Eight Hours Remain

Monica waited in her room waiting by the present Howard had wrapped in a green bow.

She had on a black dress with torn fishnet stockings, and black mascara. All night, she had waited for Howard to come to her room, but he never came. She felt terrified. If he died, she'd have no one to turn to in the middle of the darkest nights, to hold with all her love, or to caress when her feelings swarmed her heart.

She wanted him to be alive, so bad that her frigid Ki leaked out of her body and spread into the room. The walls had been covered with sharp icicles, and the windows had turned glossy and opaque. The only thing not frozen in the room seemed to be her tears.

"Howard, I-I'll be a better girlfriend, please be okay!"

Monica slammed her hand into the bed and looked at the door. "Please! Please come in right now or I'm never forgiving you! I'll damn you for all--"