Everything was perfectly quiet.
There were no cars on the street, no birds chirping, no busy shops along main street. The whole area would seem to be lifeless and deserted, had it not been for one young couple sauntering down the street.
Both of them dressed in the most expensive and elegant of clothes. They were newly weds and were basking in the post wedding bliss. Earlier, they'd found the last available priest to do the ceremony for them. Price was of no object to them now, as the only thing they had to look forward to was happiness. As they strolled down the street, the young woman was caught by a bit of nostalgia. They took a pause at the record store where they had first met. She looked up at the flashing neon sign that read, "Duncan's", and was taken back to that faithful day, "Do you remember that day we met here?"
He chuckled a little before he replied, " Yeah, I do. I was a struggling bum DJ, and you felt sorry for me, so you payed for the James Brown album I was trying to get. I felt like such a loser that day," he almost blushed at this.
"You shouldn't be one to worry. You turned that one album into a club hit, got rich, and you got the girl of course," her cheeks got rosy, "it was all you ever wanted right?"
"And then some. I just wish that.." she interrupted him as her lips pressed against his sensually. He lost his train of thought and they continued their stroll down the street, perusing as they reminisced over the memories they'd shared so dearly in this town.
They had almost neared the edge of town when the alarm when off, the buzz was piercing. Suddenly the quiet shangri la they had to themselves was shattered. She looked at him, he was holding back tears it almost seemed. This caused her to burst into her own. Then the mayhem started as the streets poured over with sudden movement. It was if a war zone had suddenly erupted mid town square. People were screaming into the sky, gun shots could be heard as people made their final actions, it was utter chaos. Neither of the young couple wanted anything to do with it, and they hastened their pace out of the town, the chaos was over for them, all they need now was solidarity.They moved forward towards the hill at city limits.
As they ascended to the top of the hill, they took in the scenery. It was a serene area. The noise and chatter of the city had become almost mute to where they were now. Atop the hill there was a single flower, one single rose amidst the grass. They sat on opposite sides of the rose, facing one another, not really knowing what to say to each other now that the time was nigh. She looked down at the rose, "This may be the last beautiful thing that we see together.." her words trailed off into tears.
He grabbed her hand, "Let's name it."
She looked at him in utter amazement and distraught,"What is there to name it? It's a rose, and it will be a rose to the last second that it stands..."
"Would a rose by any other name not smell as sweet?" She looked up after he said this, and she opened herself up to the gesture. This was his last ditch effort to try and be romantic. She decided to go with it, "Let's name it Death."
He was puzzled a bit,"Why Death?"
"Well this is the end isn't it? Let's make this rose be death. Roses have always stood the test of time for their beauty and grace. So just as this moment should end all times, I want that beauty to stand through with us." With those words they both smiled at each other, the rose fixed between their hands, and stood up. They embraced in a passionate kiss one last time, and looked towards the sky. It was coming for them, for us, for the entirety of the world. "I love you," was the last spoken words between the two, as they looked into each others eyes one last time. For they held death, and with it, everlasting grace between their hands.
