Darkness. Pure blackness, every inch of it surrounding me. I could no longer tell which way I was facing, could no longer feel the air brush my skin or even tell if I were standing or sitting. I tired to move but failed to feel the strain of my body as it carried the movement. I tried to look down at my body but couldn't seem to find it. I couldn't see my own hands, my nose poking out, my lips pouting. Nothing, only the black abyss spread out before me. Maybe it wasn't spread out, maybe that was the problem, maybe there was something over my eyes keeping me from seeing anything but black?

Or maybe your dead. You did get shot you idiot.

I rolled my eyes - if I still had eyes to roll. Of course my inner self wouldn't leave me alone even when I'm dead.

Be grateful you got company! She scolded me. She was the only voice though. The other voices that seemed to speak for an emotion were all gone. There was no compassion or pride, no self-pity. Just my inner self and me.

Which is basically you, without a filter.

I huffed in frustration although, I didn't feel myself draw in a big breath, or even feel any air pass through my nose.

Well, if we are dead than the after life better get entertaining real quick or I'm going to hurt someone.

I couldn't see her but I knew she was pouting with her arms crossed. But for once I fully agreed with her. Where was the bright light and passed family member's there to lead me into whatever laid beyond? And why did I have no feeling or control over my body - where was my body? And why was there only darkness? Why could I not see what was happening after I passed? I wanted to haunt the hell out of my father for killing me!

We got ripped off. Did we need to book in advanced? Is that how this thing works?

I felt anger boil within me. This was not how I wanted this evening to go. I was meant to tell Anthony I loved him, most likely have romantic dinner and perhaps even have a bit of fun. Then I was going to sign off on all the wedding arrangements and get married in two weeks. I was most certainly not meant to be floating around in a dark abyss with no one but my inner self for company!

Chillax woman. It could be worse.

How could it possibly be worse?! I think death is pretty much as low as you can go!

My inner self made a noise and retreated from me, leaving me in the silence that was quickly consuming me.

This sucks!

I wasn't sure how long I was alone for. How long I waited, but after what felt like an eternity, there was a sound. A small tiny little sound that would have gone unnoticed if I weren't surrounded by silence. I willed myself to turn in that direction and hoped - prayed - that my invisible body did what I asked. I stayed still, not daring myself to breath or even have a thought and I'd miss it. After another length of time, I heard it again. It was hard to describe. Like the tiny flutter of an insects wing, or the distant chirp of a baby bird. But it was still a sound - and right now, I would take anything. I pushed myself towards it, hoping that my body would somehow find its way towards it.

I began counting the second in between each noise. 120 seconds was between the second and third noise. Then 103 seconds. Then 68 seconds. The closer I got the more frequent they became, and the louder the sound became. The sound didn't belong to the flutter of an insect's wing or even that of a baby bird, it was merely a beep. A steady, basic beep that sounded rather familiar.

What was that?

It was now very frequent with only 5 seconds in between each beep.

Hello! I tried to call out, but my mouth wouldn't move.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Okay this damn noise is getting annoying.

Don't listen to her, I told the noise. It was the only thing keeping me sane right about now, I couldn't afford to lose it. Keep beeping.

I listened and listened to beep. Pinpointing its exact location, I stood firmly at that point and waited. I wasn't sure what I was waiting for, but I prayed for more. Another noise, a light of some kind. Anything would do.

Please, I begged. I felt bored - Like a prisoner in a black cell with nothing to do but bounce a small rock that came loose from the brick against the wall. Hanging onto that only piece of stimulus that I had left.

And then it stopped.

I panicked. Where'd it go? I imagined my head turning in every direction. Did I somehow drift too far from the noise? No but I heard it before. I couldn't have drifted that far that quickly.

I didn't mean it! Come back!

The deafening silence stretched out after the last beep and I felt myself begin to tire. The reality I was desperately hanging on to was now too far from my mind to be recalled. How did I even get here again? I couldn't remember. I was so tired.

Sky.

I focused on the darkness.

Skylar can you hear me?

The voice was deep and husky, rough and thick with emotion.

This is ridiculous; of course you can't hear me.

The voice disappeared so quickly, I felt myself reach out for it but it was out of my grasp. And soon, the silence took over once again.

Please. I began to chant every so often, my voice beginning to fade into the darkness. I imagined myself curled up on a cold stone floor, my body growing colder by the second and my mind turning dual.

Sky. I heard the voice again - it lacked clarity now. Sky they tell me you can hear me. To be honest I don't believe it but it's the only thing I can do. I miss you babe. The house is too quiet without you there yelling at me. And I haven't had a badly burned cooked meal in so long I'm starting to miss your bad cooking. The fur ball misses you too; she keeps trying to cuddle with me. And don't even get me started on Larry - your damn turtle is like bloody Parana, nearly hate my hand yesterday... The voice faded a little. I was trying, trying so hard to listen. But I was so tired.

There was a long pause and I thought for a moment the voice was gone forever.

But thankfully, it began again. Please Sky. I felt a shot of warmth. I couldn't tell if it was on my hand, or lower down, just that it was there and it was warm, and I liked it. It was a nice break from the cold that was taking over my body. Come on Babe, do you how bad it's going to look if I have to return all of the wedding stuff. Especially the present I got you. You're going to love it Sky, I promise.

The warmth spread through my body.

Trying to bribe her are you? Another voice echoed, more distant than the first.

If anything is going to work, it's a bribe.

