"Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going."
- Tennessee Williams

"You don't remember the promise we made, the vows we swore or the love we shared but I can't forget a day that went by that didn't have me thinking of you." The words fell from her soft pink lips as her clear blue eyes looked up at him.

Never before had simple words held so much meaning, never before had he felt like this in all his years of living. This girl, no this woman before him was all he could see and he knew the moment those words had left her sweet honey taste lips, that she was all he ever wanted. Slowly so not to scare her, he raised his hand. His finger tips touched the soft flesh of her cheek and he watched as her eye lids closed.

He was hesitant, unsure if this next move would be allowed. He didn't want to scare the woman and he didn't want to seem improper to her, because out of everyone who thought highly of him, her thoughts mattered the most. Then his lips met hers and behind his closed lids sparks flew and lights blinded him. It was as if he was seeing the world bloom for the first time and he knew he never wanted to kiss another girl's lips but hers.

Slowly he pulled back away from her lips and he watched as she kept her lids closed as a small but pleasant smile graced her lips and pink tinted her cheeks. How could he have denied her? How had he pushed this sweet heavenly angel from his side all for pride; out of fear that his family name would be tarnished by her slandered name!

Oh, what a fool he had been. Never again would he push her aside all for the sake of a name and pride, never again.

"You are wrong my love, for I remember every promise, every vow and every bit of love we shared of every day that had been spent with and with out you. Never once had my heart forgot you, never once had you left my mind and never once had my love for you burned out. I lied out of fear and for that I am truly sorry my love. For I have hurt you more then anyone had ever had and I find myself unable to forgive myself for the pain and torment I had caused you. I know I am undeserving of your love and loyalty for when you needed me the most, when I was asked to show you the might of my love, I had betrayed you. I left you there and I turned my back on our love, it was the biggest mistake I had ever made and I will always regret it." He told her softly looking deeply into her bright blue eyes.

"Do not dwell on it my love for I forgive you and I love you more then I have ever loved anyone. You are the blood that runs in my vines, you are the heart that beats with in my chest and you are the soul the lives within my body and I would never wish to be with out you because with out you I will never live." Her words where as true as the world was round and he saw it there with in her eyes.

It was then and there that he got down on his knee and pulled out the ring he had placed in his pocket that very morning when he planed to seek her out. His eyes watched her face; her eyes widen and her cheeks flushed as a smile came to her lips. He notice her breath hitch before it picked up again.

"Belladonna, my love, my life, my heart and soul will you do me the honer, the right and make me the most luckiest man on this earth and marry me?" He asked looking in to the eyes of the very woman he knew he could not live without. Tears came into her eyes as her head quickly nodded yes.

"Oh, Edward yes!" She called out as he slipped the ring upon her finger. He had claimed her before anyone else could, before anyone else could look past her slandered name that was false and see the true kind, caring, loving and pure woman that she was...before he lost her compliantly to another. She was his now and forever and that was all he ever wanted. For he knew he could not bear it if he where to see her with another man, claimed by another man or even in love with another man for he loved her to much, and now he would do right by her and never let her go.

The months slowly passed as news of the there engagement spread like wildfire. Many shunned such a union, that a boy of such outstanding family would marry a girl of...unholy acts of indecency. Belladonna didn't let it get to her for she had the man who she loved so much at her side and that was all she ever wanted. She was the happiest she had ever remembered being. Edward shared his loves joy at there up coming marriage and defended his fiance when anyone slandered her openly.

There days past in pure blissful happiness. However, everyone knows nothing last forever.

Her eyes welled over with tears as she stood in the room he was to be in. He was not there. Her hands in fists at her side, her lip trembling as they kept her wails of sorrow locked away.

Five months, she had been a bride to be for five months and now she was a nobody. No, that was not true, in the eyes of the city she was a harlot, a whore, a wench! All because that was what her mother had done for a living. Yes, she was uneducated, a woman and the daughter of a whore but she; Belladonna was not. Her Edward had seen that, seen past the slandered name that was tacked on her and he had loved her. But now, now he was gone, dead; no longer apart of this world and she, she was left alone.

Still even now she could hear the whispering of the hectic people around her.

"The boy is better off, could you imagine if he had gone threw with it!" Came the voice of a nurse.

"His name would have been ruined. This is gods work, he didn't want such an angle to be with a vile devil such as her so he took him." Another nurse replied.

"Sinners like her don't deserve good men like that, they deserve divine punishment. Should have been her who died and not that sweet child." Came the haggard voice of an elder.

Enough! She couldn't take it anymore. No one saw her for her, no one saw her pain, no one knew of her innocence and no one cared for her! Only her Edward did, only he! Quickly Belladonna rushed out of the room the tears running fast from her face as her heels clicked on the stares of the hallway.

Soon she reached the door at the very top of the stare way and pushed it open so hard it banged agents the wall and slammed back almost crushing her. But at this moment she wouldn't have cared if it had.

"If you are true then why, why do you take him from me! If you are honest and kind why do you let me suffer in such a way! If you are forgiving why do you not let me repent! All you do is take from me and leave me to rot in the hole that was left behind! I am looked down upon, shunned, slandered and out casted! He was the only good left within me and you ripped it away with your cruel way of life! Am I a sinner that should rot in this hell? If so why take him, why take the only good and pure in this world and leave me the ugly and the sin behind! You should have not taken him because he could have found another where I would find no one, only the empty beds of men past who use this hallow body for there bidding and pleasure. That is all that is left for me for I will never find another who will see and love me as he did! Am I damned to walk this waist less earth alone and repenting for no crime I have done?" She cried and cursed out to the sky above as the tears fell from her eyes. The wind whipped at her face and the streets still alive with the rush of cars and people. Slowly Belladonna walked over to the railing of the roof and stood over it.

Her eyes looking down at the people below her feet. One step was all it would take to end it all and be freed from the cage that she was trapped in, just. one. step.

"If I am to live a hallow worthless life with no color, light or chance of happiness when I have commented no sin, I rather not live at all and make my last act a sin. If you are true and if you are kind and if you are honest then you will see my pain and you will bring us together again." Her tears stopped as her blue eyes narrowed at the heavens above her as the words slipped harshly from her lips. Then She closed her eyes and saw him. A smile came to her lips and she took that one step.

And like that the word around her came rushing to a stop. No sound, no light, no pain, no hunger, no cage, no hate, no love...no life.