Page 1 of One Last Wish

Prologue

Shadows were all Icould see. Death was waiting for me, lurking in the darkness. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Love was worth the sacrifice. Inanylifetime, I would choose this outcome. I would always choosehim.

Closing my eyes, I waited for the sweet release. A single tear trickled down my face as I imagined him calling out to me, but it was too late. I’d already seen the light fade from his beautiful eyes.

Love: I held onto that. We would see each other again in a different existence. My soul would leave my body as they drained me, but no matter how hard they tried, our love, even in death, would be unbreakable.

Wewould alwayswin.

Chapter One

“Hold on! Don’t youdarebreak!” The voice was soft yet forceful. Every inch of me was drawn towards it, breaking piece by piece to obey the command. Something was so familiar in the tone. It felt as if my bones remembered that soft caress, but I had no idea why. “Please. Hold on. Just a little longer,” the male voice soothed, pulling me from my slumber.

I jolted up in bed, disorientated for a few short moments. Where was I?Oh, right! My bedroom.

That was thethirddream this week. Ugh! I hadmorethan enough things to worry about, and now I could add strange dreams to my list!Great!

When was I going to catch a freaking break? I had always been a misfit—you know the kind—someone who got bullied at school just for being divergent. The kids that were consistently pickedlastfor sport teams. The ones whose names werealwaysforgotten by the teacher because they faded into the background.

Even as I got older, things never got better. I simply learnt how different I was from everyone else. The only person I could depend on was myself, and I was fine with that.

Being a loner had its perks, though. I didn’t have to bother withanyone. That might sound like a shitty thing to say, but I’ve always been better on my own anyway. Most oddballs find other outsiders at some point. However, connection and love had always been an alien concept to me.

When my father died, I didn’t shed a tear. He was mylastliving relative and I felt no emotion at his loss, whatsoever!

Don’t get me wrong; I went to his funeral to show my respect. I placed sixteen white roses on his grave, one for each year that we had spent together. I didn’t hate him. That wasn’t the reason I didn’t feel his loss. My father and I had an amazing sixteen years together. He was the only person who truly understood me and how different I truly was. I distanced myself from everyone, including him, but he always gave me the space I needed without question. He never pushed for my affection and understood I was unique. Losing him suddenly at that young age damaged me beyond repair. It left a hole that never healed. I was empty, really. At twenty four, I was a ticking time bomb. Angry about nothingandeverything. Life wasn't something I enjoyed anymore; it was monotonous and draining. As depressing as it sounded, I had considered ending my life numerous times in the last year. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded that I didn't fit in. I was always the oddball, socially awkward with most people. I could make small talk, sure—laugh at the right part of someone’s joke—but inside I was screaming...looking for that connection withsomeone. It never happened, though. Real people, as strange as it sounded, never interested me.

Books were my only solace. They allowed me to be transported to another world, to become a completely different person. I drowned myself in fantasies about strong assassins, dragon riders, fairies, witches, air benders, forces of good and evil, princesses that saved their kingdoms, and elementals with untapped power. All of those stories were better than the life I was currently leading and gave me a way to escape reality.

“Have you scanned the new books that came in this morning?” Theo, my work mate, called out to me.

“I’m working on it!” It was no surprise that I worked at a bookstore. For the last three years, my boss, Malcolm, had allowed me to read as many books as I wanted. It was the best kind of bonus!Free books!

“Have you seen thatSecret Assassinis out a week on Monday?” I gave Theo an exasperated look. Of course, I fuckingknew! Why was this guy still trying to get into my panties? I had shut him down a ridiculous number of times the last few years. I wasnevergoing to go on a date with him. Theo wasn’t a bad looking guy, really, if you were intothe boy next doorlook. His short, light brown hair, baby blue eyes, and dependable personality were qualities lots of females searched for, but that wasn’t my thing at all! My roommate, Evelyn, had joked about his lovesick puppy dog eyes when we went out together last month. “Are you going to the secret midnight release at Book Junkies like last year?”

“Oh! Mmm, I’m not sure yet!”Shit!I didn’t want him gatecrashing Evelyn and me like before. “It depends on Evelyn. She might be out of town visiting her folks.”

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