When her thoughts finally cleared and the chaos calmed, she would remember it beginning with a bang. A sudden, loud explosion that at the time had seemed to happen so fast, but in hindsight, would become the longest and most deafening moment of her life.
Following their common ritual, they celebrated their case with pie and a milkshake at the diner. A charming grin on his face, a look of credulity on her own. She remembered it was late and recalled wondering why they always seemed to end their cases at night. Worn out, exhausted and often times, their mental boundaries pushed to the limit. Walls and stances weakened, both wanting nothing more than to seek the comforting solace found in their friendship.
She had paid for their meal last time, so there was no argument as he paid for their meal. At the time, she knew it'd only be a couple of days before they returned to the place that had become a strong symbol in their relationship.
He laughed as she finally got the joke he had told five minutes before. Long ago, he'd realized that the joke didn't die when she didn't understand at first. Instead, it lived on while she reasoned her way through it, discovering the cleverly hidden logic that was usually hidden within.
Her arm slipped easily through his as the crisp autumn air blew, rustling the leaves that had started to fall from their limbs. He clasped his hand over hers and glanced down at her as she began spouted off bits of logic, which to most sounded like trivia, but to him, had come to realize it as her way of communicating with her.
The moon was full and the air clear, her skin seeming to glow against the dark sky. His eyes, a warm brown color, only left her face to look for obstacles and people on sidewalk, using his hips and arm to guide her away from them.
He pressed the button on the car doors, his ears only hearing her voice and not her words. He opened his door and at first, thought it was a car backfiring. He thought nothing of it until a tightness griped his chest and squeezed his heart. His eyes met hers for a moment and saw laughter in his eyes. Laughter which quickly died when she saw the wide eyed expression on his face. She'd seen that look before. And like before, it stole her breath away.
He'd already fallen when she reached his side; her questions and pleas falling on deaf ears. Rivulets of blood poured over her hand as she pressed her hand to his chest, maneuvering him so his head law on her lap.
He kept his eyes on her and only her, his lips struggling to form words which would never be heard. He saw tears fall down her face and wanted to wipe them away. Sorrow filled his heart, not because he was lying there dying, but because he'd made her cry and broke the promise he had made to her. Never out loud, but always in his heart. His last thoughts as he saw her pale face fade away against the night sky and tears falling like diamonds in the moonlight was of that promise to never leave her and how sorry he was to not wipe her tears away.