I wrote a short story based on the prompt ‘Write a story that contains the line, “I wish we could stay this way forever.”‘. I hope you enjoy!
The sunset cast golden rays over the landscape as Asher sat down with a sigh. It was close to darkening, hints of pink and a deeper red beginning to shine through. The field he sat in was empty, as it had been for yesterday and the day before. And the day before. And for forever before that. No one else would ever be there to bother them. As the sun continued to set, Asher sat down cross-legged, picking flowers here and there, weaving them into a flower-crown.
Every night, just when the sun went down, Asher would meet Vienna, just less than an hour a day. The two were fated for forever, destined to always see each other, day after day. But never for long. Never for longer than 60 minutes. 2 lovers bound by forever, but not without a catch. 2 lovers bound by luck ran dry.
Asher had grown used to making flower crowns, his hands deftly going through the motions as his thoughts wandered. He hadn’t expected to feel regret at first- the arrangement, though less than ideal, allowed for forever meetings with his beloved. But as time wore on and the seasons changed, Asher felt just a sliver of resentment. For being stuck in this position for eons. For being so tied to someone. For being just a victim of the fates.
Asher turned at the sound of padded footsteps. Right on time, as always. A lonely figure, a loved figure turned to look at him, whispered sweet nothings falling from her lips. Right on cue. Asher placed the brand new crown on her head gently. Right on the dot. Knowing that no matter what happened, no matter what Vienna felt about him, the crown would end up in the trash, the flowers wilting, rotting, then eventually decaying. Just as they all would. Just as time would make its way and claim all of them. But not their love, written in the stars to be forever.
What was forever, anyways? In a couple of hundred years, who would remember who they were other than the grass that they lay on, the flowers that they picked? In time, they would fade away. No more obligation to love, no more duties to pursue, just rest. Cold, numb, rest. Asher and Vienna were lovers, that was true, but perhaps a life without love would be nice. Perhaps a life without Vienna would be nice.
The idea fermented, persisted, even through the words gently uttered by a devoted lover. Asher’s breath hitched as he reached for the knife he had by his side. It wasn’t wise, it wasn’t advisable, but it was something of his. And that’s all Asher wanted. To have something not controlled by an arbitrary definition of fate. To have something that he could call his own, his own choice, his own decision.
The deed was done.
A life was taken in the very field where two lovers met.
A new ghost joined the crowd of spirits.
As the ghost drifted forward slowly, joining the side of Asher, the stars began to shine in the night sky.
“I wish we could stay this way forever”.
