A somali was running through the streets at full tilt. He did not encounter much resistance, the streets were deserted. Everyone else was huddled up inside with each other, but still, he ran on. His lungs felt like they were about to burst. There was no time to slow down. No time to stop. The destination was just ahead, and he pushed himself past his limit to sprint the last bit of distance.
Not 10 minutes prior, Roseville received an emergency alert message that a nuclear ICBM had been launched upon the town. The country had been locked in a costly war with another, over greedy reasons beyond the normal citizen's understanding. But the sad truth was, the only ones who would truly suffer would be the average, everyday citizen. Paulo had been watching some tv when the message interrupted his program, and without hesitation he bolted from his house to another's.
He nearly ran into the door as he came up on it. His legs felt weak, and his head spinning. The orange cat lifted a weary fist and gave the door a few solid knocks. Sounds of movement came from behind it and the lock clicked, followed by the door swinging open. The girl behind it stepped back in surprise at the visitor, who was currently doubled over, trying to catch his breath. He put a finger up to show he needed a moment. Just one of the few precious moments they had left.
"Paulo?!" Jasmine gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"May… may I… come in…" Paulo wheezed.
"Y-yeah, come in, come in." Was her response and Paulo hobbled in. He looked around.
The house was quiet. Nobody else seemed to be home. "Wh-where… is… family…?"
Jasmine gently shut the door behind him. "They… they're all at church volunteering today… I decided to stay home…"
Paulo nodded. "Dad's… at work…" He collapsed on the couch.
Jasmine came over to sit with him. They took a moment to just sit and look at each other. Paulo was getting his lungs under control now. "When I saw the… well, I only had one thought…"
"To come here?"
Paulo nodded.
"Why?" The tuxedo cat tilted her head.
"I wanted to spend my last moments with you… I know that may be messed up considering…" Paulo looked away, a little red.
"No no! Not at all!" Jasmine gave a little smile. "I'm… glad you came. I thought I was gonna be alone…"
Paulo sighed sadly and looked down, fidgeting with his hands. "I'm really sorry for how things ended between us. I didn't want to, I still really liked you."
"I didn't want to either." Jasmine watched Paulo fidgeting. "I dunno, it was so strange, everything was fine between us… we just… decided to not."
Paulo nodded in silence. Then he said, "I did genuinely have a great time with you."
Jasmine laughed a little, thinking back to all their shenanigans. The pranks they pulled, the few, brief quiet moments they shared together. "Yeah. I did too."
Paulo checked the time. Fifteen minutes left. He felt tears sting his eyes. "If I coulda asked anyone to marry me… it woulda been you." He choked. "It woulda been you." He sniffled and wiped his eyes.
Jasmine couldn't help but tear up as well. She scooted closer to Paulo's warmth and he put an arm around her. The black and white feline snuggled into him. "Y'know… it's still not too late to ask."
Paulo nodded a little. "Alright." He said hoarsely. "Jasmine… will you marry me?"
She looked at him with a big smile and watery eyes. "Of course, you stud." She laid her head back down on his shoulder.
Paulo laughed a little. "Where should we go on our honeymoon?"
"Somewhere tropical, far away." Jasmine tapped her chin in thought. "Maybe… Acapulco."
"Hmm." The memories of so long ago of his trip to Acapulco flooded back in. The pitfalls and triumphs of that weekend. It seemed like another lifetime. "I've been there."
"Oh really? You'll have to tell me about it sometime." Jasmine said into the crook of his neck. She pulled herself up into his lap, and Paulo reciprocated her adjustment by cradling her in his arms. The clock on the wall indicated seven minutes left.
"Yeah…" He said.
Something she had never asked Paulo before came into her mind. It was something she always wondered. "Paulo, do you believe in an afterlife?"
It was something he never thought much about. Not that he was an atheist, but… he wasn't super religious, either. He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe? I think so."
Jasmine's lip trembled. "Do you think I'll go to heaven?"
"If anyone deserves heaven, it's you. You're one of the kindest, sweetest, most wholesome people I've met. Heaven would be lucky to have you." Paulo kissed the top of her head, and his gesture made Jasmine purr a little.
"If we go… will you look for me?" She whispered, tears now trickling out.
"I promise I will. I won't ever stop looking." The orange cat whispered back shakily, beginning to cry himself.
Three minutes to go. Jasmine looked out the window and saw a metallic speck in the sky growing larger. Paulo felt her body tense up, and he rubbed her back. He used his other free hand to cup her cheek and move her head so he could look into her sparkling green eyes.
"Hey." He said with all the warmth and gentleness he could muster. "You look at me, okay?" and the female feline nodded, tears still pouring from her eyes. Paulo leaned down and kissed her. Jasmine kissed him back, placing her hands on his soft chest fur. When they broke apart, she buried her face into him and shut her eyes tight, hugging him tighter. Paulo squeezed her tightly too, supporting her against him.
"I love you, Paulo…" She whispered.
"I love you too, Jasmine." He whispered back.
There was a blinding flash of light, and then…
Nothingness. Everything was gone. The town evaporated in the blink of an eye. But the love the two cats shared that afternoon would live on forever, as would the love of everyone in the small suburban town.
