[Master]

Writer: blink

"His eyes gleam with the shine of a thousand sunsets, his words flow with the voice of a thousand universes, and he makes my heart burn with the passion of a thousand rebels".

These were the words she thought. Nothing could be held more true to her heart. He was an amazing creation, and words could not define the bond she had with him. Sometimes she wished she was falling in a bottomless wishing well, and her only wish was for him to be falling with her, holding each other for all eternity. It was with great certainty that she never wanted to leave his side, for they could face the wars of a thousand worlds, and together they would be invincible.

This is the kind of passion that should exist more in the world. If everyone had passion for another person like she had for him, the world would be completely at peace.

The first time she met him, it was on the ridge of a cliff overlooking a valley and a majestic river. She was wearing a white dress, looking like a ghostly maiden. The sun was just about to set. The orange sunlight reflected in her strawberry light brown hair, and it was a sight that could be seen for miles. At that moment, he was walking through the forest behind her, and as soon as he saw her, he knew that she was the epitome of beautiful perfection. He walked up behind her, and touched her shoulder. "Excuse me miss". She turned around and looked at him. The wind was streaming through his dark hair. The sunlight reflected the creamy, smooth combination of dazzling brown and green in his eyes. He was wearing dark pants and a white button down shirt partially undone showing his chest. "I couldn't help but notice, well to be quite blunt, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen".

"Well, thank you sir".

"I'm William".

"Rae".

"Well, very nice to meet you Rae".

He took her hand and kissed it. "May I ask what you are doing out here on this pleasant evening?"

"Well, I love to watch the sunset, especially up here. I think it is so peaceful".

"May I ask why you're wearing such a lovely dress then?"

"Well yes," she giggled, "I used to wear dresses like this when I would come up here as a child. It made me feel like I was pretty. And what are you doing up here this evening William?"

"I love to hike in the forest, it makes me feel at one with nature. Like you, I also enjoy sunsets very much. Sometimes I also walk downhill and take a dip in the river".

"Well, that sounds like fun. Perhaps I could join you?"

"I wouldn't want you to ruin that dress".

"Who ever said I needed a dress to swim?"

From that moment on, everything was complete magic for them. That night, they swam nude together in the moonlit river. They walked through the wonders of nature, all the way back to William's house at the edge of the other side of the river. The next morning, they woke up in each other's arms.

Their relationship would continue for about a month. They blended perfectly together, as William was a Scorpio, and Rae was a Virgo. They were as vibrant together as the water and the earth. William was a musician, and while Rae lacked much musical talent, like him, she shared his passion for music. William was indeed emotionally strong, but sensitive, and only Rae could understand his sensitivity. Rae was a shy, caring person, often putting other's needs in front of her own. William often saw life as a goal with a bunch of obstacles, willing to do anything to accomplish it, but Rae was able to teach him to be more-easy going and practical. After one month, their relationship was at an amazing level, and could only reach greater heights.

One morning, they both lay in bed, watching the sunrise.

"My darling, have you ever given any thought on what you would like to do with your life?"

"Yes, I want to help other people. The idea of world peace just invigorates me, and it makes me aspire to be a great person".

"You are already an amazing person".

She smiles. "I love you, you always know what to say to put a big smile on my face".

"And putting a smile on your face puts a smile on mine as well, my dear".

"I'm glad".

"I wouldn't have it any other way".

"Well what do you plan to do with music in the future?"

"I want to travel the world, with my voice and an acoustic guitar. I want everyone to hear my music, and I want it to change people's lives".

"I want to come with you".

"But you're only eighteen".

"There is no one I would rather spend my life with, and you're only twenty one".

"You know I feel the same way. I just want you to be certain that your future resides with me".

"Trust me".

She looked into his eyes, and she could see the fire burning. The passion that she had always longed for had reached her finally. She held him close, and she could feel the fire in his heart burning for her as well. She could tell without even speaking, that there is nowhere he would rather be at that moment than in her arms. They were truly in love, and nothing could come between them. It felt like they had known each other a century.

However, sometimes fate is a stronger presence than love.

