Aftermath

Author's note: For those that have read Silence Speaks A Thousand Words, this is the sequel (long awaited I know!) For those that haven't read the previous story – you will need to do so in order to follow parts of this story.

Prologue

Strong rays of sunlight glinted of the simple diamond in her ring. As she tilted her hand this way and that way, she delighted in seeing the rays play through the prisms of the gem.

With a sigh of utter contentment she lowered her hand and gazed out over the scene of celebration before her.

Family and friends were laughing and singing as they ate and drank and enjoyed the day. Celebration was the word for the day it seemed. Celebration of family, of survival and, most of all, of love. It had been a long hard road to get her to this day. Many tears and even more moments of panic. She still looked over her shoulder almost every day to ensure that the dark shadow that had once fallen across her was gone.

As she scanned the crowd of happy people she caught sight of him. Her reason for being here, for being alive, for being happy at all. He was her everything. And she had almost lost him to her own doubts and fears. The past that she had run from was a shared bond for them. Like a warrior in one of those romance books, he had come into her life at the darkest moment but had made her see light through the fog. He had stayed with her through all the drama and uncertainty and was now by her side in life forever.

As she looked at him, warmth spread through her. It started in her side and radiated all around her. In awe at the way simply looking at him could make her feel, she smiled and waved to him as he caught her gaze.

Something in his eyes seemed to speak to her. He hurried to her side. Desperate to be near her she guessed with a smile. As he got closer though she sensed something was not quite right. The eyes that had been gazing at her in adoration now seemed to be cold with fear and worry. Why? As he approached her the warmth in her suddenly came with a pain. Short, sharp and searing her to the bone. She was sure she heard him call her name, as he ran, frantic now to her side.

Her hand that she had been admiring the beautiful stone on now quivered at her side. She felt the warmth seeping from her now, wet and sticky. As she raised her hand she was shocked to see it was now red. Where had that come from? What had happened to her beautiful white dress? As she remained looking down she could see the shiny shoes of her beloved as he finally reached her side, just in time to catch her as she fell.

As she looked into his eyes she knew without a doubt that this would be the last time she looked into those eyes. The last time she would see love shining through them for her and because of her. She reached her hand up and touched his cheek. He was speaking, but she could no longer hear the words. Once again the warmth came and she closed her eyes, so tired.

As her hand dropped from her beloved's cheek the sun's rays once again danced through the prisms of the gem on her finger.