Wish you were here, wish you could see this place
Wish you were near, I wish I could touch your face
The weather's nice, it's paradise
It's summertime all year and there's some folks we know
They say, "Hello, I miss you so, wish you were here"
~Mark Willis
This is dedicated to my Mom. I love you!
~*Wish You Were Here*~
"I'm gonna miss you so much!" said Mackenzie as she wrapped her arms around her husband.
"Mack," Lance whispered into her hair. "I'm only gonna be gone for a few weeks, It's not too long." He paused. "Don't worry."
A single tear streamed down Mackenzie's rosy cheeks. "I love you so much!"
"I love you too...more than anything," he said as he tilted his head and placed a soft yet passionate kiss on her lips.
After what seemed to be an eternity, their kiss subsided, and the two stared into each other's eyes
It was safe to say that they were in love...madly in love. They had gotten married on June 8, 2001, and after 4 years their relationship was still going great. The same ardor that they shared the day that they met was still remaining strong.
She had accepted his lifestyle... a member of the major music group *N Sync, but it killed her inside every time he had to leave her, which was not too often, for she would usually go on the trips with the band.
Now Lance was going to St. Maarten for a two weeks with the rest of the guys of *N Sync to play some special shows, charity functions, and to discuss and settle some international affairs without her. She wanted so badly to go with him, but didn't want to get in the way. She didn't even ask to go along.
A loud, nasal voice came over the loud speaker, filling the airport with noise. "THIS IS THE FINAL BOARDING CALL FOR FLIGHT 183. FLIGHT 183-FINAL BOARDING CALL"
"Well, You know what that means..." Lance said.
"Yeah, but I wish I didn't..." she said trailing off.
"I have to go," he said embracing her.
"Please don't!" Mack said, knowing her attempts would not avail.
"Mack, you know I have to! the group needs me."
"I know. I just wanted to see if you would," she said, a small smile creeping across her face. "It can't hurt."
She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "You're gonna be late if you don't go."
"I know..." he said, tilting her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. "I'll be all right I'll call you tonight or tomorrow to let you know how I'm doing."
"You'd better!"
The two said their final good-byes, and Mackenzie watched Lance walk away and disappear down the long terminal.
She raced over to the huge window and looked out at the runway. She watched teary eyed until the plane was safely out of sight.
Mackenzie quickly exited the JFK International Airport, and drove to their penthouse apartment as fast as she could. She just wanted to be home.
*****
Lance stepped off the plane and sighed. He has forgotten that they were making a stop in Naples, FL for an autograph signing. Although he loved meeting fans, today he just wanted to be home with his wife.
He walked into the airport and made his way to the gift shop. He grabbed a bottle of coke and walked over to the register to pay for it. On his way over, he saw a rack of postcards. Cards with pictures of beautiful beaches-the sun shining brightly in the blue sky...children playing in the sand...lovers walking holding hands in a state of complete bliss...
Mack would love this... he thought.
He grabbed a card with a scenic view of a deserted beach at sunset, which had the words "Naples, FL: Heaven on earth" written in the top right hand corner. He quickly paid for the two items.
He exited the shop and took a seat on a nearby bench. He searched through his backpack, and found a pen. He turned the postcard over, and began writing.
After about 5 minutes, Lance stood up, satisfied with what he had just written.
"Hey Lance!" a voice shouted from across the airport.
Lance looked over to see his band mate, Justin, rushing toward him. "Yo man, the signing got canceled."
"Really?" Lance asked, somewhat happy that they did not have to go.
"Yeah, we're taking the next flight to St. Maarten. Come on," he said, grabbing his arm in hopes to lead him to where he had previously been.
"Wait a minute," Lance said, stopping Justin from pulling him. "I have to find somewhere to mail this out."
"What is it?" Justin asked curiously.
"Its a postcard for Mackenzie."
"Lance..." Justin began. "You've been away from her for 3 hours!"
"I know, I know...but I miss her Justin," Lance explained.
"It's OK. These 2 weeks will pass quickly."
"I hope so..." Lance said.
"Come on," Justin said leading him forward once again. "We'll find somewhere for you to mail this...and then... WE'RE GOING TO ST. MAARTEN BABY!!"
Lance followed Justin, slightly laughing at the stares he was receiving for that noisy outburst that he just gave.
*****
Mackenzie rolled over him her bed and checked the time-11:30 PM. Although it was early, she was very tired. The only problem was she couldn't sleep; she missed Lance.