He was dressed in jet black. Black jeans with a tight black shirt, and a black leather jacket. He had dark brown greasy hair, and held a cigarette in his mouth. He had known Rae since she was twelve, because he was the one who used to abuse her. He was the reason that she had cigarette burn marks on her arms and breasts. When he used to guilt her into having sex with him, he would have a cigarette in his mouth that he would press into her skin. He had quite a temper, and would yell at her often. When she was not around, he would have his way with the harlots, yet he was overprotective of her and other men. Yet through all of this, she loved him. He helped her through the murder of her mother and father. She had stayed with him for a few years, but ran away to seek a better place. However, on this day, he returned. It appeared as if he had changed himself for her. He appeared at William's doorstep. Rae opened the door.

"John, what are you doing here?"

"I came back for you. Ever since you left a month ago, I've felt a hole in myself. I realized what was wrong with me, and I took the initiative to fix myself".

"How did you even find me?"

"My heart led me to this place. I asked around town and people said to look for you here".

"Well I'm sorry John, but I'm truly happy now. I have a wonderful man who would never mistreat me the way you did".

"Just take a drive with me in my pickup truck. Spend a day with me and I swear I'll show you I've changed Rae".

"Well… ok".

Rae and John spent the rest of the day together, and she discovered that he truly had changed. John bought flowers for her, bought her dinner, opened the car door for her, and treated her like a princess. His words were kind, and his facial exp​ressions were bright rather than immature, resentful, and angry. John was turning into the man she had always wanted him to be.

At the end of the day, Rae and John lay on the cliff where she had first met William. The orange sun was going down peacefully, just like a month ago. The birds flew by over the mist of the river, the autumn leaves of the trees blew in the wind, and everything was complete magic.

"I have something for you". John pulls out a ring. "Marry me Rae. I love you".

Rae looks shocked. "John, you really have changed, but I'm with William now, and I'm happy. I couldn't leave him; that would be wrong. He's done so much for me".

"I've done a lot for you too".

"You've also hurt me, and he hasn't".

"Rae, isn't our history worth more than him?"

"Look John, I will always love you at least a little. However, I don't think I could ever forgive you for what you've done to me over the years. I appreciate you being there for me, but now William is the one that will always be there for me. William is the man I always wanted you to be, and more".

"I see".

John runs to the edge of the cliff and is about to jump, but Rae pulls his legs out from under him.

"John! I didn't want you to kill yourself!"

"Without you, my life has no meaning".

John stared into her eyes. "What are you thinking about?" asked Rae.

The words echoed through John's head. There is that point in time where you're holding hands, looking into her eyes, and nothing else in the world is visible to you, because nothing else in the world except her matters to you at that very moment. That is exactly how John felt. She was his dependency, his addiction. He needed to be there for someone in the past, but at the same time, he couldn't take being a good person, and his inner monster came out. It was too much for him, and it was getting to be too much for him this time as well. He ran to his truck and drove off.

The next morning, Rae told William about what had happened.

"Rae, I love you, and I never want anyone to come between us".

"You know I feel the same way".

"You're my little Rae of sunshine. You bring light into every day of my life, and I would never want to give that up".

"William, you make me incredibly comfortable and happy. You've never mistreated me, and it's very easy to trust you".

They looked into each other's eyes, and Rae embraced him. She put her head into his shoulder and started to cry.

"William, I know that you're my new guardian angel. I know that you'll be there for me for the rest of my life, and that means the world to me. I just want to thank you for being the most amazing person I have ever met".

William smiled. "Thank you for making me the happiest I've ever been. I know I couldn't be there for you in the past when your parents died. I don't have a time machine. However, I will always be there for you now, and in the future. Rae, I'll never let you go. You're my friend, my lover, and the person that completes me".

"I feel the same way".

In that very moment, William and Rae were truly happy. However, people never change. William could never stop being Rae's guardian angel, and John could never stop being what he was in the past completely.

It was a week later. John was driving in his truck on the way to William's house. He arrived, and knocked on the door. Only rage clouded his mind. William came to the door.

"You must be John. I knew you would show up here sooner or later".

"Yeah, and I hate you. You stole away everything from me. Now I want Rae back, and I'm willing to do anything!"

"You're the one who screwed up. I didn't steal her from you. Besides, she's happy with me now, and a lot more happy than she ever was with you".

John pulled out a switchblade from his jacket and held it to William's throat. "Now you come with me ***got".

John pulled William into his truck, and bound him with handcuffs. He left a note on the door of the house. It read; "If you ever want to see your lover boy again, you know where to find him".

