• Once More
    Shadow of the Day – Linkin Park


    ___He sat on the edge of his bed with his hands folded and his forehead on his fists, looking down at the floor. His room was lit only by the setting sun, but he didn’t care.
    ___He looked up and across the room to his dresser where framed photos stood among the massive clutter. His eyes became wet, his chin quivered; their wedding, their New Years kiss, the beach, and so much more. As he looked at each, he broke further down. The tears began streaming down his face.
    ___A siren sounded outside, bringing him out of his sorrow momentarily. He got up and walked to his window. The fainting light shaped the shadow of his body against the bedroom wall.
    ___He watched for a moment as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.
    ___And the shadow of the day will embrace the world in grey.
    ___He made sure the window was locked before he closed the blinds. He returned to the corner of his bed, took a seat with his head in his hands.
    ___Clutching his long hair, he watched as a small slit of the orange setting sun that had seeped through the blinds shrunk on his floor.
    ___And the sun will set for you.

    ___She took the last of her clothing out of the old dresser. As she turned, folding the shirts and pants over her arm, the numerous cards and flowers she’d set on her windowsill caught her attention. Unconsciously, she stopped and straightened where she stood.
    ___She had read them all. All the cards said the same thing. Her friends all told her to stay. They told her it was his fault, not hers. Let him pay the price. Stay at one of their houses.
    ___She put her folded clothes into the open suitcase on her bed. She picked up a worn, black sweat jacket she had set aside. It was his.
    ___She took the sweat jacket and reached into its right pocket. Her hand came back out with a wallet sized photo. Him and her, kissing on the beach. It was sunset; it made a romantic picture.
    ___She missed it.
    ___She took a few steps towards the center of her bedroom. She dropped the picture accidentally; it landed face up next to her.
    ___She hung her head.
    ___Sometimes beginnings aren’t so simple. Sometimes good-bye’s the only way.
    ___She fell to her knees, buried her face in his jacket, and, holding it close, she cried.

    ___He knew her flight left in two hours. Noon.
    ___If he really loved her, he could make it.
    ___Without further hesitation, he grabbed his keys and raced for the car.
    ___He could still make it.

    ___She was next in line to go through the security check. She took off her jewelry and shoes. She put her purse and his sweat jacket in the bin with them. Without looking back at the world she was leaving behind, she stepped through the metal detector.

    ___The traffic was heavy. Bumper to bumper. There’s no way, he thought.
    ___There’s just no way.
    ___Tears streamed down his face as he drummed the steering wheel nervously and listened to nothing but the car horns.
    ___Not true.
    ___He could still make it.

    ___She sat in the airport café, silently drinking a cup of coffee.
    ___She’d been watching the people hustle to and fro. She’d seen a few young couples as they once were. One had just gotten off his flight and rushed to meet his companion. They shared a tight hug and a kiss in front of her.
    ___She took out her cell phone, to check the time. Instead, she stared at the background. She and him, dressed in a black suit that made his strong build and his long hair that much more handsome. She stared at it aimlessly as the memories flashed by her.
    ___She was taken out of the trance by a voice. The loudspeaker – her flight was boarding. She snapped the phone shut, threw out the coffee, and made her way to the gate.

    ___He listened to her flight being called. He almost screamed. He was third in line for the security check. Hastily, he put his keys, watch, wallet, phone, light coat, shoes, and belt into the bin. He walked through the metal detector quickly, put his shoes on, shoved everything into his pockets, grabbed his coat and ran.

    ___The stewardess greeted her with a smile as she stepped aboard. She managed to smile back.
    ___Her seat was in the middle section of the plane. People smiled or nodded or just stared as she walked by. The man she was seated with explained that flying made him nervous and gave her the window seat.
    ___She thanked him kindly.

    ___He had managed to toss his lightweight jacket on as he ran. He maneuvered roughly through the mass crowd of people. He’d knocked over a small kid, who cried, and was listening to his father yell at him as he dashed off once more.
    ___He could still make it.

    ___She sat and listened to the stewardess explain how to use the lifesaving devices. She stopped paying attention. She stared out the window at nothing. She swallowed hard as she hopped she had the strength to make it through the flight before she cried.
    ___The stewardess buckled herself in. The man beside her gripped the armrests.
    ___The plane sped down the runway.

    ___He had finally made it to the gate. Panting, he asked if the plane had left already.
    ___The receptionist pointed to the window. Sorry sir, she said.
    ___Slowly, his heart crushed, he staggered his way over to the window. Both hands went through his hair. He gripped it tightly.

    ___Looking out the window, she wondered if this was the right decision. Maybe they still could have worked things out.
    ___As the plane passed the airport she stared at the gate window she’d just left.
    ___Sometimes solutions aren’t so simple. Sometimes good-bye’s the only way.

    ___He watched the plane go by. He knew it was hers.
    ___He banged both fists against the window. He banged his forehead against the window and left it there. The world around him grew silent as he felt his heart break.

    ___And the shadow of the day will embrace the world in grey.

    ___And the sun will set for you.