Almost Finished

"Don't you ever worry about deadlines?" Ariana asked as she filled in yet another line on yet another college application. She not only needed to finish fulling out the applications but also write up the required essays. She and David were applying for all the same schools and hoping that they were accepted to the same ones. She was holding out for an East coast school.

"Not really," David said. His own papers were all neatly filled out and sitting in a pile along with the essays; he was intent on addressing envelopes. "If you are prepared and start early then there is really no need to panic over deadlines."

Ariana knew that he was right and that she should get batter at prioritizing. She knew that she was smart; she just didn't like to think about deadlines. Didn't like to feel pressured. She laughed to herself, her lips twitching into a small grin, "you would think that as much as I don't like pressure that I would have had these done a while ago like you did."

David shrugged and leaned back, "everyone deals with stuff like this differently," he said and leaned over to give his girl a quick hug. "Are you almost finished?" he asked.

"Yeah. Almost finished," Ariana said and turned back to her forms.

Any Good?

"What are you reading?" Hal asked, plopping down beside David. Hal was one of the few people that David would count as a friend in this school. One of the only people who would make the first move to initiate conversation.

David held up the slim novel, "Persuasion, by Jane Austen," he said.

Hal tried, but didn't succeed in suppressing a bubble of laughter. "Why on earth are you reading that?" he asked, merriment dancing in his eyes at the thought of his friend reading such a girly book.

"Just because you would never broaden your horizons doesn't mean the rest of us don't," David sniffed in mock disdain, "besides," he added and smiled a little, "it's one of Ariana's favorites."

"What's it about?" Hal asked, still clearly amused.

"It's about a military man who fell in love with a young girl. The young girl gave up the relationship when pressured by her family. They split up and he went to sea. He came back years later and this is the story of how they both cope with it. It's a story about waiting," David said.

"Is it any good?" Hal asked, his tone low, as if embarrassed to be caught asking.

"It's really good," David said, "I'll let you read it when I'm finished if you want," he continued, casting a sidelong glance at his friend.

Hal looked around quickly, "alright," he said, "if it's as good as you say then I'll check it out."

David smirked a little and returned to the story.

Island of Peace

A black Camero roared down the sharp turn of the off ramp, nearly sliding into the guardrails. It accelerated wildly as it came out if the turn and onto the flat desert road, nothing but pale dirt, scrubby brush and Joshua Trees as far as could be seen.

David's hands clenched and unclenched on the wheel as the speedometer edged past ninety-five, his face a dark thundercloud, teeth clenched. He only hit the breaks long enough to turn onto a seldom used road, winding and almost overgrown. As David made his final turn a small oasis came into view, tall trees surrounding a tiny lake that shimmered in the afternoon light.

David was stripping off his clothes as he climbed out of the car and walked quickly to the water. As soon as his toes hit the warm natural spring water he started to breathe easier and his face started to clear.

He sloshed quickly into the warm spring of water, the warmth creeping up his body and easing the tension from his muscles. Soon enough he was neck deep in water, suspended in the comforting warmth of the silent spring. With a few twitches of his hands and legs he rotated onto his back and began to float, the water buoying him, seeming to embrace him. He stretched out his arms to the sides, tiny movements keeping him stationary, and listened to his breathing as he felt the sun beating down on him.

David began to breathe easier as he let his eyes fall closed.

For a time, he had peace.

Sneak attack

"You're never going to get any better if you don't practice," David said, leaning against his foam sword.

"What's the point, I'll never beat you," Ariana pouted.

"Yes you will, but you must practice. Now, try again," David commanded.

Ariana narrowed her eyes at him as he began to stalk towards her. As he approached she rushed past his defenses and pressed her lips to his in a long kiss.

David was taken by surprise and his brain seemed to fizzle out. He was brought back to the present when he felt a blow to his back.

"Dead." Ariana said.

Repeated Orders

"Hey boss," Steve called out as they hunched further down behind the makeshift barrier as bullets flew past overhead.

"Yeah Steve?" David yelled back to his second in command over the chatter of the machine guns.

"How long have we been chasing this guy?" Steve popped up for a brief second and laid down a spray of bullets.

"Boogieman Bates," David said with suppressed anger, "that man is a ghost. Each time I get close, he slips away. And it usually takes me years to find him again." David returned some of the incoming fire; screams from the other side of the room confirmed the hits. "I can guarantee that he is gone by now. He is always one step ahead of me."

