You are my sunshine…

The car spun uncontrollably.

My only sunshine…

Her hand unconsciously held on to her right temple but it was too late.

You make me happy…

The familiar pain enveloped her being.

When skies are gray…

Her screams got swallowed by the screeching metal.

You’ll never know, dear

She called out his name.

How much I love you.

A deafening silence followed.

Please don’t take…

No… no… not… again…

My sunshine

Not again…

...away…

It started raining. She could hear nothing but the soft splatters of rain as they drop to create ripples on the small puddle. She watched as they form rings after rings. One ends to let another begin. The rain never stopped, it seemed. It could go on and on. She could go on and on herself watching the rain; watching the ripples disappear and reappear.

“1.8 microseconds.”

She lifted her head to meet his gaze. His lips hid a smile but she shook her head. She knew he was speaking in metaphors.

“The earth’s day is shortened by 1.8 microseconds after the Japan earthquake.”

“What?” she looked at him curiously.

“That means our time is going faster without us noticing it. That means our days are getting shorter. ”

She heard that somewhere but what she couldn’t fathom was why he suddenly said that, “I don’t understand…”

The ripples might have taken his attention as well because he was silent for a while, just watching what she was done observing. “The past has no use for me, I cannot change it… and the future is too far away; the thought of it makes me impatient. So, all I have is now… this moment. I have always told myself to live for this moment and be happy every single day without regret. Though, I may not notice it but I know I am missing that 1.8 microseconds, so right now I decided to make use of every little microsecond I have. To linger on every second being happy and doing things that could make me happy.”

She felt him move and stand beside her then he lifted his hand to catch the falling rain on his palm. She looked at him, fascinated by the secret smile he held. Her heart was beating louder for every second that his voice blended well with the rain. If only she could, she would have clutched her heart tight.

Smiling, he answered her gaze, “It may not mean much to you… but I want to spend each of my remaining 1.8 microseconds with you here beside me, like this… like now.”


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