She did as she was bade, the clock said 9:05. Fear rose in her heart.
“Oh no, I’m late.” She sobbed.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s over.”
“Over?” she asked, then understood. “Oh no, oh Jeff no.”
“It’s all right,” he said, smiling. “I don’t hurt anymore, it’s so wonderful.”
Marandia began to cry, her tears mixed with the blood on her face and dripped onto the car floor.
Suddenly her face jerked up, the pain in her head eased, and she saw Jeff’s hand holding her head gently
in his.
“Shhhhhhh,” he said. “The light is warm and there is no pain, no sorrow, no grief. There is no time
for tears.”
“B-but you can’t go,” she cried. “You just can’t.”
“I’ve got to go, it’s my time.” he said. “I’m going to home to glory. I just stayed to help you and to
say I’m sorry.”
“S-sorry?”
“About the fights,” he said, smiling. “I’m sorry, do you forgive me?”
“We were just kids…”
“You know it was more than that.”
“Do you forgive me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Then so do I.” she said.
The pain in her head vanished as Jeff lifted into the sky. The light around his body grew stronger
and stronger, so strong that she could hardly see him.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too.” he said, the light growing stronger still. “It’s so beautiful, Marandia. The light is so
beautiful. I’ll see you again.”
Jeff vanished in a nova flash of light that seemed to fill the world. Then the light was gone, and in
the darkness, the snow fell anew.
“M-marandia,” her mother said as she came in. Her tear streaked eyes had made her mascara run,
and she looked like a raccoon. “Jeff is….”
“I know,” she said, hugging her. “I know mom.”
“M-my boy, my little boy.” she sobbed.
“Shhhhhhh,” Marandia said quietly. “It’s all right. He doesn’t feel any pain anymore.”
And in the hospital hallway, they hugged and wept.