“We’ve finally made it to the top!”
“Wow, would you take a look at that view. It’s breath-taking.
The man who had crouched over, his hands braced on his thighs while he regained his breath. It was a foolish idea a voice inside his head and constantly screamed at him during the arduous climb.
He hated outdoor activities. Nature didn’t give him any emotional rejuvenation but rather added to his stress levels from the creatures of the woods or the mangled roots of trees that he was convinced tried to trip him over.
He hated it. He hated every bit of climbing his first ever mountain.
And yet, he loved her.
He couldn’t say no and the moment he stood straight, the view took his breath.
His girlfriend’s smile at his reaction also deprived him from oxygen.

The weather had been kind to them somewhat. It had started off cloudy and a little cold but the higher they climbed, the clouds parted to allow the sun to warm the earth which help them regulate their temperatures as the air in the mountain became cooler. It hadn’t totally cleared but the partial clouds served as a beautiful floor of white cotton, tinged with gold from the setting afternoon sun. They had set off early to make the most of the sunlight and he knew they’d have to make their way back down fairly soon before dusk swallowed up the last of the daylight.
“It certainly is beautiful, but not as beautiful as you.”
She blushed however worry remained in her eyes as she saw her boyfriend kneel down on one knee. She knew she was asking the impossible when she first mentioned the idea and was expecting him to shut it down completely, so saw completely taken by surprise when he accepted. However, she noted his physical struggle to climb despite having trained with her over the last few months. She noted the times he knelt down to rest and try to keep positive for her sake. She enjoyed the climb but carried the guilt and couldn’t hold it anymore.

“I’m sorry.”
He looked up at her in confusion. She continued.
“I know how much you hate this kind of thing and don’t try to deny it!” She hastened to add as she saw him about to do so for her sake. “I know it’s a mental and emotional ordeal and I’ve learnt my lesson in trying to force people to try interests of mine that they really aren’t into. However, I have been happy. So, so happy not only for making it to the top with you to share this moment, but for the teamwork we managed to pull off without bickering as I was worried about.”

He had listened intently, patiently before he continued with a warm smile.
“Do you know how you can make me happier?”
Eager to alleviate her concern she added enthusiastically, “how?!”
But then gasped when she saw the opened box.
“For everything you said and more. This was as much a test for myself as it was for how we’d manage such a challenge together and if we could make it work… And… I think we can. And I want to continue making it work with you. As my wife.”
He grinned sappily as tears began to fall from her eyes emotionally. The sun was rapidly setting beneath the sea of clouds, deepening its rich gold hue which cast an angelic halo of light around her, as if to bless his proposal.
“Will you marry me?”
She nodded rapidly while hiccupping and leaned to hug him as he stood back up. He parted her from him and gently took her left hand to place the diamond ring on her finger, both of them looking at the life-changing action. They raised their heads at the same time, their eyes meeting in love and excitement before turning to look at the setting sun over the lush green mountain range that was peppered with clouds here and there.

“While it would be nice to just make out to this gorgeous backdrop Hollywood-movie style, uhh… I think we’d better get off the mountain quick.”
She blinked and then laughed lightly.
“True, we’ll already be heading back down in semi darkness, so let’s get going.”
She turned to pick up her backpack and looked over her with a wink in her eye.
“Need to head back to the cabin safely so I can properly convey my ‘yes’ to you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The sunset is sooo beautiful! It looks just like what was shown in the pictures online! I can’t wait for the beach barbeque party tonight!”
“It’s time for the group photo! Go grab everyone, we need to capture this beautiful sunset before it disappears!”
“Lisa! What you doing sitting there, come get in the picture!”
“Will be with you in a moment.”

Today was the last day with her classmates at uni. They were celebrating their graduation on the beach and the weather had given them its blessing with sunshine and a gentle breeze. The clear sky meant that Lisa could enjoy all the hues of the sky. She relished in following the deep purples giving way to a deep red which melted into softer oranges which were tinged with yellow streaks from the setting sun on the horizon. Seeing the gradient reflected on the ocean captivated her heart so much so, she jumped as her friend poked her side.

