Chapter 1: Goodbye Lover
Liz stood outside that gateway watching as Max vanished before her eyes. The setting rays of the sun reflected off the ring that he had placed on her finger only moments before. Glancing down at the beautiful diamond holding back the tears welling in her eyes. Liz placed her hand over her heart the same place where Max's alien handprint had once saved her life…her echo. Ignoring the longing pang in her heart as though it had been torn in half she stared into the now-closed gateway. He would return and they could finally start their lives together.
The turquoise remained hanging around her neck as Liz turned to walk back to the quiet unassuming town of Roswell. Walking along the dusty back roads to the Wild Pony where her family was waiting for her. The flashing headlights of a car blinded Liz stopping on the side of the road. A figure shielded by headlights emerged from the darkness, "hey girl congrats on the engagement" Maria Deluca's voice said. Now standing in front of Liz her soft eyes met Liz's teary ones. "Let me guess you had a vision?" Liz asked, "not exactly I just had a feeling," Maria said, reaching out to hold Liz in a hug. For a moment the two friends stood under the infinite blanket of stars where the secrets of the universe were now their own, holding each other to allow the other to have a moment to silently let go. "I don't know about you, but I am in desperate need of tequila and some Tina Turner'' Maria said, Liz huffed out a laugh, the weight on her chest already easing.
Driving back the wild pony sign shone brightly in the night. Parking in the lot outside the bar the two best friends watched through the window at the wedding festivities still in full swing. The music blasting from the jukebox was drowned out by the offkey singing of the drunken party guests. "So what's next for the brilliant Liz Ortecho?" Maria asked, turning to face Liz who was fiddling with her turquoise amulet. Liz smiled coyly, the glint in her eyes returning, "I have some ideas" she said. "And what of the magnificent Maria Deluca? What's your future look like?" Liz asked. Maria laughed "you're asking a psychic to predict their future?" Liz shrugged. Maria smiled softly, her own eyes turned slightly distant "Not everything is written in the stars Liz some things are our own to forge" Maria said. "One thing I can say for certain is that a good bartender knows when to liven up the party," Maria said, leaping out of the car. As Liz walked into the Wild Pony although her heart still longed for Max, she could feel the love surrounding her like a collective heartbeat. Dancing the night away with their family it almost felt as though he were here with her. An echo of him at least.
They would be together again, for not even the distance of the universe could keep them apart.