I wrote this for a contest at Wattpad. It was my way of making things right for my favorite Nashville Duo.
The Price We Pay For Love
He has watched her die a thousand times in a thousand different ways and every time he comes back from the portal to the past, he loses time he cannot get back. At first, it was just days, then it became months, and finally it was years.
He bargained with God night after night, trying to find an answer to why he always seems to fail her; it comes to him in a dream. She is suddenly sixteen years old again but this time she never walks into the bluebird and hears Deacon sing, thus whisking him away on tour. If she never meets Deacon then how can they fall in love, how can Maddie exist?
He shoots up from the bed, tears pouring down his face, a reflection of a question he once considered in his lowest moments...would it have been better never to know Rayna than to lose her so tragically.
He would risk losing her all over again to ensure that he would meet her all over again. He would go through every single trial and every breakup just to see her smile again. It was selfish but he knew he would risk everything for his Ray, even if it means ultimately losing her one more time.
"This is it Ray," he says, stepping into the portal. "This is our last chance at forever."
"Excuse me sir, but do you know where I can find a good place to eat," he hears the fiery Red Head ask. He is not supposed to interact with people but this time he knows he has to.
"I hear the Bluebird Café is exceptional. Good food. Good music."
She flashes him one of those 'bring you to your knees' smiles and thanks him. He watches as she walks into the café and locks eyes with his past self. If he could stay here forever, he would. These were the best days of his life.
His brain is foggy and he could swear he hears someone calling for him.
"Deacon please...please don't leave me," she cries. He is somewhere on the pavement, blood gushing everywhere. There is a beautiful woman looking up at him with pleading eyes. He does not know who she is or what even happened.
"Deacon...Deacon, are you okay?"
"I...I'm sorry, but...but who are you?"
The color drains from her beautiful face when she realizes that he does not know her or even what happened...He had taken a bullet from her stalker to protect her and nearly died...now he has no memory of ever loving her.
"I'm...I'm your wife," she says. "It's okay. You do not have to remember me. Let's just get you to a hospital."
He watches her eyes fill with tears as she helps him up, and he nearly collapses in her arms. "I'm sorry," he says.
"Don't be," she assures him. "I'm just glad you are alive. Everything else can be worked out later."