My entire existence flashes before my eyes, past, present, and future as I am transported to a space beyond time itself; the white void. As my eyes adjust to the sudden change of scenery, I feel a hand fall upon mine; clasping it tight. The heartwarming smile of my lover greets me as I glance towards the source of the touch; he says “Good to see you’re finally here.” Memories of countless blissful days since we confessed our love for one another in front of the school echo throughout my mind as I say with a perplexed expression “Wh-What? Wait, wh-why are we back in the white void!? Did we do something wron…!?” He pats my head gently as he says “Calm down, we’re just here to create a special scene to our story.” With a heavy sigh and relieved expression, I say “Oh thank goodness… So is this some sort of 'Thank you to our readers' scene again?” He says with a smile as he hands me two pages of script “Something like that… Ever since our creator gave us free reign of our story, I’ve been told we have accumulated quite a large readership; so our creator has prepared a special script for today that he would like us to say… It’s pretty short actually.”

Looking over the pages, I first see a note to the readers from our creator, it reads:

“Life… the most peculiar and mysterious concept known to man. It feels as if it was only yesterday I created these characters, this world… and yet throughout the telling of their story, my heart is now telling me that it has known them for what feels like eons. Tell me, dear reader… When is a character considered truly alive?

The minute they are created? When they are placed on display for all to see? Or perhaps it’s when they evolve to the point in which mere words can no longer describe who they are; the moment you instinctively know their every action and word spoken resonates with the soul of the character… At that instant in time, when we are almost spiritually connected with these characters, are they not alive? I for one; would like to think so… For what good is a story, if you can’t share a connection with its characters? It is for this very reason I title the last chapter of this story “Empathy in Creativity”, in the hopes that you too will one day find life in your characters.”

The second page appears to be my script for today… but it has only two words on it; I speak the words on the page with a puzzled expression “I… do?” My lover says as I look up from the page with a flabbergasted expression “Hmm… That didn’t sound like you put your heart into it…” I take a moment to comprehend the sight before me; we have been transported inside of a luxurious chapel decorated with massive vibrant stained glass windows and elaborate silk drapery. Together we stand, me and my lover, at the altar as petals of white fall between us; all of our friends and family sit in the pews behind us. My lover wears a tuxedo of pure white, and I a gorgeous gown of golden hues. I say with a shaking and shocked tone “I-Is this o-our…!?” My lover says “Perhaps you need an example… Try to say it like this…” My lover takes my hand and slides an immaculate ring onto my finger as he says with every ounce of his being “I do.” Tears of unbridled joy stream down my cheeks as I swiftly put the ring on his hand and say with all my heart “I DO!” We kiss to finalize the ceremony and begin our life together anew. 

THE END.