David could hear the other men on the team talking about the same thing. David thought back to when he had first been assigned to take care of Bates. All he had was a grainy surveillance photo, and a cock sure attitude of one that had never failed.

That attitude and picture had landed him in the hospital for three weeks with a bullet wound in his leg. Bates had gotten away.

The next time, he was more cautious and methodical in his hunt. David still only narrowly escaped being blown up in a carefully laid trap.

David sighed in frustration. Killing Brody Bates was his one ongoing failure. He still had the original kill order tucked into his wallet.



From: Office of General Command
To: Captain David Cole
Attn: Brody Bates

Captain Cole; you are ordered to eliminate the terrorist known as Brody Bates. Methodology is to your discretion. Further intelligence provided by Commander Hayes.




David pulled out the order from time to time and tried to put himself in Bates's shoes. Tried to think as he would think; tried to get a few steps ahead of him.

David sighed and shook his head. It was near impossible to think like a psychopath like Bates.

Steve broke into David's musings, "so what are we going to do boss?"

"After we eliminate these, then the hunt begins again," David said.

His Whole World

David had read Ariana's official obituary in the newspaper that day. It was well done, but he felt it wasn't complete. There was no doubt that her family loved her and would miss her, but they didn't know what had happened that night. They didn't know her like he did.

David sat down at his desk and took out a couple sheets of paper and a pen.

On April 19th at 7:45 in the evening the world experienced a great loss. The life of Ariana Kingston was cut short at the age of eighteen. Ariana was full of life and laughter. She had a passion for life that was spread over everything that she did. She loved learning, and had been accepted to a prestigious college on the east coast which she was going to attend in the fall where she was to major in Astrophysics. Ariana was quick to laugh and loved to play the piano...

David continued to write; filling the pages with her accomplishments and merits. He came at last to the end. Ariana is survived by her parents and her brothers and by her long time boyfriend David Cole.

David blotted at the page where his tears had smudged the ink slightly. He added in a few final lines. Ariana was shortly to have been engaged to David. They were to be married before going to college in the fall.

David carefully folded the papers and slipped them between the pages of Ariana's favorite book and slid it onto the shelf next to his bed. It still didn't do her justice, but it was the best he could do to sum up the life of the woman that had become his whole world.

Practical Relaxation

David stretched to limber up his slightly stiff muscles; pulling one arm and then the other, rotating, bending and shaking out his ling arms and legs.

David centered within himself. He drew a deep breath and flashed into motion; spinning, kicking and punching in ancient forms, flowing from one to the next with perfect precision. Dragon Claw to Eagle, Cobra Strike to Scorpion. Sweat began to trickle down his brow and soak the collar of his shirt. He let his eyes fall closed; concealing the dark blue irises and the lurking memories.

David increased the pace, darting from one form to the next with almost reckless abandon, pushing himself to the limit. With a final sweep of his leg and a yell David dew himself up to his full height. He inhaled slowly and released the breath just as slowly.

David lay down on the mats and let all the tension flow out of his body. After ten minutes he stood up; centered and focused again, the perfect soldier.

Buried

David awoke slowly from his nap. The sun was still high and warm on his face and he felt like he was surrounded in warmth. He could remember lying down on the warm sands of the beach, Ariana beside him.

David turned his head and saw that Ariana was still sleeping. He smiled to himself and went to sit up, and found that he couldn't. Puzzled, David looked down at his chest and saw that he was buried up to his shoulders in a thick layer of warm sand.

After a few moments of fruitless struggle David sat still. He turned his head to look at Ariana and saw that she was shaking with silent laughter, tears rolling from her eyes.

"Ari, what on earth..."

Ariana burst out laughing and rolled onto her stomach as she scooted closer to her trapped boyfriend. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the laughter.

"Okay Ari, will you let me go now?" David laughed, trying again to free himself.

Ariana cocked her head to one side, "no. I don't think I will. At least not yet."

"Why not?" David asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Because now I can do this," Ariana said, as she bent over him. Ariana captured his lips in a long passionate kiss.

Ghostly

"You know, it really sucks that I can't touch you all the time," David said as he reclined in a chair, half in shade and half in the sun. Ariana hovered as if she were sitting on his lap.

"But you can see me almost all the time," Ariana said with laughter in her voice. "If you could touch me all the time, or rather, I could touch you, then I would be alive and I couldn't do my work."

