WARNING for depression, suicidal thoughts, near-suicide, blood, mentions of war.
"I — I can't believe this has happened!" the scientist said incredulously, pushing back his goggles and revealing his wide eyes.
"What-what happened?" James asked shakily; he was gripping on the handlebars for support, but as he straightened himself he felt a surge of energy.
"You're — you're —"
That's when the world exploded.
James stood on the battlefield, gunshots ringing in his ear. He was covered in blood, but it was a ruse; it wasn't his own. He couldn't be shot. He couldn't be stabbed. He couldn't die.
And it was the worst feeling in the world.
He'd loved once too.
Her name had been Lily, and she'd had the brightest green eyes and she was absolutely beautiful.
They'd met on a crisp day in October, dated during the winter, and then she'd been hit by car on the day he'd planned to propose to her.
James really tried to kill himself then. He stood on a cliff facing the sea and thought about jumping. Letting the water drown him and pull him into its depths.
Then he thought of Lily, of a particular day during the winter. Snow had been on the ground and she'd fallen into it, moving her arms and legs in unison to make a snow angel.
"Join me!" she'd said, and James had shaken his head.
"I'm too old to make snow angels."
He was. He was too old. But Lily didn't — hadn't known that.
"You're never too old to make snow angels."
She'd looked so much like an angel then that he'd agreed, and they'd spent a wonderful afternoon in the snow.
She'd kissed him. Her lips were chapped and icy and they tasted like strawberries.
He didn't jump.
He should have. Lily was burned into the back of his eyelids, and the worst part?
He would never be free of this pain.
311 words
1000 - 258. "You're never too old to make snow angels."
Sci Fi September Day 23 - A team of scientists attempt to genetically alter a human to adapt to another planet's terrain or outer space travel. They accidentally make him or her immortal.
