"Good morning, graduates!"
The principal's voice could be heard throughout the large auditorium.
In the great mass of caps and gowns stood out a young woman with bright crimson-red hair. Sitting next to her was also a familiar young man.
Claire looked over at Jack. "Can you believe we're already graduating?"
"I can't believe I've been able to tolerate you for nine years." Jack teased.
"You had to tolerate me? You should feel lucky that I even wanted to be friends with a weirdo like you."
"Claire Brightfield" Her name had been announced over the speaker system.
"I guess it's my turn to head up there." Claire stood up, then looked at Jack with a grin. "Don't miss me too much while I'm gone."
As Claire walked away, a friend of Jack leaned in. "So Jack, when are you going to pop the big question?"
Jack and Claire had been dating since he finally mustered the courage to ask her out two years prior. Deciding that now was the time to take the next step, he purchased an engagement ring.
"I'm planning on asking her tonight."
"Are you nervous?"
"Yeah, even though I've been planning it for months."
"I think anyone would be nervous asking her; she can be quite fierce."
Jack's friend jovially laughed as Jack stared at him unamused. He understood he was joking but chose not to entertain his comment.
"I don't think you need to worry, considering you two are inseparable."
"I know, but I can't suppress it. My heart begins to race when I think about how tonight..." Jack looks up at Claire on stage, receiving her diploma. "Tonight, I will ask the woman who has captured my attention since the first day I met her to marry me."
As night drew closer Jack's heart raced with anticipation. After taking Claire out for the evening, Jack drove to the local lake.
"I figured we could end tonight at our usual spot."
Claire was full of excitement. "Stargazing would be the perfect way to end the night!"
Passing through the woodland area that surrounded the lake, Jack and Claire arrived at a clearing. This area was off the beaten path, which offered not only a great view of the lake and stars but also privacy.
Lying next to each other on a cloth blanket, Jack and Claire gazed upon the vast number of stars in the night sky.
Claire looked at the starry sky with awestruck eyes, "Do you believe that life exists elsewhere in the universe?"
"The universe is so immense. There's bound to be life somewhere out there."
The moonlight pierced through the darkness and barely illuminated their surroundings. Jack turned to face Claire; her crimson-red hair lit up like an ember in a sea of darkness.
Captivated by Claire's appearance, Jack contemplated. Fate has genuinely been kind to me. Out of all the possibilities, I was able to arrive here and experience this moment.
Looking over at Jack, Claire noticed that he seemed lost in thought.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Not giving Jack a chance to respond, she squinted her eyes. "If it's about you escaping me to live in another world, I will beat you up."
"Heh, you would track me down no matter where I escaped. After all, I'm the only one willing to handle that "ferocious" attitude of yours."
"Oh, I'll show you ferocious." With a slight smile, Claire jumped onto Jack, and they began wrestling. They gleefully rolled around until Jack have up and let Claire win.
Claire, who was now on top of Jack. "Was that "ferocious" enough for you? Are you going to take it back, or do I need to get serious?"
Jack exhaled loudly. "Well, it was a short life, but at least I'll die to a beauty."
They stared at each other for a brief moment before breaking into laughter. Their joyous laughs echoed throughout their surroundings until succumbing to silence.
Claire laid her head on Jack's chest. "What if we were born on separate worlds and never met?"
Jack's heart ached at the thought of it. He couldn't imagine his life without her and believed he was fated to be with her.
"My love for you traverses time and space."
Claire tilted her head up and made eye contact with Jack. She had an endearing look in her eyes. Looking into her eyes, Jack continued.
"Fate connects our souls, and no matter where I am or how much time it takes, I will always find my way back to you."
Claire tightly hugged Jack, almost like she was afraid he would disappear at any moment. Without relaxing, she began to cry into Jack's chest. The flowing tears were not ones of sadness but instead of happiness.
After taking a few moments to calm herself down, Claire wiped away her tears. Sitting up, she looked at Jack with a broad smile.
"You always catch me off guard with your sweet words."
Jack stood and walked over to his bag near the blanket. He reached inside and pulled out a small box. He turned to face Claire, who was now looking puzzled.
"They are much more than just words."
Jack lowered himself onto one knee and held a red box smaller than his palm outward towards Claire. Claire gasped, and her eyes widened with anticipation.
Jack's heart fiercely beat as he opened the box and revealed a silver ring inlaid with a red diamond. Under the moonlit sky, the red diamond shined with brilliance.
"Claire Brightfield, will you spend eternity with me?"
A strong wave of euphoria suddenly hit Claire. The boy she was unwilling to meet nine years ago was now asking to take her hand.
