Date: Sat, 01 Apr 2006 18:55:44 -0500
From: C
Subject: Mine You Shall Stay

     It was a crisp autumn's day, Soren sat on her porch
swing as dusk began to set in. She silently sipped her water
as the wind played with her brunette hair. Her light pink
university pajama pants and grey long sleeve shirt rustled
as a tear trickled its way down her pale cheek. It felt odd
to her to sit here now. The place that once brought her such
comfort now filled her with sadness and loneliness. She
placed her water on a table beside the swing and went back
to her thoughts.

     It had been a year since the accident, but to her it
felt like only seconds ago. She placed a hand on her thigh,
trying to remind herself of her lovers touch, but to no
avail. The wind picked up and forcefully threw her now quite
long hair into the wind. Bringing a hand up, Soren smoothed
it back down. It reminded her of the way Abby used to do it.

"Abby." she whispered to the wind.

     Her angel, her Abby. Absentmindedly, she reached up and
touched the silver ring around her neck. It was her last
reminder of her beloved Abby.
      Soren and Abby had dated happily since they were 15
years old. Their love was pure and innocent, like out of a
fairytale. The young teenagers of 15 had become beautiful
women of 18. Well, Abby had at least. Abby's birthday was 8
months ahead of Soren's August birthday. Yet only 2 months
after Abby's 18th birthday, Soren's worst nightmare had
revealed itself. As hard as she tried, she could not fight
the urge to go back to that night, that memory.

***
"You promise?" Soren's voice asked silently.
"Yes!" Abby laughed, "I just have to drive over to Anna's to
grab my book. I'll come right back and we'll study,
alright?"
"The roads are terrible; it'll probably be a snow day
tomorrow anyways. There's no need for you to get your
textbook."
"Soren, you worry too much. It's a 7 minute drive max. I'll
be there and back before you know it."
"Alright, just please be careful."

     Abby gave her a quick kiss and squeezed her hand before
grabbing her jacket and heading out.

"See you later Soren! Oh and please have something edible on
the table when I come back." She winked at her lover and was
gone.

Little did Soren know that would be the last kiss she ever
shared with Abby.

     After 30 minutes passed, Soren became worried. She knew
Abby should have been back by now. She quickly grabbed the
phone and called Abby's cell. Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Hey this is Abby! You know what to do."
     Soren listened to the familiar voice on the automated
message system.

"Abby it's me. Where are you?"

     She clicked off the phone and proceeded with Anna's
number.

"Hello?"
"Anna? It's Soren."
"Oh hey! How are you?"
"Uh, fine. Listen, has Abby picked up her textbook yet?"
"No, she was supposed to be here a bit ago. She probably is
just filling up with gas or something. Want me to call you
when she gets here?"
"Yah, that'd be great. Thanks Anna."
"No problem. I'll talk to you later Soren. Bye!"

     An hour passed. Then two. That was all Soren could
take. She dialed the police.

"911 what's your emergency?"
"Hi, my girlfriend went out to pick something up and should
have been back here an hour and 45 minutes ago."
"What's your name?"
"Soren Forrester."
"Where do you live Soren?"
"67 Evergreen Terrace."
"What's your friend's name Soren?"
"Abby McKenzie."
"We'll dispatch police to check around the area. Do you know
where she was headed?"
"Yes, she was heading to pick up her biology textbook from
Anna Knight's home."
"Do you know where Anna lives?"
"Ummm, sorry I can't remember the address. She was more
Abby's friend than mine."
"Alright, don't worry. We'll find her for you Soren."
"Thank you."

     She hung up the phone and waited.

     Thirty minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

"Abby!"

     Soren rushed and opened the door, but it was not Abby
standing there. Two policemen with their hats clutched at
their chests appeared instead. Her heart immediately began
to pound.

"Soren Forrester?"
"That's me."
"May we come in?"
     She nodded slowly and lead them to the last place she
saw Abby and they took a seat on the couch.

"I'm afraid we have grave news."

     In her heart, Soren knew, but her mind refused to
accept it.

"Yes?"
"We found Abby's car, it was overturned in a ditch. Abby was
unconscious when we found her. We had an ambulance arrive
within minutes, but we. lost her while providing treatment
to her."

     Soren sat there, completely paralyzed. Her mind dwelled
on the kiss they briefly shared before leaving.

"Right before she died, she asked us to go into her home and
retrieve something. She told us to find you and give it to
you."

     The policeman reached into his pocked and pulled out a
silver ring and passed it to Soren. With no emotion, Soren
took it and read the engraving on the outer band.

To my goddess

     She directed her gaze to the inside and read the words
Abby had left her.

You are mine, and mine you shall stay. I love you Soren.

     Tears rose up inside of her and poured themselves out
her bi-colored eyes. Clutching the ring, she felt as though
her heart was being ripped to shreds. Abby can't be dead,
not now! No!
     The police left her alone with her tears, a ring and a
broken heart.

***

     As she made her way to the community cemetery, the ring
seemed to have its own energy that she could feel running
through her. She always felt like Abby was with her when she
was here.
     Gazing upon the rows, she found the stone she was
looking for, the one she had visited many times.

                   Abigail Rachel McKenzie
                          1988-2005
             Loving daughter, sister and friend,
           forever shall she remain in our hearts.

     Soren smiled sadly as she touched the smooth stone.
Tears ran down her cheeks once more as she placed a daisy at
the base.
     She said the only words she saw fit; from the movie
they watched their first night together.

"Abby I swear..."

     With that, she kissed the stone and made her way back
home, clutching the ring the entire way.