The Prophecy

"..... In my next life, I'll choose only you."

"Don't leave me Melissa. Please come back. I don't know what I'll do without you." His voice so emotional.

She slowly cupped his face with her left hand. It was clear she was still struggling to breathe. "I took this path not because I just...." She coughed and sipped in hard breath. "Not just to set you free. I took this path because.... if... I can't be with you... I... I don't want to be with anyone else. I don't... want... to... To spend the rest of my life... with someone else."

"How should I live without you? We've come so far Melissa. Don't go.... "

"Just as the numbers of years increases, so our love will grow till eternity. Death won't be strong enough to separate us. Not now, not ever. " She coughed again and struggled for more air. "I... I love you." For a reason unbeknownst to her, her heart skipped a beat as she said those words. Her looks suddenly turned real and her heartbeat fastened. Their eyes locked on each other. He looked at her like he was waiting for her to do something for the drama to finally draw to an end.

A long silence permeated the hall and the stage. Some of the audience were already shedding tears watching the tragic love story.

"I love you." Her heart beat fastened again and her hands fell down on the ground.

He hugged her tight, gritting his teeth in so much pain now that his Melissa was dead. A hug so painful. A hug without a word but meant so many words. His Melissa has finally left him.

The light slowly dissipated. After a while, everyone stood from their seats jamming their hands together. The children and the adult actors were all seen back on the stage the moment the light shone on the stage. Their hands jammed louder and some were whistling for them.

"Amazing... Beautiful...." Some of the audience were screaming in cheers.

Everyone entwined their hands together and they made a bow to the audience. Their cheers and claps increased and the curtains finally close.

Jane ran and hugged Francis so tight. The children and the adults clapped for the two lover birds.

"That was amazing Francis." She spoke smiling at him.

"You think so. I thought I did a bad job out there."

Jane's eyes had become red and swollen because she was crying watching the end of the tragic love story. She pulled away from the hug and kissed him. Everyone clapped and screamed in joy.

"Thank you." She whispered and hugged him back.

She tore the hug, looking for his other partner. She spotted her and ran to Lisa who stood very quiet in a corner, and hugged her very tightly.

"That was amazing Lisa." She spoke smiling. "You did it better than I ever could. You were so amazing out there."

Jane pulled away from the hug, noticing Lisa's quiet mood, not returning back same energy and not hugging her back.

"Are you alright?" She asked looking at Lisa's blank eyes. This was the first time in her life she had seen Lisa in such mood. She now looked really worried. "What's the matter Lisa?" She asked again as Lisa just kept an odd expression.

Lisa finally let out a faint smile. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure Lisa?"

"How's Abi?" She diverted the topic.

"She's fine now. I came back to get her toy but one of the guardians have already taken it to her."

"Okay. That's good to hear. "

Jane was about cupping Lisa's face, but Lisa held her hand even before she could touch her face. "Are you...."

"I'm fine Jane. I just got tired of everything that's all." She spoke and excused herself.

Jane's face was painted in utter confusion. The Lisa she once knew would be screaming in excitement without taking a break. This is the first time she had ever seen her like this.

"It has begun." An old woman with grey hair and one blinded eye, sitting on a wheel chair spoke causing Jane to whip her head to her. "And you caused it Jane. You were warned severally before getting into this. And now look at what you've done.

"I'm sorry ma'am." Her caretaker who just appeared apologized and started rolling her away.

"Now watch the world perish because of your forbidden love. You caused it...." She screamed in her old shaky voice as she was getting rolled away.

For a reason she could not puzzle out, her heartbeat fastened. According to what she had heard, whatever that old lady prophesied about, come to pass. Fear for a reason she didn't understand sparked all through her body. She also had no idea of what the old lady just talked about, but somehow she felt that something massive and dangerous was about to happen soon.