"To spend eternity with the man who has occupied my heart since childhood is the greatest gift I will ever receive."
Jack smiled from ear to ear as he slipped the ring onto Claire's ring finger. He embraced Claire, and under the night sky, they shared a passionate kiss.
Jack and Claire had a wedding three months later. Their wedding was held on a beautiful fall day, surrounded by the people closest to them.
The newlyweds enjoyed many years of happiness. Although their marriage was not always a smooth journey, together, hand in hand, they conquered any challenge they faced. Overall, their lives were full of love and fulfillment.
"Bye honey, I'm off to work," Jack said as he kissed Claire.
Claire smiled at Jack. "Don't stay away for too long."
Jack spoke with affection, "I promise."
They believed they would spend eternity together, but fate had other plans.
It was late at night, and Claire was wondering where Jack was. "Where is he? He's never this late coming back home."
Suddenly, Claire's phone rang. "Hello?"
On the other side, a woman spoke, "Is this Claire Smith?"
"Yes, who is this?"
Claire was uncomfortable and nervous. Her husband is late, and now a random woman has called her.
"I am a nurse calling from Clearpointe hospital. I found this number on the emergency contact card in your husband's wall-"
Before the nurse could finish speaking, Claire panicked, "Is my husband okay?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Smith. I can't say much; I suggest you make your way to the hospital as soon as possible."
After hanging up the phone, Claire rushed to the hospital. After arriving, the nurse she spoke on the phone with brought her to her husband's room.
Jack was lying unconsciously in a hospital bed and attached to multiple medical devices. A long plastic tube connected to a machine was secured over his mouth. Claire rushed over to his side with one hand holding his hand and the other gently touching his face.
"Your husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Currently, he is in a coma and is unable to breathe for himself." The nurse walks over and stands next to Claire, and attempts to comfort her. "We will do everything we can to help your husband."
With tears in her eyes, Claire looked over at the nurse. "Thank you."
"I'll let you have some time alone with your husband. You can call me with this button if you need anything at all. Otherwise, I'll be back periodically."
The nurse shows the nurse call button to Claire before leaving.
Claire grabs Jack's hand and holds it tightly as she stares at his cut and bruised face.
Jack found himself in a seemingly endless dark abyss. As he wandered around, he attempted to call out for help to no avail. He tried to remember what had happened before he woke up here.
"I remember I was in an accident. Could I be dead? If I'm not, then where am I?"
Jack then heard a loud voice that seemed to come from right inside his head.
"I'm here, Jack. Can you hear me?"
"Claire, is that you?" Jack frantically looked around at his surroundings. "Where are you?"
"I need you to wake up for me, Jack."
"Claire! I'm right here! I'm awake!" Jack shouted from the top of his lungs, but it was all in vain.
Days passed, and Jack was forced to accept the reality that he was stuck inside his subconscious mind.
"Jack, they say you aren't stable enough to remove the ventilator. They'll keep working hard, and I'll be by your side every day. You just need to focus on getting better."
"I guess I'll be here for a while. At least I have Claire to keep me company."
Months later, Jack was still trapped inside his subconsciousness. As time marched onward, he felt an ever-increasing sense of impending doom.
Jack looked upwards into the darkness with sorrowful eyes. "I think I might be nearing the end of the road."
"They say your condition is worsening, but I won't give up on you. You promised me you wouldn't stay away for too long."
"I'm sorry, Claire. I'm so sorry." Jack was crying uncontrollably as he felt his soul slipping away. "I won't be able to keep my promise. I'll make sure to keep it in my next life."
A flash of bright light illuminated Jack's surroundings and scattered the darkness. Although the bright light was blinding, Jack couldn't help the desire to sate his curiosity.
"I've wandered through this abyss for so long, unable to see anything. I wonder if there was something here, or maybe it was just a big empty space."
Squinting his eyes, Jack peered at his surroundings. As he looked around, he saw nothing but whiteness where the darkness once was. Although he was a little disappointed, it was no surprise.
"Sigh, I guess there was nothing here." Jack felt a little sad that this space had nothing in it. He thought that he might be able to find something interesting in his subconsciousness before his death. "Well, I guess there's no point worrying about it. I'll be dead soon anyways."
Jack then realized that he had never looked up. He then tilted his head back as he narrowed his eyes. Jack was astonished by what he saw. A blue window with white text was floating above him.
[The Divinity System]
Initializing..... 99.9%
"What the heck is the divi-"
An unknown force thrust Jack out of his subconsciousness before he could finish speaking.