The sun was setting. A riot of colors rarely observed in nature danced their way across the horizon and filtered into the clouds and water that occupied either side of that thin line.

Closer, there was a single red rose petal spiraling through the air, held by the gentle wind that controlled its dips and swirls as it moved from one side of the otherwise empty front of the yard to the other.

Closer still, there was a red clock propped against a stack of books. It was one of those digital things that displayed the time in flashing numbers on a contrasting background of black.  The books keeping the clock upright were all on loan from a local library, long overdue and never to be returned.

Never to be returned.

The finality of that thought struck like a train crashing into a china shop. Tears crept from the depths of tear ducts to line eyelids that had thought they would never be moist like this again. A heart that had been encased in its own personal block of ice for years beat painfully as sweet memories played through the mindscape on the wings of the knowledge of an imminent nevermore. Regret flooded veins that had felt like they carried nothing but ice. Cold hands began to shake and alabaster cheeks felt the surprising warmth of salt-laden tears. A fleeting herd of “what ifs” rose and disappeared in the space of one shuddering breath.

Blind panic and cold logic struggled for control of the overwhelmed mind. Every second lost was a precious gift that could never be recovered. Every heartbeat was another length won for the danger racing through the network of blood vessels beneath the flawless skin.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick…

A girl’s face haunted eyes that would soon close for all of eternity. High cheek bones, silken caramel skin, brown eyes that could flash lightning at times and Cupid’s bow lips that were as soft and red as newly bloomed rose petals.

The sun disappeared from sight.

With it went the warmth of the body in the chair.

> I know this is short, but I wanted to try something slightly different from my usual <