Chapter One: Birthday

Christine

I wasn't happy when I woke. I glared at the sun, which was shining garishly through the window. "Go away," I muttered.

"I do hope you aren't talking to me, my dear," said an amused voice behind me.

Rolling onto my other side, I propped myself up with my elbow. My husband, arms crossed, was leaning lazily against the wall, a smirk on his face.

I smiled broadly at him. "Of course not," I chided lightly. His smirk grew into a smile, and he walked over to the bed. He sat next to me, leaned down, and kissed me.

"Happy birthday," he murmured against my lips.

Stiffening at his words, I laughed bitterly. "Please, if you value my sanity, do not use those two words to describe each other."

He pulled back and frowned. I noticed that he had risen before me and was already dressed, as usual. Lifting his hand, he gently stroked my cheek, and I couldn't help but lean into his touch.

"Please don't be grumpy," he said softly, the teasing tone in his voice quite evident.

If anything, the way he was making jokes when I was dead serious irritated me, for this was one of those rare times when he couldn't tease me out of my sour mood. "I'm not joking, Erik," I said, trying to keep the despair out of my voice. "Today marks the beginning of the end. How am I supposed to be happy when we'll be separated forever in only a year from now?"

He raised an eyebrow at that. "I thought you were the one who decided that we shouldn't talk about it?" he asked.

I huffed, full of frustration. "Fine," I snapped.

Slowly, his smile returned. "That's my girl," he said approvingly. Then, he kissed me again, making me truly forget that in only a year, we would have to say goodbye forever.

o0o

Erik

Oh, my Christine, you were right . . . today marks the beginning of the end. Though I hide my thoughts from you, I also feel that this is a dark day. I want to hold you close to me and never let you go. I don't know how I'll live without you; I only know that it must be done.

I do believe that I will die without you, darling. The very thought of not having you with me causes me pain. If I loved you any less, I would lock you away and keep you for my own forever. Yet, I do love you enough to be strong and let you go. I want you to have a normal life, the kind of life that I can never give you.

Neither of us will be doing any celebrating today. All we can do is love each other during the time we have left.