Newgrounds.com — Everything, By Everyone.

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PART 2. (it wouldn't all fit in one post.)

“Nothing... I just missed you is all... I love you, have I told you that yet? What was the kiss for?” He said smiling.

“No reason, and no, but I forgive you, because I love you too.” I looked at him smile. I just felt calm and safe and happy, I knew this is where I wanted to be right now.

He turned to say something to me quickly and there was the sound of a horn blaring behind us. He jumped suddenly and the truck started skidding through the slick road, we were swerving all over the place and I started panicking. He jerked the wheel right, trying to avoid hitting an oncoming car in the other lane, and we started to spin. We headed off the road and I felt us plummet downwards as we entered a deep ditch off the side of the road. I felt like we were jolting everywhere and the truck began to tip to its side, still moving with too much momentum. We were going to roll I thought as I lurched to my side hitting my head on the window, I felt it crack.

Everything started fading to black and all I felt was a warmth suddenly envelope me, like I was being held.

I woke later, my head pounding. I felt tubes and wires all around me and could barely open my eyes. I felt a hand on mine and an unfamiliar voice beside me said; “Relax, everything is ok, you’re in the hospital, you were in an accident but you only suffered some minor head injuries ok?”

I was so groggy I could hardly talk, I managed to mumble the words; “No, Rick... Where’s Rick?”

The voice of the male doctor softly answered “His injuries were a lot more severe then yours... He was holding you in the car when you were found, had he not taken off his seatbelt and covered you; you may not be here right now.”

Panic took hold I wasn’t getting a straight answer. “Where is he? Is he OK?” I could feel a lump in my throat rising as the grogginess lifted.

The doctor again spoke; “His injuries were far worse then yours... He is in and out of consciousness I’m afraid, he is bleeding internally and we haven’t yet found from where... I’m sorry, but we are doing everything we can...”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I wanted to see him, talk to him, to tell him I love him. But I felt so useless, unable to move in this bed, I felt weak and my limbs felt heavy. I wasn’t able to get out the next few words as my eyes closed once again.

When I next woke the pain had gone and I was able to sit up and move and many of the wires had been removed. The doctor walked in, seeing me sitting up and smiled. I didn’t give him a chance to speak.

“Where is Rick, I want to see him.”

“He is in the room next door I think he is awake, but you cannot go in there, he’s not doing well.” The doctor said, his smile faded at my bluntness.

“I don’t care... I need to see him.”

I got up shakily, the doctor just looked on, he made no move to call a nurse or stop me, and he made no move to help me either. I almost fell forward but steadied myself. My head pounded again for a second.

I made it to the next room, my breath caught in my throat when I saw Rick, lying alone in the bed, hooked up to dozens of monitors and drips, wires everywhere. I fought back the tears, he was awake and looked my way as I entered, his eyes barely open. He was wearing his clothes, the same ones he wore when we crashed, they’d been washed but there were still some stains here and there.

I crept over to him slowly biting my lip. “Rick?”

“Kristy... Are you ok? Come here...”

I walked over to his bedside and sat in the chair, not even sure he could hear me, “I’m here, I’m right here... I’m ok and I’m not going anywhere I promise.”

He looked at me, or tried to, and a lump rose in my throat, and I couldn’t hold it any longer, tears started forming in my eyes, stinging. He reached for my hand which I took in both of my own squeezing gently. And I saw him smile.

“I love you.” He said.

“I love you too, you’ll be ok-“. I started.

He coughed, cutting me off, and spoke again, reaching into his pocket with his free hand. “No... I won’t, I know what’s wrong with me, and I don’t feel well, but I still love you, no matter what... I always will. Never forget that.” He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a ring. “I was going to give you this and ask you to marry me... I cant now, but I want you to have this, remember me. Know I love you.”

By now the tears streamed down my face. “You WILL be ok, OK? And you will get through this... We will, and we will grow old together, live to be a hundred years old... And when we go, we will go together holding hands. I will not be separated from you.” I barely choked out the words.

He just smiled; his breathing shallow and pressed the ring in the palm of my hand.

“I love you”

His grip loosened and his hand dropped. Monitors and machines beeped and buzzed and I was quickly dragged from the room, crying, still holding the ring. And I looked at it, inside was engraved our names besides two entwined hearts. I slipped it over my finger, a perfect fit.

And now I lay here in my bed, years later looking at the ring on my wrinkled finger and thinking of Rick. I pictured him so vividly in my mind, his eyes and his smile. I could almost feel his arms around me and I felt calm and safe again. I closed my eyes only briefly and opened them again and saw him, so vividly almost solid this time.

And he smiled.

And he spoke; “Honey... You look beautiful!”

“Rick...”

“You remember.” He said and his smile grew wider. He looked exactly as I remembered him.

“I love you” I said.

He reached his hand out “Ready? I told you I would always love you.”

I reached out and took his hand and he pulled me close. I felt weightless. I felt safe. “I told you I’d never forget.”

I closed my eyes.

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It seems this is a bit long so it will be posted in two parts. Before I begin, this is my own original work which I have published elsewhere and it is protected by a creative commons license. Please do not modify this in any way, you are very welcome to share this short provided you give credit. I've always wanted to turn this into a short animation but I don't have the skills or the money.

Its is a very old piece of mine but I am still open to constructive criticism and ideas.

The plane trip was going to be longer then I expected, my first time on a plane, I have never felt so nervous before. The engines roared to life and a light at the front of the plane instructed us to fasten our seatbelts, followed by the pilot introducing himself, also instructing us to fasten our seatbelts and thanking us for choosing to fly with their company, he wished us a pleasant flight which was followed by the sound of the microphone clicking off. It was a bumpy take off, not quite what I was expecting. I wish I was next to the window, I thought to myself, I wondered what it would look like.

