There was something about him that could make any woman fall in love. He was charismatic, handsome, and cared more for others than himself. We first met on an online dating site. It was his picture that first caught my attention. 

His short black raven hair, his dark brown eyes, and tan skin made my heart skip a beat. I was hesitant to message him as I read through his profile. He seemed so far out of my league. 

I still remember the little ding on my computer saying he messaged back. We were open and honest with each other. Maybe he found that so refreshing. Through messages, we fell in love. He had flown all the way from North Dakota to meet me, the mysterious woman he loved.

The night we met was magical. I was so nervous. I took up the courage and laid my head on his shoulder. He looked at me and his brown eyes made my heart skip a beat. 

That night, not having anywhere else to sleep, I offered him to sleep by me in my bed. Now that I am older and not as nieve, I wondered did he see it as an innocent gesture. That was the way I meant it. 

Our visit was nice and sweet. We spent so much time laughing. He came to meet me before he deployed. Every part of me didn't want him to leave and I told him I would write him letters every day. Funny thing is, I did. 

He would call me at night. Sometimes it would take a very long time to get letters. When he did, apparently it was a funny thing. Nearly all the letters were for him. He would laugh and tell me how the other men would call home to their wives complaining. 

When he came back, we wasted no time in getting married. Both our families were against it. Love is a thing you can not stop. Before I realized it five years went by.  It was five years without serious arguments, five years of ups and downs. 

We had three boys now. Our oldest was four. Our middle child was three. The youngest he was only two months. Aaron was an excellent father. We were his world. We were the reason he got up and worked every day and we were the reason he stayed in the military.

He wanted to give us the best life possible. But sometimes, fate has a way of changing things on you. I should have never asked him to go get the baby some more formula. If only I had gone earlier. It was all my fault.

My husband, my best friend was killed that night, months ago. With his death, he took everything. We lost our home, we lost our vehicles. We lost everything that he had worked so hard for. 

In the blink of an eye, I was now a single mother. Months went by and I still could not achieve what Aaron did. I found myself thinking if only I died instead. Those thoughts soon changed to if only I could bring him back. Have you ever loved someone so deeply that you would give anything to have them back?

I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to lay on his shoulder and feel the warmth of his body. I want to wake up to the good morning honey. Heck, I even want to see him spending an hour in the bathroom again. I would give anything to make that happen. 

I wanted my kids running to the door to greet him again. I wanted his laughter and to see him playing airplane with my boys. I want my four-year-old to tell him make belief things he did today like old times. 

I needed to find a way to bring him back. I searched the internet for a solution. I went out to the dirt road a few miles down in the dead of night. I buried a picture of my husband, the bone of a cat, and a few drops of my blood. I said the words aloud. I agree to give up twenty-five years of my life if my husband will return. 

I hoped the crossroad magic will work as I walked back home. Exhausted, it took no time for me to fall asleep. The boys were still sound asleep in their beds. I awoke to my toddler at my doorway. 

He was smiling at me like always. His big green eyes seemed to be full of excitement as he exclaimed, "Daddy!" Rolling over to look behind me I saw Aaron's smiling face.

Joy overwhelmed my heart. My husband was alive again. It was a miracle. Tears of joy rolled down my face as I wrapped my arms around him. He held me and smiled too and in my ear said,"morning honey." like he always used to. 

Things were finally going right. But after a few days, I started having nightmares. In those dreams were horrible things. Aaron murdered me.

I woke up in the middle of the night to hear the lawn mower running outside. What is Aaron doing? I grabbed the flashlight and went to investigate. I found the lawnmower turned on, but no Aaron. I called out for him but to no answer.

I went back inside the house and locked the door behind me. I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling. I hurried upstairs to check on my boys. They were all safely asleep in their beds. Nervous I went to their room and locked the bedroom door.

I laid on the bottom bunk next to my oldest son. Days passed. Aaron wasn't his usual self. He was depressed. He started staring out the window for hours, not talking. 

I decided to take my boys to their grandma's house. I couldn't tell her her son was back from the dead. I needed time to figure out what was wrong with him. 

Quickly I drove back home. The house was silent. The only sounds I could hear was the sound of the wood settling beneath my feet. I steadily walked up the stairway. There Aaron was staring out the window again.

"Mary," his words slurred as he spoke," I can't go back home until your time is up. Come with me, Mary. We could be together." I looked at Aaron in shock. He knew I traded twenty-five years for his life. 

Nervously I took a step back. I knew it this was not my Aaron anymore. He would never ask me for such a thing. I turned to run but he grabbed me. "I can't kill you, Mary, you must die of other causes."  I struggled under his grasp. His arm became tighter around my throat. Then everything went blank.

I awoke to being tied to a chair. My head pounded and around me I could smell a familiar smell. It was the smell of gasoline. Aaron stood before me holding my hand.

He smiled at me and told me, "Now we can go together Mary. Now I can have peace again." I could only watch in horror as he dropped the match.