White

White.

Bright blazing white as far as the eye could see.

That's what Vince saw on the other side.

The world, if it could be called such, was a mass of white without definition. No walls, no floors, no lines. Nothing but white fuzz.

And Vince.

Vince was as he had always been. But he didn't seem to be standing on anything. It was oddly comforting but Vince could only think of one thing. He looked around, searching for him.

"Merton?" Vince called out but his words were swallowed by the white, "Merton! Where are you Merton?" Vince listened but he didn't hear anything. "Merton!! MERTON!! MERTON!!! MERTON!!!" Vince began to scream, trying to make his words echo, trying to make Merton hear them. But there was no answer.

Exhausted, Vince fell to his knees. Vince pressed his hands against his face, desperately trying to stop the tears that flowed down his face. Then he felt the hand touch his shoulder.

"I heard you," Vince turned around to see Merton standing behind Vince, "And I came."

Vince turned around and saw Merton the way that Vince remembered him, a child of five. Vince jumped to his feet and scooped Merton up in a hug. "Merton!" Vince realized that he was still crying but for once Vince didn't care, "I thought you were gone!"

"Never," Merton kissed Vince's forehead, "I'd never leave you. You promised to find me. And I'll always find you."

Vince smiled though his tears and he began to laugh. "What do we do now?"

Merton smiled and laughed they way he had when he was a child, "Play silly." Merton gestured around him.

And a wonderful thing happened.

The white melted away, revealing a playground filled with equipment and grass. Bushes and trees perfect for climbing were filled with animals and toys of all sorts of shapes and sizes. The playground was filled with large patched of lovely grass and dark spaces perfect for hide and go seek. Nearby there was a table covered with treats and drinks of all sorts. Above them, a blue sky with large clouds gently floated.

"It's beautiful," Vince whispered as he stared at the scene around him, "It's so beautiful."

"It's all for us," Merton smile, "And only us. For eternity."

"I love you," Vince looked into Merton's face and gently placed a kiss on Merton's forehead, "I love you so much."

"I know," Merton giggled, "I love you too. Now, lets go and play!"

And, together, the boy and his friend ran off into daylight. We should leave them now, I suppose, to their games. For eternity is quite a long time for mortals like you and me. But not for them.

For them, it's barely long enough.

~~

If I don't make it know that

I loved you all the long

Just like sunny days

We ignore because

We're all dumb and jaded

And I hope to God I figure out what's wrong

- 4 A.M. by 'Our Lady Peace'