Neverland began as a garden. Full of tiny white lights that hung in the dark shadowy sculpted hedges. Flowers in full bloom in the moonlight. Pale blossoms reaching up into the midnight sky. White marble pathway with inlets of silver.

Neverland became an empty amusement park where only Timmy had the keys to light it up. Together they rode rides and ate cotton candy like a fine gourmet dinner. Drank sodas of all types only to throw it all up as they screamed down roller coaster after roller coaster.

Neverland was invitation to an exclusive performance of a favorite musician and later a private performance solely for the two children.

It was a toy shop where Ember could get any toy she desired. And what she desired was a porcelain doll that looked just like her dressed in a beautiful emerald gown.

It was the simple pleasure of two new friends together. Laughing and playing like the innocent children they appeared to be.

But it all had to end and end it did.

"I have to go home." Ember announced sadly. "It's almost morning and everyone will miss me."

"I'll miss you." Timmy replied. "Stay with me, I can show you another part of Neverland."

Ember smiled and kissed him on the cheek as she hugged him. "As there is life, there must be death. All things must end sometime."

Not for me, Timmy thought to himself with a sigh. "Alright, but we'll see each other again."

Ember smiled brightly, "You got it!"

Their walk back was quieter and more subdued than before. It was filled with silence that refused to leave in the short distance to where Ember and Timmy met.

"I'll miss you too, Tim." Ember told him once she was at their meeting place. "I'll miss you more than you'll ever know."

"I feel like we've known each other forever." Timmy told her.

She smiled, "Me too. Do you believe in past lives and soulmates?"

He nodded and thought sadly, But you're not mine. I would have seen pink and been inside your mind as would you been in mine. I wish you were though Ember Delune. Tonight has been the best night I had ever spent in my immortal days.

"Maybe at one time we were friends and promised to meet again in each life we lived." She told him and seemed sad for an instant.

Timmy wondered what could have made the little girl that was always so bright and cheerful be so sad. Perhaps her grandmother or some other relative was lying in a hospice dying. Or she was as sad to see Timmy go as he was her.

A moment passed and Ember instantly brightened. Her sadness was sent away like clouds on a sunny day.

"But we'll meet again. You'll wait for me, right?"

"I'd wait until the days grow dark and the nights grow bright." Timmy replied. Ember laughed and took his hand and began leading him toward her home.

The Delune apartment was a small cabin identical to all the rest in the subdivision. The only difference was the pink tricycle sitting out in the yard and the bright pink letters on the door they spelled 'Ember's home'

"Nice house." Timmy commented at the door. Ember blushed and shrugged.

"We've only been living here a couple of months."

Timmy nodded as Ember opened the door.

"Do you want to come in and call your family to pick you up?" she asked.

"Nah, I'll be fine." he replied. "Thanks for the offer though."

Ember smiled and blushed prettily before closing and locking the door behind her.

Timmy stood outside for a moment longer before walking back towards Theirry's estate. His mind went back to all the fun him and Ember had during the night. All the old sights that became new to him.

He never saw the sign proclaiming the name of the housing complex Ember lived in.

Saint Teresa Hospice.


Please review and tell me what you think. And yes, it is Ember who's dying.