John drove to the top of the cliff. "Well Willie, this is where you get off".

He pulled William out, and shoved him to the edge of the cliff.

"You are really one pathetic son of a bitch. Why can't you accept the fact that Rae is happier with me than you? If you really loved her, you would want what is best for her, not what is best for you!"

"I need her in my life. If that makes me a selfish person, oh well. Seeing you with her drove me to jealousy. I can't stand the thought of both of you together. I have to end one of our lives in order to put myself at peace. She already stopped my suicide, so it has to be you!"

"You're about to make a big mistake. I'm sure you have more to live for. I know I have more to live for".

"My parents abandoned me when I was a kid. I had to fend for myself. I roamed the streets homeless for years. My life never had a purpose until I met Rae. Without her, I might as well not live".

"Well unlike you, I have goals and dreams, and they involve Rae and music. Without her, I don't think I could ever be truly happy".

"Well, there seems to be only one option. We let her decide. I want one of us to die, but it will be her choice".

William and John wait on the cliff for Rae to arrive. They both feel alone in the world, and time is moving so slow. The magic that the cliff once had is now gone. It is a cold, desolate place, without life or happiness. The tree limbs stand still, the river seems dull, and the clouds are blocking out the sun. There are no animals on this day, and there were never meant to be any. The only thing that brought the cliff and the valley to life was Rae. Without her, life had no meaning. She was the bringer of peace and hope, the bringer of the orange dawn. Whenever something was wrong, she managed to make it right. Through good times and bad, she always managed to come out with a positive outlook. This is why she meant so much so William and John. The words that echoed through their heads were "I'm lost without you darling".

Who would've ever thought that two different men with two very different backgrounds could have one huge thing in common? One Rae of sunshine was all it took to make their lives complete, and this day happened to be very cloudy for the both of them.

Someone appeared running on the horizon. It was Rae. "William! Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, but it appears you have a decision to make".

"What?"

"John wants you to decide which one of us lives".

"You know I could never do that".

John stood up. "Rae, I swear, I can't live without you in my life, so make a choice now! I'm going to live with you, or I'm not going to live at all".

"John, please don't do this".

"This is the culmination of all your greatest fears, isn't it Rae? I bet you would like to be with William forever and have me live, only to forget I exist. Well guess what? This story isn't going to have a happy ending!"

"I could never forget you, but I'm with William, and nothing you do can change that".

"This is your last chance to chose between us. Do it now, or I promise something bad will happen!"

The history with both of them flashed before Rae's eyes. She remembered the first time she met John, how he was freezing on the street and how they got a hotel room together. She remembered when John could finally afford his own place, and how she moved in with him after her parents died in the car accident. She remembered that long night she stayed up with John, him swearing that he would never leave her side. There were also the times that John went crazy, burnt her, cut her, dominated her to have sex with him. She remembered one particular moment when she was sitting on top of the snowy skyscraper with John. She remembered the words he said. "See all of this Rae? Someday, that entire city will be all for you. I promise, I will do everything I can to give you what you need. You'll never need another thing, and it will just be you and me babe".

Then she thought about William. Oh William, he was so wonderful. He was the complete opposite of John. He was goal driven, not about power, he viewed life unlike other people, he was sweet, nice, caring, and would never do anything to hurt her, physically or emotionally. The first time she saw him, the words that ran through her head were "oh my god", and he looked like an angel to her. Ever since then, he had truly been her new guardian angel. She thought about the first day they met. Everything was so perfect, and together in the river was so romantic. When they were in his bed later that night, it was hot, sweaty, and full of passion. She had never experienced a feeling like she had that night. She felt safe and at peace. Ever since then, they shared so many more happy days together, and she wouldn't change any of them for the world. She remembered the day he wrote a song for her. It was so sweet and beautiful. John never could have come up with something like that. In a way, William embodied the passion of the world, and John embodied the darker side of the world.

"Rae, pick now!"

"I can't!"

"Well then, I guess this is goodbye". John pulls out a revolver. He shoves William off the cliff, and shoots himself in the head.

Rae looks horrified, and starts to cry. "NO, THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING!"

William only thinks of one thing as he falls. Her eyes. They were the brightest of all the colors, and he will never forget them, or her. Rae was the best thing that ever happened to him. "I love you", he whispered. He hit the water.

**********

I woke up.