The voice all disappeared in the abyss once again and I screamed out. No please come back, don't leave me. I reached out begging. I imagined myself standing up, my legs were a little shaky but still, I stood. I looked up into the darkness and screamed out. Out of frustration, out of anger, and out of sadness. As the last of my breath left my, the ground from under me disappeared and I started to fall. The blackness rushed past me in a gust of wind, flashes of grey streaks past through the black making me dizzy and nauseated.

The black faded into grey and the grey streaks became white. The wind rushing past me swirled around me, knocking the breath out of me. It was so hard to breath. Then entire world went white and I felt something in the back of mouth throat chocking me. I tried to swallow but it stuck there and I started to gag. I could feel my limbs again. My body responded and I turned on my side trying to throw up what ever it was in my throat.

"Nurse!" I heard someone scream in the distance. My eyes watered and my weak hands clutched something cold and metal. Quickly the pressure in my throat was lifted and the object removed, allowing me to freely throw up. Someone patted me on the back for support and held my hair back. Calming down a little, I opened my eyes. The light flooded in and to my relief my world was no longer black and cold. The first sight I saw was a pipe that had been shoved down my throat and a bucket that a nurse was holding.

"Okay now?" The nurse asked and I nodded my head. The person padding my back gently pulled me back down onto the bed.

I looked around the room. I was in a hospital bed. The sun was bright, coming in through the window. The Nurse leaned over me, dressed in her blue-green scrubs and a man stood to my right, his hand clutched firmly in mine.

I found myself staring at him.

His golden eyes sparkled in the light, the gold flecks dancing. He had a thick line of stubble across his jawline and his t-shirt and jeans were wrinkled and well worn. "Sky," He spoke with a husky voice, ragged with sleep. "How you feeling babe?"

Babe? I blinked a few more times as I stared at him.

My heart swelled and I wanted him to hug me, to hold me in his arms forever. "Anthony?" My voice came out jabbered and hoarse, my mouth dry and in need of a drink.

He smiled brightly at me and moved closer to the bed, his arm pressing up against me, trying to get as close as he could without disrupting me or laying down himself.

"How are you feeling Sky?" The nurse asked me and I turned to face her. She was an older woman with well-defined wrinkles and greying brown hair.

I nodded my head and pointed to the jug of water on the bedside table. The nurse quickly understood and poured me a cup of water, adding a straw and holding it to my lips. I drank eagerly. "Small sips honey or it will make you feel worse."

Having had enough I pulled away and laid back down. "I feel sore." I finally said.

She smiled at me. "Can you wiggled your fingers and toes for me?"

I went to work, picking up my fingers I touched each finger to my thumb and then wiggled my toes. My left leg was a little stubborn, still asleep, but after a two-minute delay, the toes began wiggling.

"Perfect." The nurse said checked me over properly. The beeping machine next to me measured my heart rate, my blood pressure was a little low, but other than that, I was fine. She left me to my recovery, telling me that the doctor will be by shortly.

"You scared me." Anthony spoke after a few moments of silence.

I faced him properly, pulling my bed up a little so that I was sitting up properly. "I'm sorry." I could still see the worry in his eyes, the blackness around his eyes. He looked so much older in that moment.

He shook his head. "It's not your fault Sky, I know that."

"And my dad?"

Anthony gave me pained look and shook his head. "I was too shocked. I ran to you, not him." I understood his words. He was too focused on me that he didn't stop as my father killed himself. I swallowed feeling my throat lump and my heart ached. I tried to push the thought far, far away. I'll deal with thoughts and feelings about my father another day. For now, thanks to his bad aim, I was alive, I was breathing, and I had a chance. A chance to do everything I had mourned when I was floating around in the darkness.

"Thank you." I squeezed his hand.

He smiled and nodded at me. "I'm just so happy you're okay." I could almost feel the relief flood into his body as his shoulders sagged.

The door opened again and the doctor entered the room. "Hi there Skylar, how you feeling?" He spoke and grabbed my chart hanging off my bed.

"I'm okay, considering."

He smiled warmly at me. "I have some news." The tone he used didn't make it sound very good.

What the hell could it be? I haven't even... oh my god! "You gave me an STD!" I yelled at Anthony.

He frowned and quickly put his hands up in surrender. Facing the doctor he said, "I have no idea what she's talking about."

The doctor frowned a little confused. "No, nothing of the sorts Miss Martian." He looked back down at his clipboard as if wondering if he should go through with delivering the news.

Come on doc hit me with it! Is it good? Bad? Ugly? A unicorn with rainbow ice cream?

"The bullet hit your back, breaking a rib and shattering it. The rib itself, stabbed your kidney and punctured a lung. You'll be fine, you can live with one kidney." He spoke quickly to my shocked face. "And your punctured lung has been repaired. You will have a scare from the surgery but the nurses will explain how to clean it and ensure the best care for scaring." He nodded, as if checking off his list of things to tell me. "That's it Sky. You'll be in a little bit of pain but you'll be ready to leave in a few days." He smiled at me and I nodded my thanks before he left.

Anthony sat beside me on the chair and I couldn't stop myself from staring at him. This is my after life - the life after all the hard work and confusion, after all of the problems and issues. We had over come it all. And now, there was nothing more to do but live happily ever after - or at least as close as that as we could get.

"So, you love me huh?" I smiled and pulled the straw to my mouth, getting a much-needed drink.

"Shut up and drink you water." He rolled his eyes but a smile toyed at his lips.

I shook my head and put down the water, waiting.

"Well, Kiss me you idiot." I smiled. He wasted no time, jumping off his seat and leaning over me. His lips crashed into mine with hot passion, physical aching need, and I matched his need with my own. The world spun around us, I couldn't hear anything but my heart hammering in my chest and blood rushing around my body. And I didn't want to.