“We’re trying to capture ourselves with this beautiful sunset, we can look at it after. Come on!” She added as she pulled Lisa up and along the warm sand to join their friends. An acquaintance from the same university but a year younger than them had agreed to be their photographer and was ready and eager to start the photoshoot.
The newly graduates got ready with their poses that they had researched and practiced earlier to make the photoshoot run as smoothly and efficiently as possible as the sun continued to deepen the hue of the sky guiding the remaining yellows into the sea’s horizon with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She exhaled softly through her nose, fully present in feeling the gentle burn sliding down her throat from the bourbon she sipped. On her inhale, the aroma filled her senses and she lightly sighed as she opened her eyes to the growing dusk. West of her the last rays of deep orange were being swallowed up by streaks of purple and a deepening navy from the east. The lights from various buildings in the cityscape were beginning to shine brighter in the growing darkness, an artificial simulation of the real stars also beginning to shine through above her.
The cool autumn breeze caressed her cheek as she took another sip.

Never had she been so aware of nature, her 5 senses and the environment around her.
Never had she experienced her final day on earth either.

Upon the thought, she felt a shroud of fear begin to envelop her heart before it disappeared at the touch of an arm sneaking around her waist from behind and a pair of lips lightly skimming the back of her neck. She smiled and leaned back into the chest and arms she knew by feel alone. They remained silent, both watching the multiple dark pillars of the cityscape glow a kaleidoscope of neon coloured lights into the darkening sky, sharing the bourbon between them. Sometimes from the glass, sometimes between their lips.

As the final lingering rays of navy gave way to the all-encompassing darkness of the night sky, the air turned chilly. She shivered.
“Let’s head back in, dear.”
She nodded and was led by the hand from the hotel balcony, back into the royal suite room.
She appreciated being able to enjoy the view from the 20^th floor high up.
Felt like a step closer to leaving the world behind in small steps.

She looked around the suite. Plus pillows and a duvet lay spread across the king-sized bed. The bathroom was equipped with a shower, bath and a Jacuzzi, which they had already passionately helped themselves to earlier.
Dinner was a variety of meats, salads, hot fresh French bread and rolls with the richest butter and decadent chocolate cake. Fruits were all fresh and sweet and the wine and champagne flowed freely between them.

One would think they were celebrating their honeymoon.
They couldn’t be more wrong, she thought bittersweetly.

Seeing her frown, lost in her thoughts, he gently pulled her onto the bed beside him and turned to look at her, gently caressing her face. He added in a low voice, ‘it’s time’.
She nodded. “I know…”
He saw the resolve in her eyes and sadly smiled before bringing a white capsule up close to her face.
“Finish up the rest of the bourbon with this.”
She grinned, her eyes lit with sultry mischief. “Make me…”
He returned her grin with a wave of pleasurable energy flowing down his spine and settling in his loins. He placed the capsule between this lips and pressed it to hers, his tongue pushing the capsule between her lips, then followed with a kiss.
She pulled back to down the last of the alcohol to swallow it and placed the glass on the bedside table. She turned back to see him also take and swallow the capsule with his own glass of alcohol.
“No Romeo and Juliet slip ups over here.”
She took his empty glass from his hand to join her own and turned back to lightly squeal and giggle at suddenly being thrown down on her back and feeling the hem of her blouse being raised, followed by a ticklish skim of lips at her navel. She could feel the effects of the pill beginning to kick in making her a little high. Her top was removed, quickly followed by her bra before she felt his warm chest pressed against her, their legs intertwined and fitted snugly.

He whispered low in her ear. “This time when I drive you to your ‘la petite mort’, you best be sure it’ll be relentless.”
She shivered, her hips pressing up to convey he make do his word.

“As long as you’re coming with me just as hard, you can send me to the other side as many times as you like.
“Always. Will be with you now and forever.”
He sealed his final vow to her with a searing kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dammit… we’re too late.”
The entire 20^th floor had been evacuated and cordoned off with police tape to what was now a crime scene. The detective looked at the bodies of the couple on the bed and sighed heavily. They were key witnesses to taking down the underground syndicate that had been plaguing the city for years and yet they had trusted in death more than in him or his team to ensure their safety and make sure they syndicate were punished under the law.
“Captain, the coroner is here.”
“Bring him in, we’ll need the autopsy report ASAP.”

He walked towards the balcony, opened the glass door and stepped out onto the ledge to lean on the railing as he lit his first cigarette of the day, the first of many he thought as he knew it was going to be a shitty day ahead of him for the tragedy that lay behind him in the hotel room.
As he inhaled in the smoke, the earlier soft golden sunrays had begun to brighten into a much more brilliant gold as the sunrise made its way up the city skyline, chasing the shadows of the night away.
He vowed he’d never give up chasing the shadows that lurk in the underbelly of the city away either for as long as he was alive.
However, for today, the sunrise just illuminated the darkness and sadness in his heart.
Failure weighed heavy within.