Jocelyn sighed and gathered the fight left in her. “You took off on me!”

“I told you I didn’t want your help!” The angel stood and began to climb the boulders, putting more distance between them.

She tucked the water bottle in the side pocket of her backpack and climbed the rock outcropping. Another wolf howl filled the air, causing her heart to pound and her arms to hug the rocks as her foot slipped against the wet surface. She stepped on one rock, then another, ensuring sturdiness in her footing. Ahead, the angel climbed farther down the river. Why was he so stubborn?

After both her and the angel maneuvered farther down the path, the angel ran out of rocks to climb, as the path dead-ended. She was almost there. A few more boulders, and she could reach him. A throbbing pressure filled her head.

“No, no, no!” She flung one hand to her temple as she eased down on the ledge, but the ledge was not wide enough. Her body tensed and when she involuntarily stretched out, she toppled into the icy, rushing river below.

Her vision was like nothing she ever had before. She didn’t just see what was going on, she experienced every detail with all five senses, like she was there. This was the first vision she was physically in rather than just observing. She was seeing her future for the first time.

Jocelyn stirred a pot of red sauce in a familiar kitchen—the angel’s home from her earlier vision, only different. Paintings of parakeets decorated the walls, her favorite animal, and her old, lime green toaster rested upon the angel’s countertop. She set a hot pad in the center of four plates on the kitchen table—a much larger table than in her other vision with the angel.

“Dinner’s ready!” she announced.

Two dark-haired little girls, about six years old, came into the room, Their hair perfectly straight, like her own. The stubborn, fallen angel followed with small creases around his eyes and distinguished grays at his temple. His lips curled in a smile that warmed her and made her forget his one-mindedness. She felt unmistakable love, a love she hadn’t experienced since her fiancé died. At that moment, she knew the angel’s name—Blaze. She knew everything about him and knew he knew everything about her. She loved that feeling.

“Spaghetti!” One of the girls yelled.

The other hugged her leg. “Thanks Mom!”

Blaze came up beside her, putting an arm around her back as she set the pot on the table. He pressed his body to hers and whispered into her ear, “Thank you.” He brushed his lips against hers. His warm, soft kiss sent a shiver down her spine.

Her eyes jolted open when her vision ended. Her lungs burned and her body twisted in misery. Water rushed over her head and cold numbed her limbs. She flailed her arms against the hard stones while she tried to push to the surface for a breath. She scraped her elbows and knees, fighting for her life.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Once she broke the surface, a wave crashed over her head again. She kicked off the bottom of the river, but now she was so dizzy, she struggled to know which way was up. Attempting to calm herself, she rose to the surface and tried to cough the water in her lungs, but they stung and she couldn’t move air.

Another wave crashed over her head and her body hit a rock, deflating her lungs. She attempted to grab something, but nothing was within reach.

When her knee slammed another rock, she twisted again, grasping at any hard, unforgiving rocks along the shore…

But her arms caught something soft. A hand wrapped around her upper arm and pulled her against something warm. She blinked the water from her eyes to see Blaze’s beautiful face before a coughing spell hit her, bringing tears to her eyes.

She focused on clearing the water from her lungs, allowing Blaze to take care of her. He cradled her in his arms before lifting her over his shoulder, struggling to get out of the rushing water. She pried her eyes open to see the clean wounds upon his back. Two jagged slits, free from dirt and debris.

How long had he searched the river for her?

He climbed the rocks, then laid her upon a large stone. She twisted, coughing and spitting fluid from her lungs. Blaze glided his hand up and down her back, and when she couldn’t cough anymore, she laid back on the rocks, remembering the love she felt in her vision. Longing for it.

The man responsible for that love sat beside her, staring out over the water. His back was cleaner than it had been, and he might survive. Could she now leave this forest? Was her duty done?

She didn’t want to leave him. She wouldn’t leave him. The emotions in that vision made her love him. She knew him inside and out. Their lives intertwined.

“Thank you,” she croaked.

He nodded toward the river. “I had no choice. You were drowning.”

She sat up. “There’s always a choice.”

They stared at the hypnotic rushing water while the sun rose and her lungs returned to normal.

Eventually, Blaze stood and helped her onto the main path.

“The parking lot is that way.” He pointed down the trail.

When she nodded, he took a step in the opposite direction.

Jocelyn followed him. “Where are you going?”

“It’s none of your business.”

The words broke her heart. This couldn’t be the end of the road. She had seen his future…their future together, and it was beautiful, but he hadn’t seen it. He hadn’t fallen in love with her like she had with him.

She took his hand, turned him around, and pulled him closer while her heart pounded. “I have one more thing to show you.” He pulled away, but she gripped his hand tighter, not letting go. “A future where you aren’t alone. Where you are loved.”

His eyes widened, and she placed her free hand against the stubble on his cheek. He leaned into her hand, and she closed her eyes, sending him images and feelings from her vision—of their children, the sweetness of their kiss, and the love they shared.

Blaze’s warm breath fell across the top of her head. She leaned into his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her cheek. She felt his love, and the promise of a beautiful future made her relax into him.

When she opened her eyes and stared into his dark blue eyes, she realized he felt the same way. Lifting onto her tippy toes, she placed a kiss upon his lips.

“Is it that easy?” he said after she pulled away.

“It can be, if you don’t fight it.”

He wrapped an arm around her. “I think I’m tired of fighting.”

She traced a hand down his arm and gripped his hand. “Then follow me. I lost my glasses and could use someone to drive me home.” She winked at him.

With a nod and a heart-warming smile, he let her lead him out of the forest and to their new life, together.

Thank you for reading One Possible Future. This story is one of many about the Angels of Sojourn. I'm just testing out Royal Road to see if it's a good fit for my writing, so please let me know if you read and enjoyed this short story.