"What exactly is your work?" David asked. He had gotten used to talking to her out loud, but only when he was sure there was no one around.

"Mostly to keep you safe," she said, "that's why I had to die. God knew that you would need me to help keep you safe. But thankfully, He didn't want to separate us."

"You said mostly," David said after a few moments, "what else do you do?"

"Well, you are by far the person that takes up most of my time. The other two don't need me so much. I also keep a general eye on your team, though each of them have their own guardian," she said.

"So when can you touch me?" David asked with a wink.

"When it won't endanger you, when it will keep you from harm, and when I think it is for your good," Ariana ticked them off on her fingers, her voice singsong as if reciting a list of rules.

"For my good," David laughed, the lost twinkle in his eye sparking to life, "wouldn't that be all the time."

"No," Ariana smiled, "I have to judge when it is for your good."

"Like when?" David asked.

"Like now," Ariana whispered and leaned in for a ghostly kiss.

Freak Out

"Now that I have accepted the reality of your existence, will you show yourself?" David asked. It had been nearly three months since his 'visitor' had taken to keeping him company.

"I still don't think you are ready," she laughed.

"What if I promise not to freak out or anything, not that I think that anything could freak me out now."

"If you behave yourself, then maybe."

David was still not one hundred percent certain that he wasn't crazy, but he was fairly sure."

She sighed, "remember how I told you that I had been wanting to touch you for a long time?"

David remembered back to that day when she had touched him, how it had brought back so many memories, and feelings. "Yes," he said hesitantly.

"Well that was not strictly true."

David waited for her to continue.

"It was true that I had wanted to touch you for a long time, but I didn't tell you how much I had missed touching you."

"Missed touching..." David began with a puzzled expression.

"David," the voice said hesitantly, as if afraid.

David suddenly recognized the intonation of his name, and everything clicked into place. The teasing, the smack to the back of the head, the way that he felt when she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Ari?" He asked, half in shock, half in hope.

The voice didn't say anything.

"Please Ari, if that's you, please, please, show yourself to me," David said frantically as he looked around for the source of her voice, now certain that it was her.

David sat stunned as his love appeared before his eyes; there but not really there. She was biting her lip in the way he knew all to well, "Hey Dave," she whispered.

David jumped up and ran towards her with his arms outstretched, "Ari!"

Ariana shook her head, "I can only touch you at certain times," she said as he passed through her.

David turned to look at her, his heart in his eyes, "why? Why did you have to leave me?" he asked brokenly, longing to touch the woman he loved, his had outstretched to caress her face.

"I never left you. Never," she said, "but you needed protection. You have a great work to do in life. You still need to do that, and I will be here with you to the end."

"Will we be together when it's all over?" David asked.

"I promise."

Not Forbidden

"You know, you are starting to creep me out," David said. He knew no one was there, but he knew that she could hear him; that she was there. He had finally decided that the spirit, or whatever it was, was a woman.

"Why is that?" the voice asked after a moment of silence.

"You know me too well, as if you have always been watching me."

"Maybe I have."

"No. I remember. You said that you had been watching me for years, not from the beginning."

David caught a sigh coming from the spirit. "Can you show yourself?" David asked.

"I can. But I won't," the spirit said.

"Why not?"

"You're not ready for that."

"But you can smack me around?"

"Of course I can. Physical contact is not forbidden."

David nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt ghostly fingers being run through his hair, felt them on his neck at the collar of his shirt. He felt one finger tracing a line across his cheekbone, and another cupping his face. David felt his breath hitch in his throat and tears start in his eyes, the touch bringing back sensations and long suppressed memories.

David quickly stepped away for the contact, not sure if that would help. "Please," he whispered, "don't do that."

"But I have wanted to for a long time," the spirit whispered

"Who are you?" David asked.

"Now that is forbidden," the spirit said wistfully, "you'll have to discover that one on your own."

"How am I to do that?"

"Look to the stars...."

What Do You Want?

"Alright!" David said in exasperation, "what is it you want and why do you keep kitting me in the back of the head?" David backed up against a wall, "I mean thanks for saving my life and all, but really, you need to just tell me what you want. Why won't you leave me alone?"

"Because you're not listening!" an exasperated voice whispered in his ear.

"What am I not listening to?" David asked, not sure if he should be talking to himself.

"You're not listening to me. I've been trying to get your attention for years. I've been protecting you for years. You just never knew it."

