December 28th

I don’t ever want to see you again! I HATE you!

Words rang threw her mind, her own, over and over and over and over again.

I hate you!

Three simple words. The wrong three words.

I hate you!

She had screamed at him, yelled at him.

I love you.

He had choked out, voice barely above a whisper.

I love you. Please don’t go.

His words burnt a hole in her heart.

Please don’t go.

He had begged her, eyes bright.

She had laughed. A cruel, humourless laugh.

Please don’t go.

He had repeated, his nails digging into her flesh.

Please.

The hollowed echo of a car door slamming had drowned out his last attempt. He loved her. He needed her. Please don’t go.

Yellow pierced the darkness, a sickening glow, as the car headlights flicked to life. Please don’t go. She had driven off, leaving him behind.
Please don’t go.

Evaline sighed. 1080 minutes had flown by. 1080 minutes had simply disappeared. It had been 1080 minutes since she had last laid eyes on him, since she had last touched him, kissed him. 1080 minutes since she had last loved him.

The engine of a returning car died down, and the slamming of a car door brought life to the house once more.

Home.

Darkness greeted her. The halls of a house she was supposed to call home, empty. She called out, hoping he was here, knowing he was. He had phoned.

Come home.

He had begged, his voice cracking.

I can’t.

She had lied.

Yes, you can. Don’t leave me. Come home. I love you.

He had vowed, his hands clenched shut around a bottle.

I know.

Her vision blurred, her voice betraying her.

Please come home.

Okay.

She promised. 1080 minutes have passed.

The halls of her house – their home - were silent. Empty.

“Jimmy?”

She paused. Her hands trailing over a picture of them, taken so long ago. A picture in a white dress, eyes bright, smiles wide.

“Ev?”

He called out, his voice weak, body trembling.

A door was pushed open, a door that one day would never be opened again. She stepped into her – their – bedroom, her eyes narrowed.

“Ev?”

He tried to sit up. He tried to move but he was too weak. 1080 minutes had gone by since he had lost his strength.

“Jimmy!”

Her voice cracked, her hands shook.

“Hey.”

He tried to smile, his bright blue eyes dim. A bottle of pills clutched in his hands. Empty.

“No, no, no!”

She ran. She ran as fast as she could but it wasn’t fast enough. 1080 minutes had passed. 1080 minutes too late.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

She grabbed his cold, clammy hand, he tried to pull her closer. Needing her one last time.

“It’s almost over.”

She crawled closer, needing him, loving him.

“I know you’ll find your own way, when I’m not here with you.”

He kissed her. One last time, he kissed her. He loved her, but he had to let her go.

“Please don’t go!”

She screamed, begged as the light behind his eyes began to fade.

“I love you!”

She choked out, her nails digging into his flesh.

“I know.”

He stroked her cheek, his fingers numb.

“Please don’t go!”

She repeated, clutching him close. She needed him. Loved him.

“I love you.”

He whispered, his breath leaving him.

“I’ll always love you.

He closed his eyes, the light behind his eyes gone.

Outside, while the city slept, snow fell. For the very first time in Huntington Beach, snow fell.

Notes

Writing this nearly, damn-well killed me. It's been 7 years.

C.H. Sullivan

Title Cred: Light Behind Your Eyes - My Chemical Romance