by Lori L. Otto
Without warning, her lips brushed mine. Shocking my entire body into action, I was suddenly aware of all of my surroundings. I could see her pale green eyes staring back into mine. She stared intently as our lips moved in sync. I could taste her cherry-flavored lips, smell her light perfume. I felt so alive, the same way I felt when she first came into my life.
“Nate?” I heard her voice. Heard her. “I love you.”
“Love ya, Em,” I returned, and I could hear that sound too, hoarse and weak. In the distance, I heard a siren, too. They would be here to help her, soon.
“Oh, Nate,” she whispered, her lips hard against mine. “What can I do?”
“Hold me.” She nodded, her face full of understanding, not unrealistic hope. She knew I was dying. She knew it would be too late for me. It already was. After one last, too-brief kiss, she nuzzled her head in the crook of my neck. She took my left hand in her right, and my fingers were somehow able to fold around hers. She placed our hands over my heart and the world fell silent again. Smells were gone. There was nothing left to taste. It was so quick this time. I closed my eyes as the brilliant white light began to glow once more. My heart pumped slower, slower... slower. She squeezed my hand tighter, before her touch disappeared altogether.
I loved her from the first day I met her. I would love her, always.
~ * ~
SPECIAL THANKS TO
John T. Perry
Shirley Otto
Clarinda Alcalen
Trisha Duke
Melissa Dean
Kristina Bradshaw Evans
Trina Robinson
Mitzi Clark
Jeff Daniel
Stephanie Barone
Summer Ortiz
Des Grosshuesch
Angela Pritchett Meyer
Linda Shasberger
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Lori L. Otto worked in the billboard industry for ten years. Frustrated with trying to communicate entire messages in “seven seconds or less,” she decided to leave outdoor advertising and return to her love of creative writing.
Emi Lost & Found Series
Book One: Lost and Found
Book Two: Time Stands Still
Book Three: Never Look Back
Not Today, But Someday: a prequel
Choisie Series
Coming in January 2013
Book One: Contessa
CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lori_otto
Facebook: http://facebook.com/LoriLOtto
http://www.loriotto.com