"Well I'm certainly listening now. What is it you want?"

"I want you to be safe and happy."

David sighed, "neither is possible for me. My work precludes the first, and events in the past eliminate the second."

David felt another tap to the back of his head.

"Will you knock it off!"

"No," the voice said as it faded into the night.

Going Crazy

"Steve, I'm worried I'm going crazy," David said as he stopped in his friends room.

Steve looked up from the report he was typing; green eyes staring thoughtfully at his commander through a pair of silver frames glasses, his slightly shaggy blond hair falling across his brow.

Steve slowly closed his laptop and turned his full attention to his friend. "What makes you say that?" he asked as he gestured at the bed, inviting David to sit down.

"I don't know. I suppose a lot of little things that have been happening lately. Like during the last skirmish, I felt hands on my head pull me out of the way of a bullet, but no one was around. I felt a hand on my arm, making me pause just as a car came careening around the corner. And just now, I was thinking on the past, and I felt someone smack me on the back of the head," David said.

Steve slowly removed his glasses and examined them. David recognized this gesture. Steve was deep in thought.

Steve eventually replaced his glasses on his nose and looked at David, "perhaps someone is trying to get your attention."

"Oh Steve, not you too. Don't tell me you believe in all that spirit stuff," David said as he rolled his eyes.

Steve shrugged, "it's just a suggestion."

David sighed in exasperation, but jerked forward when he felt a solid whack to his head. David reached up and massaged the spot and looked around.

"Steve, do you see anyone in here besides the two of us?"

"No sir."

"But..."

"Maybe you just need to be open to the idea of something you can't explain, and then an answer will find you sir."

"Open to the idea. I guess I could give it a try if it will restore my sanity."

Over Tired

David felt his head being jerked back, as if two hands had grasped the sides of his head and pulled, bare seconds before a bullet passed through the same space his head had been occupying. A slight shift brought his gun to bear on the figure to his right and he pulled the trigger with precision accuracy, felling the last enemy soldier.

In the silence that followed the brief but intense battle, David checked in on his men. All reported clear of danger and all enemies eliminated.

David looked around but didn't see any friendlies in his area, only the corpses of the enemy and a few fallen comrades.

Confused at the sensation he had felt, David rubbed his eyes in exhaustion.

"I must be over tired," he thought to himself as he went to find his men in the labyrinth of rooms and corridors.

Stopped Believing

"So what you're telling me is that everyone has a guardian spirit? A magic being that looks out for you? Protects you?" David asked with sarcasm.

John didn't bat an eyelash at the younger mans scorn, "yes. That's what I'm saying."

David snorted in derision as he continued to clean his M16, "so why is it that nobody seems to know of these spirits? Whey is there no evidence that they exist."

"Believe what you want," John said, "but it's true."

"Then where was her spirit?" David spat out in anger, "where was this great being when she was being killed? HUH?" David's voice was rising, "Where was this all powerful spirit and why didn't it save her?"

John looked at David calmly, "those that have eyes to see," he said quietly. "You can't see God, but people still believe he is there.

David looked away, almost in shame, "I stopped believing in him a long time ago too. Just like your fairies and spirits, unicorns and pots of gold at the rainbows end."

"Those days are long dead," David said as he turned to go.


(okay, so this week will be non cannon and it will probably encompass David's realization that there is in fact magic in the world.)

Again and Again

The four men in Commander Cole's unit were huffing for air when they came staggering into the open compound yard after a twenty mile run; Joe immediately collapsed to the ground, heaving for breath.

"On your feet soldier," David barked as he stepped out of the command post.

Joe immediately rolled to his knees and struggled to stand again without blacking out, Bryan and Mark were both doubled over with their hands on their thighs, and Steve was leaning against the wall, swallowing convulsively, as he tried to regain his balance.

"Line up!" David commanded, and watched as they shuffled into a staggered line.

"Not good enough men," David said, looking them up and down, "Dress those lines and come to attention.

It took the four subordinate officers a few seconds to straiten themselves out. They were still breathing hard and sweat was pouring off of their faces in the hot Nevada sun.

"That run took you almost three hours gentlemen," David said disparagingly as he paced back and forth in front of them. "It should have taken you no more than two," he said, and looked each of them in the eye until they looked down. "I will not tolerate such poor standards in my command. You will do it again tomorrow, and it had better be within the time limits. As for right now, you will each give me one hundred push-ups, and then you will run the obstacle course. You will finish in under two minutes. Now Move!" David barked.

