are a very creative writer! Thanks again for submitting your story.

    Kind regards, Shell

  • mysterydragon
    August 5, 2007

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    this definately confused me. did the guys love come back to life? it almost seems like its him in someone elses body. i want to read your other story and if i get the time i will definately.


  • boxOFjuice
    July 30, 2007
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    @.@ I'm VERY VERY confused. There's the protagonist...he's male? and the his lover came back to life? O.O they have magical powers? The only thing that I'm clear on is that, Dan is a BAD guy. Other than that it was imensely intersting for me! ^_^; though it would be better if I understood things clearer.


  • Saej silver member
    July 23, 2007

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    "The angers stirs every time I think about that is so strong." This sentence is awkward, and you should consider re-wording it.
    The emotion portrayed in this piece is amazingly worded. It's impressive.


  • SwallowedByDarkness
    June 15, 2007

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    Ahh, that was so sad and happy. Love your work. Just keep up with the good work and good luck for the contests.


  • Taboo Pixie
    June 12, 2007

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    i think its really creative..i did get confused sometime in the middle..but everything just sort of fell into place and then i just thought it was beautiful..i love happy endings..great job..and good luck in the contest


  • HeartSxAnDxStripeS
    June 12, 2007

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    That was good, a little confusing at times, but I got it in the end

    I like the fact that it is fantasy AND romance, my two fav genres rolled into one.

    Such a good story, I really liked it. Good luck in the contest.


  • helenann48
    April 10, 2007
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    Nice! But I got confused at some points...
    Well, good luck with the contest! I entered, too!


  • kenddrraaa
    April 10, 2007
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    Hm, well this was a bit confusing. I didn't know what was going on in some parts. And you never said the "love's" name. You just kept calling him the love. or my love. etc.

    I was confused but it was a good story from what little i did understand.
    Thanks for entering and good luck!


  • MyZeroForever
    March 20, 2007
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    ok wow great write....i think u did an awesome job!!!! well good luck n tnx for entering!


  • asthray.heart
    March 15, 2007

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    The death could have used a little more description, but otherwise the rest was amazing.

    Great job and good luck in the comp.

    Lady Madeline.


  • LostSoulOfRage
    March 11, 2007

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    thnx for entering
    wow this is really good, and sad. i loved this. its amazing. the details are unbeleiveable. i think u should discribe how the death happened a little more though, it would bring the story iut better.
    anyways this is an amazing peice. i absolutly loved it. good luck and keep up the great work. good job.

  • Erotic Dreams
    March 5, 2007

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    This is so sad, i ended up having a sweet little cry which is very against my nature This is beautifully written, i found the start a bit vague but then i realised that as you allowed the subtle twists to unravel the plot it was very nice to read. I think maybe if you were to mention Dans name somewhere at the start it would clear up a bit of the confusion. I felt a little confused in places. i understood it alot better after the second read, it was probably my demented comprehension but yea. Thanks so much for entering, this is really sad and sweet mwah- Zandy


  • Token Massacre silver member
    August 30, 2006

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    you have sentence fragments
    check your tenses you skip from past to present
    and shouldn't start a sentence
    The anger stirs is n awkward sentence
    thoughts should be in ' ' marks or italics

    it's a great story. the events in the alley are a little vague though, as it's supposed to explain everything. Other than that it's a good story

1 - 28 of 28