Much like his heart.
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do,
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you.
And I never dreamed that I knew somebody like you,
The rhythmic beeping was the only indication that she was still with him. Not that she was with him, not that he could claim her and their love. The shiny band of gold on her ring finger spoke volumes to any stranger, and to him, the one who should have remained a stranger but didn’t. He watched from the shadows as a nurse dutifully puttered around the fallen angel who lay still. No change in condition, by the sigh she released as she noted things down on the chart. Finally she departed and he was alone with his love once more.
For weeks now, he’d snuck to her side, vigilante, saying very little, pressing his lips against her ashen skin, willing her back to him, to be with him as she had promised. Life was leaving her, he had heard the doctors say this many times before in hushed tones, but he could not bring himself to truly see it and understand it. How could anyone who truly loved her accept it?
She would be gone.
No, I don't want to fall in love.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't want to fall in love.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you.
He couldn’t bring himself to remember their past, all the days and nights they had fought their attraction. Her anger masking her fear of admitting her feelings and how the world seemed to fade into the dim background when they were together.
With you.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
“Don’t you know how much I love you?” he whispered into her hair. “How I can’t live without you in my life?” His hand caressed hers as he gazed at her mournfully. “We found each other. This is the time to start a new life together!” His voice broke as her peaceful state did not respond. She never would. Dara had taken so much already, her spirit had surrendered long ago and all that remained was the memory of their short time together that would haunt him forever.
What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you,
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you,
“What I would give, to hear your voice just once more.” His voice shook as his plea fell on ears that would never hear again. “Speak to me Dara, tell me how to live with you gone!” Tears blurred his vision as he felt the sobs rise up and threaten to take over. “I don’t know how to do this part, I don’t know how to kiss your feet and hold you close and then let you go for good. I can’t do that.”
I want to fall in love.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I want to fall in love.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you.
He’d lost before. He’d watched people he loved before die, he had grieved far too many times in his life. He had experienced his share of heartache and caused his share as well.
But this was different. Just her touch could send him reeling. Her voice mended his broken soul, piece by piece. One look melted away the unbreakable walls that surrounded his heart. He squeezed her hand and kissed her fingertips, as he always did before leaving. She had brought him back into a world full of life and joy, her world. Now all he wanted was to crawl into the bed, pull her into his arms and slip into oblivion to be with her once more.
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do,
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you.
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you,
“I love you,” his voice came out like a caress and he gently placed her bejeweled hand back down. He must have said told her that a thousand times, none that she ever heard. Spoken after she would leave their hideaway but never when she was there. Spoken as she slept contently in his arms, but never when she gazed down at him adoringly as their fingers twined in ecstasy. Spoken now as she slept the deepest sleep she would never wake from.
No, I want to fall in love.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I want to fall in love.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
“We have to go.” The no nonsense voice cut through the fog and he nodded reluctantly. “I’ll be back, soon,” he assured her, and himself before rising, feeling his muscles twitch and moan.
With you.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
He’d only made it halfway to the door when he heard it.
Or rather, heard her.
With you.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
It struggled to be heard, to be understood.
Her voice gathered up all the strength it could. Her full lips parted ever so slightly and for the first time in two weeks, she spoke.
“Michael.”
It was hoarse, urgent and barely audible, but it sang to him like nothing ever before.
And it broke him.
No, I...
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
“Dara!” he cried out, rushing to her side, looking intently at her, his eyes darting here and there, squeezing her fingers every few seconds. Sonny glanced back at Jason, who’d stepped cautiously into the room. “You heard!” he insisted frantically. Jason nodded quickly. Sonny turned back to Dara, “we heard you! Dara we heard you!”
And then her eyelids fluttered once. Twice. Three times.
Then opened. And they stared at each other, drinking in what they could. Sonny choked out a tearful laugh and kissed her fingers once more. “Dara.”
“Michael.”
It was quieter this time, slow and calm.
Peaceful.
Her eyes closed.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
And just as quickly as she’d opened her eyes and spoke his name, did she slip away. Sonny did not hear the wailing of the flatline, nor did he hear Jason’s urgent calls to leave. He felt his friend grab him and drag him away from the room.
From her.
Nobody loves no one.
She was gone.
And so was he.
*~*
Chris Isaak- Wicked Game