The four men dropped to the ground and began the rigorous number of push-ups that came on top of the run; none of them looked forward to the obstacle course. None of them had ever finished in under two minutes.

David watched in silence as his men struggled to make the repetitions that he had required, watched them stagger to their feet again and run to the obstacle course, and watched every one of them fail to make the two minute mark.

"Not good men," David said as he shook his head, "not good at all. Tomorrow will be more of the same, and the next day, and the next. Everyday until you can do it right. Now, dismissed to eat and wash," David said.

The four men said nothing as they turned from their leader and headed towards the barracks, complete exhaustion the only emotion in their faces.

"Just a little harsh don't you think?" Commander Hayes asked as he stepped out of the command post where he had been watching David drill his men.

"Were you any easier on me?" David asked without turning, "If I'm harsh now, they will become better soldiers; quick, agile, disciplined, strong, and resilient. They will live longer, and be prouder of themselves."

"Well, they're your men, I won't interfere, but do remember that they are also pretty young," Hayes said as he turned to leave.

"So was I," David said to no one in particular.

Perseid

Joe threw down his pencil in frustration over his paperwork, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Perfect," he muttered, "middle of August and the cooler goes out. It has to be the most humid and hot night on record," he griped to no one. Joe stood up and walked to the kitchen, stripping off his damp and sweat soaked over shirt. He reached into the fridge and pulled out a cold soda; David didn't allow alcohol in the house, and rolled the cool can over his face and neck. As he turned to go back to his work he spotted David walking out the back door with a large cylinder over his shoulder. Curious, Joe followed him to the backyard.

Joe watched in fascination as David set up the cylinder. It looked like it was made from a cardboard tube.

"What are you doing Boss?" Joe asked after observing him for a few moments.

"Tonight is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower; it's when the earth moves through the trail left by a comet, there will be a lot of shooting stars tonight," David said as he looked at the youngest member of his team.

Joe frowned in puzzlement, "I didn't know you were into meteor showers," he said.

David smiled and brushed some dust off of the telescope, "a long time ago, I wasn't, at least not at first, but a very good friend of mine was," he said as he adjusted the angle of the lens. He looked up at Joe, "would you care to join me? It should be quite the show tonight."

Joe thought about it briefly, "okay," he said after a moment, "I would like that."

David smiled and stepped aside so that Joe could get a look at the sky.

"Wow," Joe breathed in wonder as he watched streaks of light flash past.

"Yeah," David said with a gentle smile. He stood back and looked up at the heavens, a single tear brimmed, but didn't fall.

Dead Before the Report

Grant Brenna was sitting behind his large desk when the lights flickered and went out. He was a naturally paranoid man and so he drew his gun without thinking. Brenna leaned slightly forward and pressed the button on the intercom to double check that the power was out.

He stood slowly and scanned the room, his eyes gradually adjusting to the dimness, the only light coming in from off the street ten floors below.

Fire cut a searing gouge in his leg before he even heard the sound of the shot or saw the flash of the muzzle. He yelled in pain as he dropped to the floor. The shot had come from the right side of the door, but he hadn't heard the door open or close.

"Who's there?" Brenna shouted into the darkness. The only answer was silence. Brenna grunted in pain as he tried to stand up, but only succeeded in falling over again. As he looked around the room he saw a shadow flit across the window. He Quickly aimed and pulled the trigger, the stillness of the room shattering with the shot.

A hollow laugh filled the room and made Brenna's blood run cold.

"Did you really think that you would not pay for what you have done?" a voice whispered out of the darkness somewhere to his right.

"And just what did I do?" Brenna asked, his voice quavering as he thought over all he had done.

Another chuckle echoed through the room, "I think the bigger question would be, what haven't you done."

"Well whatever you think that I did, I didn't do it. I'm a business man. Nothing more," Brenna said, trying to inject some force into his voice.

"Oh you did it alright," the voice said, this time it was closer, "I know everything about you. I have waited a long time for this."

"At least be a man and show yourself," Brenna said.

"A man huh?" the voice sounded amused, "well what if I'm not a man. What if I'm a monster? I am what I am thanks to you Brenna. And now you will die at the hands of your creation."

"Look I'm sure there is some way to work this out. Some way that I can make it up to you, what ever it was that I did."

