Promise?

She just knew it had to be done. Every step she’s taken since she left her house two hours ago led her to that place. She took a deep breath once she got to the gates of the city’s cemetery and looked right to the one grave which could be seen rising to the sky. It was the biggest grave in the cemetery for the body that has been decomposing in there was one of the most loved people in the city.

That was not the grave Alice wanted to visit, though.

Her feet led her to the furthest grave in the cemetery. It was almost completely isolated, with a few trees rounding it. Since it was winter, there were snow on the floor and no flowers on the trees. It was a depressing scene, which made her feel like she was in the right place. So, she kneed in front of the grave and touched the thin coating of snow which covered the name in the grave.

She said nothing for a long time, just standing there, looking, thinking and wishing. The memories seemed to come back at once, making her feel dizzy like she was hit by the strength of the memories.

“Why are you doing that?”, she asked, smiling. She was so used to smile and she loved to because she knew that her smile could make Emily smile. And Emily’s smile was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Emily did smile and hold the candle away so she could lean and kiss Alice’s lips. Then, she put the candle on a saucer and put the saucer at the windowsill. She never realized how close the flame was to the curtains. “I want you to see something. Turn off the lights, will you?”

So Alice did and then walked to Emily’s side when she pointed to the ceiling. She was so proud! She’s spent the whole day putting little plastic stars on the ceiling, so Alice, who was in love with Astrology, could have her own little piece of heaven when she came to visit.

But Alice never saw the stars. When she looked to Emily’s face, something made her look to her neck. And she could see this thinning scar. She knew right away what is was about for Emily’s told her about her depressive thoughts. Alice panic. She turned so quickly, ready to yell at Emily, she accidentally pushed the girl, who dropped the candle on the curtains.

The three following hours were a mix of fear, fire, tears and screams. Emily didn’t make it and Alice was lucky she survived.

Two years later and Alice was still crying, feeling the blame that never let her go. One hand touching Emily’s name, she raised the other hand and touched the scars the fire left on her face. She could still hear the promises they’ve done.

“Promise you’ll always love me, even if we broke up one day?”, Emily just had another of her crisis, she cried the whole day on Alice’s shoulder.

“I promise”, said Alice, hugging her strongly.

“And if I die before you do, promise go to my grave at least once a month? Just to talk to me, in case afterlife is too scary?”, Emily kept going, weirdly. Alice did not like that conversation, but she loved Emily.

“I promise to go every week.”

Two years later and Alice kept her promise. After holding up for an hour, she sat in front of the grave and took another deep breath.

“I’m here”, she said always looking to Emily’s name.

She felt the soft wind blows on her face, soft like a kiss, and smiled.