The Last Breath of Love

By: Holly Griffiths (TikTok: @holslibraryauthor)

You never know what you have until it's gone. A statement of truth in this current moment. Because as I watched the yellow I missed the blue , as the clouds sunk I missed the way they so effortlessly swayed and wished I could dance with them one last time .

I lay on the grass , the green shards intertwining with my skin quilting me from danger , it was a feeling I knew I would miss -wherever I ended up.

My heart was still beating and my lungs were still full but every moment could be my last , and so I savoured what I had left.

I watched it happen , watched as the world I had taken for

granted collapsed around me. Civilization was lost , hope

was lost and yet here I lay. Wasting away like this was a normal friday , lay as if everything was nothing and I was a perpetual child like one before.

We never know when we're running out of time.

A presence lingered near mine , the only thing managing to draw my attention from the beyond. It was him, smooth skin, soft hair . The last person I would see before I die. A tear pricked my eye and his sturdy hand wiped it away, a soft smile gracing his lips. And in those dark brown eyes no ounce of fear lingered , no heavy weight of death dragged down his last bit of life.

“I love you.”

I shook my head . “No you don't .”

“I love you .”

The tears now fell , cascading over my pale skin and joining

the grass as if they were so desperate to protect me from

what would come .

But the tears weren't fear. I wasn't scared.

“You're just saying that . You're going to die, so you think it's right.” I couldn't control the shake in my tone.

How dare he!

How dare he?

“No, I’ve sat with regret for a while, sat with the missed opportunities. Yet I can never find regret , I can never stoop to hating you. I came here tonight not to be unfair, but I could live in the afterlife without letting you know that you had my heart in this life. And if you believe in the next life , I promise to find you then and right my wrongs.”

Vulnerability emitted from us both , the deity of destruction could wait , wait for us because we couldn't leave yet. I wanted to beg for time , plead asphyxiation for the

knowledge of not having enough time left.

“I loved you from the very beginning .”

“And I loved you too .” I was sobbing now, my heart pounding and my head racing. I had to die to feel so alive. Oh how fate was cruel. I sat up and touched his face , opening myself to the darkness that would ensue us and the air that would fail us. I embraced it all to touch him one last time. It wasn’t enough , but it was all we had.

“Trust it to be now .” I half laughed and he bought us closer, placing his head on mine “That it all comes out.”

His scent corrupted my soul, stealing my final breath. And with him in my heart and lungs I died a pleased woman. A loved woman.

“Fate had ideas , we are not over my love. This is a short passage until we meet again."