The End

She stood atop the lighthouse, wind wiping through her hair, the brutal rain soaking her and mixing with her tears. She looked and watched the waves crash against the jagged rocks below. Looking up at the sky, she screamed out.

"God! Why would you let this happen to me! I did nothing wrong?"

As if to answer her desperate plea, lightning split the sky in two. This was it, she thought. She stood on the slippery rails and closed her eyes....

**ONE WEEK EARLIER**

"Danielle, I have some news for you."

Danielle sat in her office chair and leaned back. She didn't like the sound of her best friend Trisha's voice.

"What? What is it."

"It's Liam. There was a bomb in his bunker..."

Danielle felt as though a knife pierced her heart...no two knives. One from the front and one from the back. She could not speak.

"I'm so sorry..."

Danielle slowly rested the phone on the cradle, not wanting to hear anymore. She sat in a trance, staring at nothing, not knowing what to think or do. Her head swam with images of them. Going for walks on the beach, jet skiing, that magical night in the Alps. It seemed she was already forgetting what he looked like.

"No," she whispered shaking her head, the tears finally falling.

A knock sounded at her door and her assistant entered.

"Dr. Greene, your...Dr. Greene! Are you okay?"

"No. Cancel all my appointments. I have to go."

And as if on autopilot, Danielle picked up her bag and cell and left the office. As she was driving home, she pulled down the sunshade to block the blinding sun and something fell into her lap. She stopped at the red light and picked up the picture of her and Liam, his brown eyes twinkling with happiness. She always told him he had "soap star features" because he was ridiculously handsome. He had a strong chiseled jaw, big soulful brown eyes that would crinkle when he laughed, which was often, and smooth chocolate brown skin. He towered over her at 6'2". He always called her "Itty Bitty" for she was a mere 5'1". She was a shade lighter than he was and had beautiful hazel eyes, fine pixie like features and long black hair.

Danielle smiled through her tears as she remembered when the picture was taken. It was on her birthday and he had taken her to a restaurant to celebrate. The waiter brought out a cake with a huge sparkler on it which they had fun trying to blow out, which is when the picture was taken. Right after that he proposed to her. She looked at the ring now gently fingering it. The honking of angry drivers eventually made its way to her senses and she looked up to see the light on green. She swore under her breath and hurried from the intersection.

At home she sprawled across the bed and cried until she fell into a restless sleep.

**SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER**

“Dani, I’m gonna miss you so much,” Liam whispered into her hair.

Huge tears flowed down her cheeks.

“I knew this day may come and I thought I was ready but…”

“Shhhh.”

They held each other sitting on the sand – their spot – watching the sun set. The next day Liam would be off to Iraq for God knows how long.

“I’ll write you when I can,” he said, tears in his own eyes.

“Promise me one thing,” Danielle whispered.

“Anything.”

“Promise me you’ll come back to me. I don’t know if I can live without you.”

Liam held her face in his hands.

“I promise.”

The kiss was filled with fervour and passion, each of them knowing it might be the last time they kissed.

**PRESENT DAY**

Danielle climbed over the rails of the lighthouse. Her heart was pounding. Without Liam her life had no meaning. This is what had to happen. She had to be with him. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She was at peace. In a matter of moments she would be reunited with Liam. Danielle let go of the rails and free fell. It was an exhilarating and calm feeling. Through the chaos of the night she heard her name. Opening her eyes she was staring back up at the lighthouse and she saw someone who looked like Liam. She smiled, knowing it was him calling her home.

“I’m coming,” she thought.

----------------

Liam watched in horror as Danielle fell. He could not watch as her body hit the rocks. Sinking to his knees, he held his face in his hands and sobbed. He had been unhurt by the blast and was shipped back home. He couldn’t wait to be with Danielle again, but she wasn’t taking any calls. Trisha couldn’t reach her to let her know he was safe. But that night, Trisha got a message from Danielle, telling her what she was about to do. Liam raced to the lighthouse, but he was too late. Liam looked over the rails again, there was no sign of her body. He gripped the rails and raised his face to the rain. Then he stepped over…