She forced herself out of bed and walked into the spacious kitchen. A glass of water was still sitting on the table from hours ago. She grabbed it, and emptied its contents into the sink, filling it up again afterward.
Mack didn't know why she got so upset every time Lance had to leave her. She knew it was his job and his life, but it still hurt. She loved him with all of her heart. Words couldn't express the feeling that she got each time she saw him, touched him, kissed him...
She finished her water, and walked back into her room. She laid back down on the soft bed, and pulled the blankets over her. Get a hold of yourself Mack, she thought. It's only two weeks! and with that, she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
*****
Lance settled into his comfy, first class seat. He was planning to sleep, but he didn't feel tired enough at that moment. He glanced out of the window and hoped that this time would pass as hastily as possible.
Soon the plane took off, and they were on their way to St. Maarten. Almost as soon as they took off, Lance was asleep, he face leaning against the hard window.
*****
He awoke to see a haze of confusion. People running, jumping over seats, and screaming bloody hell. What is going on? he thought.
Thats when he noticed it.
The plane was at an unusually sharp angle, the nose down.
They were descending.
Lance's eyes widened and closed tightly for the last time. He felt his body jolt forward, and everything went black.
*****
"Hey all you WTKZ listeners! This is Crazy K! Its 7:00! Gets your lazy butts out of bed and GO TO WORK!"
Oh, another day...thought Mackenzie as she turned off her alarm clock. She tried to pick herself up out of her slumberous state, but she had trouble. She managed to roll herself out of bed and groggily walk into the bathroom.
After showering, Mack went into the kitchen. As she was making her way over there, the phone's ringing pierced her ears. A smile crept across her face, for she was hoping the call was form Lance.
*RiNG RiNG*
"Hello?" she said as she picked up the small cordless phone next to the table.
"Yes, Hello. May I please speak to Mrs. Mackenzie Bass?" an official sounding man asked.
"Yes, This is her," she answered.
"Hello Ma'am. My name is Thomas Hayden. I'm from the St. Maarten law enforcement. Um... I've called to tell you about your husband. . ."
"What about my husband?" she asked worried. "Is he in trouble?"
"Ma'am... This morning at about 2:30, your husband's flight was attempting to land at the Princess Julianna Airport. Everything was going all right until...well..."
Mack felt her heart drop. "Well, what?" she said, the tears already forming in her eyes.
"The plane went down Ma'am. It lost control and fell about 500 feet, hitting the ground head on. We think it was caused by a propellor failure."
"What do you mean?" Mack asked hysterically. "Is my husband OK?"
"I'm sorry ma'am. Our crews have searched the ground. No survivors were found..."
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, now bawling harder than ever before. "You're lying!"
"I'm sorry ma'am," he said, feeling a tear streak down his face.
Mackenzie threw the phone across the room and fell to her knees. She held her head in her hands and sobbed. "No... Lance... No..."
*****
Mackenzie opened her mailbox and grabbed today's mail. She walked through her door and placed her coat onto the couch. It had been five days since the crash. She had returned from the funeral...the hardest day of her life.
She made her way into the kitchen, and sat at the table...the place where she and lance had spent so many nights together eating and talking.
She thumbed through the mail. Bill...Bill...Crap mail...huh? Mack froze when she saw the mail in front of her.
There, was a postcard with a scenic view of a deserted beach at sunset that read "Naples, FL: Heaven on earth" in the top right corner.
Mack turned the card around and gasped. She began to cry as she read the scratchy handwriting.
Mackenzie my love,
Hey. We're at a stop in Naples, FL (nice of them to tell me huh)? I've only been away from you for about 3 hours and I already miss you. I Wish you were here. I wish you were near so that I could touch your face. If my arms were long enough, I'd hold you. I feel horrible for leaving you... I love you Mack. You are my everything. I feel so empty without you...I left my soul with you, and this feeling will only be rectified if I reach you again. These two weeks will be the longest of my life, and I want to assure you that I will think of you the whole time.
I will love you forever Mackenzie...I always have. Before I met you, through life with you, and forever in eternity.
Loving for Forever,
Lance
~*~
What did you think? Tell me personally right here!!
Mack's eyes were now pouring tears out like a faucet. Not just tears filled with feelings of anger...not just tears with feelings of loss...tears of love. She was not reassured of Lance's feelings for her; he loved her with all of his heart, as she did for him.
Although he was gone...away in a mystical land of eternal life, she knew that he still loved her, and he always would...forever and ever until the end of time.
[inspired by the song "Wish you were here" by Mark Willis]
