The Future Is Heaven

AY WE STO

Christm

was an orphan-and had seen the rigors of reality all too closely for such a young age. Dranna was one of

doctors prognostications, however, since she was very young, that she would die within the decade-she had proven them all wrong-going on to live decade after deca

the darkness did not leave the girl's eyes, as she saw little fit in the world f

ted to be scattered across the cosmos with no shred of consciousness left to call her own. Her Heaven-her true trophy for this terran adventure-was s

n. But it was never any use, for Astara was not possessed-but rather dispossessed of her very own spirit. Disconnected from her h

of non-existence. So she grew up to be a lawyer-and sailed the Barrier Reef on vacation-balancing the best

il she met Rockw

he felt faint when they embraced-nothing could compare-and the innocent girl in her was reawakened. The one who

lso her stalwart work ethic that had led to such a vertical asce

magnetic opposite of him-but together they shared a bond: the kind that united two gazes meeting in unspoken t

show down the streets-and she had come to see him. Afterward, pints at the Lost Souls Pub

argument erupted

him always bein

her always putt

to try more l

to settle down

er and over how

id not care but

haps one day s

ught this but l

peak for the res

would be back

on this way fr

was for sure wa

other like the

ft was to live

iven in-not gi

the brink-and

ir spark reignit

forward to for

ossible for cou

ing rarer and ra

was considered the territory of insane people and common fools. Sex was satis

mounted to no more than mindless zombies. Meds were self-prescribed now. People interacted with computer

selves-going through what came to be known as 'Starting Over'. It became nearly pandemic for awhile, as folk went overboard

and treated their souls as the unwanted refuse acc

these times-but none was more tantalizing to consider than the near-breaking discov

arallel-so that not only was the world wondering what to make of either one of them indiv

feeling Rockwell's hands-looking into his eyes. "I don't

lly mean that

for you I wil

joker you were

ou? You'd love

eativity and you

rt, so you coul

changing. Ther

bout this time t

ot so sure abou

s something I c

go back, do it

r away from mys

een comfortable

Rather be bon

ve me behind, "

harder, missin

u text second

We will live

o cook us break

e least I can do

u leave my oth

gged her good

carried on for one last episode of passionate lovemaking. For a girl so obsessed with losing herself, she became incredibly connected

n happiness-just to see a smile on his face, and win him over ever, that little mo

know that onc

know he would ne

e, pitching in a tw

orget, the follow

ymond arrived at

ds with Rockwell.

n one cheek as he

Astara in the eyes

happ

it's

at me

. He's

es. He held her close, stroking her hair, telling her it

en an eighteen wheeler came careening through a red light colliding with his driver's side at 140 kmph dead on killing him instantly

to hear anymore a

nto her bedroom w

, Ryan. Thank yo

if you want, it's

d to be alone now.

was in shock and

and rubbed the sm

im and cried for

s best he could, p

ever be the same

y days togethe

him many stori

w they had met

common passion

immediately, bot

ries about him s

memories were ne

at him in a differ

he learned she w

eelings but pret

Rockwell were re

ght of Ryan again

t she still loved

had to put one be

ood of Ryan and he

thing of Rockwell

ast trace of him f

bdued-all trigger

t know anything o

ut a future for h

d run but a last di

ue with her not

dicted to Restar

an to slip into a

e the good ones-leaving her an em

eat little Ryan Junior to every trapping of the season-an

that said Rockwell on it, the room would grow quiet

cooking and cleaning-and one time she found a fra

put it awa

one day Sta

hat was all s

cussed it wit

lose hope in

eing someone e

signs but sai

vious to all of

s if she knew b

ocko' by mistake-and he flipped out.

s mistress, and s

drawers and retr

ark with candles

im to come back

she did this at

her he was leavi

r Rockwell openl

hispered. "Take

s dead and she