"I don't think so Brenna. You are not going to get out of it just by apologizing. You killed her, and now, it is your turn." A gun cocked just next to Brenna's ear.

Brenna jumped a foot into the air and tried to scramble backwards, "look, I don't know who it was that was so special to you, but I'm sorry. I'll do anything."

"Sorry? Well I'm sorry, but your apology not only comes to late, it means nothing to me."

Brenna was dead before he could have even heard the report of the shot that took his life.

David stepped over the lifeless body and walked out of the room, his steps lighter for the first time in a long time.

Closure

David leaned down and brushed the fallen leaves and the dust from the cold stone, revealing a name and a date on the polished surface. He held in his hand a simple bouquet of flowers; a combination of Jasmine and Honeysuckle. David knelt down in the grass beside the grave marker and looked around; the trees were turning gold and red, and a chill wind was blowing from the east.

"Hey Ari," he said in a low voice. Even in the hush of the graveyard his voice didn't carry far past his own ears. David paused, looking for the right words to explain how he was feeling. "I... I came to say I'm sorry, I guess. I don't think that you would have been proud of the way I have lived my life. You were the best part of me, and when you were no longer there, I lost my purpose. I guess I never truly realized how much I depended on you while you were here. Without you, I am only a shadow of what I could have been," David paused again, "I would give up everything to have you here with me. I know that that is impossible, and so I have to learn to live in this world without you," he finished, and a whisper of a breeze rustled his hair, as if fingers were combing through it.

"I guess I also came for closure. I've never been able to move on. I also came to tell you that I love you and that I always will, but I have to let my heart heal, to fill in that hole where you should be," he said as he stood, leaving the flowers propped against the stone.

David backed away a step, "I'm sorry Ariana. But I have to learn to let you go. I can't live as half a person anymore." David bit his lip and forced himself to back up another step instead of lying down on his loves grave and never moving again. Another step. And another. Clenching his teeth and closing his eyes, David turned from the silent graveyard and walked with slow steps back up the path to the gate, tears seeping from his eyes, and his breaths coming in choked sobs.

Turning at the gate, he could just make out her grave marker. "I'm sorry Ariana," he whispered one last time before he got into his car and drove away.

Moving On

Steve cringed back from the thought of seeing his commander again after last night. He shook his head. I should have kept my mouth shut. I just can never seem to get that right. Where is that mental filter when you need one. I should have just backed off and let it be.

Steve knew there was no avoiding David even if he wanted to. He took a deep breath and stepped out of his room early the next morning. He knew that David would be alone in the kitchen.

When Steve poked his head around the corner he could see David, his back was towards him, he was looking out the window and his posture told that he was tired, or resigned, or perhaps both. Steve slunk around the door frame and edged towards the coffee pot that was sitting near where David stood.

"Morning Boss," Steve said quietly.

"Good morning," David replied, but didn't turn from the window.

Steve drew in a breath before speaking, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry Boss. I shouldn't have butted in, it was not my place to say anything at all," Steve said.

David finally turned from the window and looked at his second in command, Steve looked miserable, and David couldn't help a ghost of a smile from flitting across his face. "It's alright Steve," he said, "you were and still are right. I should move on." David fell silent, but Steve didn't say anything, wanting to let David say his piece.

"I guess," David continued after a moment in low and broken tones, "I didn't want to let her go. She was the best woman I have ever known. She was my first love, and then she was gone. I suppose it was easier to hold on to her than to try to let her go and move on. I was going to marry her Steve, but then, you never knew that, you never knew anything about me. I guess if I moved on, then I would feel as if I were betraying her, that I had failed her, like I did before. I know that her death was not my fault, but I have always felt responsible for her murder. I should have been there with her. And maybe that would not have changed anything, but at least I could have tried to do something."

Steve reached out and placed one hand on David's shoulder and squeezed, offering silent support.

David continued, "I nearly died the winter following her death. I would have lain down and given up but for one person who saw me at the edge and pulled me back." David paused for a long time before speaking again, "at this point I don't know if I can move on. My heart has been frozen in place for so long that maybe it had forgotten how to beat, been ice for so long that it has forgotten what it was like to be flesh."

David drained off the last of his coffee as Steve stood in silence. He was certain that he alone would ever know what David had just told him.

David turned to Steve after placing his cup in the sink, "how does one move on Steve?" he asked.