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Nick stood at the corner of the Anderson bank wearing his typical baseball cap, waiting for her. They arranged to meet at noon, but impatience led him there early. He now checked his watch every 30 seconds, waiting to see her petite frame walking towards him. He glanced at his watch once again and then looked both ways down the sidewalk. A grin spread across his face as he saw her practically running towards him. Her brown curls were bouncing in long tendrils around her face and onto her green fleece jacket. Why must she be so beautiful? he asked himself as he waited for her to reach him.

"Melissa...."

"Nick! Hi, sweetie..." she greeted him, out of breath but smiling. "i almost didn't make it! I almost had to stay at the store all afternoon too...but Kathy showed up...."

"I would've waited..." he replied before enveloping her in a loving embrace. "I'd wait eternity just to look at you...."

She giggled slightly before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "I love you so much Nick....so much..."

"I love you too..." he whispered back, squeezing her tighter to his body.

Suddenly, the affectionate gesture was interrupted by a loud bang and Melissa went limp in Nick's arms. Her breaths shortened to gasps as he pulled back to find blood covering them both as it spilled from her shoulder. He gathered her in his arms and sank to the ground cradling her to his body, trying to stop the bleeding.

"Mel...what happened?"

"I don't...I don't know..." she choked up. "Just hold me Nick...Just hold me until I sleep..."

"Oh, Melissa....please don't leave me. You will live...I love you. I need you here..."

"Don't worry, Nick. I don't feel any pain...Just stay here with me..."

A gentle rain suddenly began to fall from the cloudy sky, covering the two of them in a soft mist.

Nick covered her body with his. "You can't leave me though. We were going to get married one day. Have a little house, two kids...and a dog..." Tears slowly formed in his blue eyes.

"Nick..." she said, drawing a shaking breath. "I love you...no matter what...I will always be here..." She placed her hand over his heart as her eyes slid closed.

"Melissa...Don't leave me..." he begged as tears slid down his cheeks.

"I...love...you..." she said as her breaths slowed. She then fell limp in his arms, their bodies covered in her blood. He tilted her cheek toward him and kissed her lips, their warmth decieving him.

"You can't be gone...Melissa..." he cried as a policeman kneeled beside him. "You can't be..." He held her lifeless body to him, sobbing into her hair. "I love you...I love you...Please, come back..."

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Brian set the morning paper in front of Nick and sat down beside him at the table. Assassin kills Backstreet Girlfriend Instead the headline read. The story went on to describe the chase and arrest of the man who was attempting to kill Nick, but missed and killed his one true love. Nick didn't even read the article but stared at the photograph of Melissa. It was a recent picture of him and her sitting on a bench in the local park. The autumn sun shone on her hair, turning it red and gold. She was wearing the same green fleece she had worn the day before. It was her favorite ever since Nick gave it to her for her birthday.

Tears returned to Nick's eyes as he stared at the picture. Without looking up at his best friend, he started to speak. "To think, it's only been a day since I held her. I saw her laugh and smile...I had seen her cry...She was so wonderful...How can she be gone...I loved her, Brian....I loved her more than life itself..."

Brian placed a hand on Nick's shoulder, not knowing what he could possibly say to his friend. They would get through it...Brian vowed he would help his friend survive...and one day he would join her again in Heaven...

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The End

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