Glancing over my shoulder I saw a bored looking middle aged man with glasses looking out his window, it had only been a few minutes but already I could tell we were high over the ground. I could see small buildings out his window, gradually growing smaller, the details becoming less visible until eventually they were nothing but coloured pinpricks in the distance. The woman to my right had been looking at me, I looked at her and she smiled, looking away quickly, taking a book off her lap and beginning to read. Why hadn’t I thought of bringing a book?

A gentleman to my left had also been watching, I must have been blushing, he leaned in close and said in my ear; “First time flying is it young lady?”

“Yes it is actually, I wondered what it would look like outside from up here.” I smiled and looked down.

He chuckled and lifted the blinds covering the window next to him. “There you go, now you should have a better view.” He winked. “Travelling alone?”

I smiled nervously. “Yes I am, I know they say first time travellers should go in a group, but I am going out to meet someone I know. No one else would really go with me, and if they did they’d likely not have that much fun.”

“Ahh, I see.” He said. “Meeting a young beau then are we? Known him long? You be careful.”

I laughed; I’d heard this speech a million times. “Yes, I know, I’m being careful, I’ve known him a few years and been planning to meet up with him again for quite some time. He is a very gentle person, wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Well, that’s good to hear then, mind if I ask how you met.” He said, turning in his chair to face me. “I didn’t bring a book either, and I see you did not, we might as well pass some time together talking. I am not trying to be nosy though.”

“No problem, you’re not being nosy.” I said “I was introduced to Rick by a friend of mine a couple of years ago, Rick and I became close but we held off on the way we felt, I think because of distance. We eventually felt enough was enough, this is actually my first visit there, but he has come to see me a few times now.”

“Awww that’s sweet, so you two must really love each other then? By the way, what’s your name sweetie” He said smiling.

“We do, and I love him more then anything. He came at a time when I needed someone most, I was kind of alone and he was supportive of anything I wanted, and believes in me when no one else really does. And he still does to this day he loves me for who I am, the way I am, as I do him. But now I’m rambling, sorry, my name is Kristy by the way. And you were?”

“No, no, I think its sweet, I can see you love each other its very special and rare to see. Hang onto that wont you? Never forget what it is you love each other for. My name is Alex by the way, how rude of me not to introduce myself.” He smiled showing all his white teeth, he had a soft face.

“I wont, I treasure every moment, all too often we see love dwindle and fade because a few small negative things or experiences overshadow all the good times, and we forget why we fell in love in the first place.” I looked down for a moment, wondering why I was getting into such ‘deep’ and meaningful conversation with this complete stranger next to me.

I looked up and he was smiling.

“That’s so true, and so sweet, I really wish you two the very best.” He said. “Will you excuse me for just a moment?”

He got up and left down the isle to the men’s room, I wondered if i had said too much. Looking out the window I saw the sky and clouds around us and the water below, small, rippling, and I was startled when he moved past me back into his seat a moment later.

“I’m sorry about that I really don’t fly well, phew!” He smiled again.

“Oh, no worries, so, tell me a bit about yourself, what brings you
down this way?” I asked.

“Ahh, well, nothing overly exciting, no finding love for me, I manage a small chain of stores and we have a supplier out this way, I am just on a business trip to check out what stock they have and see the quality of what we will be buying that’s all.” He shifted in his seat to face me again.

“Oh, wow, that’s great, mind if I ask what kinds of things you sell?” I asked.

“Nothing exciting, clothes, accessories, bags belts, that sort of thing, well then maybe you would like it. But to me its just work.” He smiled again, winking. “How come you’re so shy? Every time I look your way, you look down, and you blush. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, just wondering, it is actually cute.”

“Sorry, I’m just a shy person, actually I always have been, and your shops sound really great!” I could feel myself blushing now, I never handle compliments well.

He shifted in his seat again, looking nervous, he smiled at me. “Well I think it is cute... Anyway, its going to be a long flight, better catch some Z’s, it has been lovely chatting sweetie.”

With that he shifted in his seat and laid his head back. I figured I had better do the same. Relaxing in my seat I tried to doze off for even just a couple short hours before I arrived at my destination. Sure enough I fell asleep despite the noise of the plane and my nervousness feeling like my stomach was doing somersaults. I was awoken by Alex later telling me it was time to fasten my seatbelt. I thanked him and did so, all the while listening to the pilot talking, thanking everyone once again for flying with the company and hoping we had a pleasant flight.

I was still somewhat groggy when we landed, it was bumpier then I thought it would be and I jerked slightly forward, as did most people I noticed. It was enough to jolt me awake in my seat and notice I was also wearing a blanket. I didn’t remember putting on myself. I took it off and looked over at Alex, who looked back; smiling again he said he put it on me, because I looked cold. And he was right, it was indeed very cold and my arms were covered in goose bumps, the little hairs standing on end.

When we came to a complete stop, we were eventually led out of the plane row by row and I took my small pack out of the compartment above and immediately pulled out a jacket and put it on. I hadn’t anticipated this much cold. Outside I found myself staring at everything, rooftops and buildings around me covered in snow. I made it out of the airport fairly quickly. I could help but look at everything as I waited for Rick outside. Though I didn’t have to wait long, he was there within only a few minutes.

He opened the door for me as we got into his truck, it was warm inside, and he’d had the heater running. I had my suitcase in the back, and soon we were off. The roads were slick and icy on the way to the hotel we’d be staying at before going the rest of the way to his home. He looked at me as we were stopped at a red light, he just smiled. As he looked back at the road I leaned over and kissed him quickly on the cheek. He made no attempt at hiding his surprise, but before he could say anything I asked;

“What are you smiling about?”