Death is a funny thing. Right before it happens, some say your life will flash before your eyes. Every moment lived, mistakes made, good deeds and bad replay in an instant as if perhaps the mind is searching for a precedent, some similar situation of which you came out on top—survived. That was not the case for me. Maybe because I went out on my own terms; one final redeeming act to set right the mess I had made of my life. Instead of showing me what was, death gave me a vision of what could have been.

I knew it was over the moment Nohan's sword pierced my abdomen, and yet I laughed, because even though I was leaving this world, I was at least taking that shit-stain with me. I remained conscious long enough to watch the poison from my blade spread through him and the coagulated black blood seep from his eyes. Then a white light grew outward from the center of my vision until it claimed me entirely.

When my eyes opened, I was back on my feet, and the wound on my abdomen gone. A familiar voice called my name; her tone was sweet and danced through the air like the notes of a stringed symphony. She called down to me from the branches of the willow tree we played in as children. I had to shield my eyes from the sun as I looked up through the leaves to find her.

"Come on, Gabe! I'll beat you to the top!" Sophie called out. I looked at her in disbelief. She was so young, maybe twelve years old. I glanced down at my hands which were soft and smudged with ink from the citadel archives where I'd spent most days copying tomes. I was around fourteen when I began working there… Is this a dream? Surely it has to be, no one grows younger, only older. Perhaps this is the afterlife? I thought. Dream or not, Sophie was right here in front of me and I was not yet a man, meaning I was also not yet married to the Queen of Ash, and not giving my life to protect her kingdom. I grasped a centimeter of fat from the back of my arm between my thumb and pointer finger and twisted, squeezing the flesh tightly. The pain I should have felt did not come, and knew then it was a dream. Real or not, I would make the most of whatever time with Sophie I could get. I dashed to the tree.

"Even with a head start, you'll lose!" I called, pulling myself onto the bottom branch as I scanned the foliage for the next step in my route to the top. Sophie giggled as she watched me calculate and then scrambled to keep the lead she had. I was gaining on her, but as I reached for the next handhold I heard a loud crack and Sophie screamed as the limb she was standing on fell from beneath her feet. The branch below Sophie caught her in the stomach, knocking the wind from her and she slid off it, desperately clutching the thin branch to avoid falling further.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Hang on, Sophie! I'm almost there." I shouted to her. My heart pounded in my chest and with disregard for my own safety, I scaled the tree with haste until I reached the branch above her. I positioned my stomach on the limb so I could dangle my arms down to Sophie's. She clutched the branch with a white-knuckle grip even after I had ahold of her forearms.

"It's okay, I have you. Just let go." I instructed.

"I can't, I'm scared," she said.

"I promise, I will not let you fall, just grip my wrists, I'll pull you up." Sophie's fingers started to slip and she had to make a choice. She let go of the branch and clasped her fingers around my arms. I pulled her up until she was able to find the next foothold. Letting out a sigh of relief, I shimmied my way down to the branch below her, guiding her back down the tree. Once our feet were firmly planted on the ground, I pulled her into my arms.

"Thank you, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here. I was so afraid, she said, burying her face in my shoulder. I held her until she pulled away, I would have held her forever if she'd let me.

"I have to get home, walk with me?" Sophie asked. I nodded, trying my best to be present for the conversation, but I kept thinking about when I would be pulled back to the agonizing pain of being skewered by Nohan's blade. I knew none of this was real—I could feel it, but there was no reason I shouldn't make the most of it until the vision fades. I stopped and she looked back at me.

"What is it, Gabe?"

"Sophie, I have to tell you something. Promise not to freak out, and promise no matter what, we will always be friends."

"Of course we will always be friends, but you're scaring me, what's going on?"

"I love you. I have loved you since we were nine years old and you stood up to that bully for me, then you took me to the guild training yard and asked them to teach me how to use a sword. I just need you to know how I feel now, before it's too late." I searched her face for a clue as to what she was thinking. The corners of her lips upturned slightly and she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and hugged me. She smelled of milk and honey with a hint of lavender and the scent entranced me as her lips brushed my cheek.

She threaded her fingers through mine and we walked in silence out of the western forest and through the town square. She didn't let go of my hand until we reached her family's house. Sophie paused in the doorway; her only response to my declaration was when she leaned forward and kissed me. Her lips brushed over mine ever so softly and I caressed her cheek as she deepened the kiss. My head swirled with euphoria and I dared not move for fear of waking up. She pulled away and gazed back at me, smiling as she stepped into her house and closed the door as I backed away with what I was certain was an awestruck expression.

Okay, my life is now fulfilled. I waited for the darkness of death to envelop me.