~*~*~*~*~*~
The ground was covered with the glittery white of the snow and the wind scattered it about like little fairies dancing in the air. The sun had set hours ago. The only light came from the street lamps and passing cars.
Standing on the porch, he looked out at the stillness that always came with winter. No one walked the streets, fewer cars on the road and no sound of anything but the wind.
He didn't feel the chill for his skin was colder than the air ever could be but he wore a coat for appearance sake.
Just as he set his foot on the first step he heard her voice.
"Is this finished?"
Turning to look at her, his eyes sad, he just nodded. He knew what she had sacrificed for something he had done. He didn't want her to pay for his mistakes any longer.
"It's finished. You of all people should know that already." Turning away from her, he stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"I just wanted to hear you say it. The future is crystal clear now. Please don't make me do this again." Her words were rushed. He knew she wanted to be done with him; she wanted to be home again. He had kept her away for too long. He hadn't thought of anyone but himself when he had done it. Looking back, he realized that his split second decision had caused her a decade of pain. She hadn't been able to prevent anything so she had to clean up the mess.
She had just appeared one day. He knew her but she did not remember him. He knew immediately why she was there. He had made a horrible mistake and because her gift was limited, she wasn't able to see everything clearly. All she saw was that her decision to leave had cleared up many dirty windows in her mind and she could see her own future, as well as her families, much clearer.
She never spoke of them, especially the one she called Jasper, but he knew her feelings for them ran deep. She stayed hopeful, even as the days turned to weeks and then to years.
Turning to look at her once more, she wasn't paying him any more attention; she had a smile on her face and was looking up at the sky.
"You will be alright, you know." She whispered. "You are much stronger now than you were before. You won't make the same mistakes. You have eternity to make up for it." Smiling a little, she added "and so do I"
In an instant she was gone and he was left standing on the street, alone once more. He was thankful she had come to his aid. He will find her again one day and be the father she never had.