A short story by Chaser9 (NSR)

Date: 01/30/2000
From: Chaser9

Just a little something I wrote . . .hope this proves I can do more than just Sliders fic.Andrew stared off into the night sky. The last four months had not been easy on him. "Four months," He thought to himself. "Has it been four months?"

He could scarcely believe it had happened again. For 9 years he had placed his life on hold. In hopes that someone would return to him. Looking back, he realized how foolish he had been, yet he found himself in the same position once again.

Why did he believe things would have been any different with Daphne. Honestly, it was the Alyson situation all over again.

The darkness of the sky regained Andrew's attention once more. He had picked this spot to come and think. It had such a beautiful view of the sky. It always helped him to clear his head

The blinding glare from car headlights turned his attention away from the sky. Who would be up here? Who would be disturbing him?

Andrew's eyes focused to the person getting out of the car. A voice spoke, "Your mother told me I'd find you here." Andrew barely could speak her name, "Daphne?"

Daphne walked up to Andrew and spoke, "This is a beautiful site. You can see the stars go on for miles."

Andrew sank his head. He tried not to make eye contact. "I always wanted to bring you here."

"Really?" Daphne replied, "Why didn't you?"

"Never had the chance . . ."

The pain ripped through Andrew. He had come here to clear his mind of all of these thoughts. He never even considered this would happen.

"Andrew . . . are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be . . .I mean . . . what could be wrong . . ."

"You're a horrible liar Andrew. And I thought you told me you'd never lie to me?"

"That was a different time . . .I was a different person . . ."

Daphne's words almost seemed forced, "Because of me?"

Andrew was silent.
"Andrew. What is wrong with you?"

Andrew was fighting back the tears. "You have no idea how much I miss you."

Daphne's response was quick, "It's been four months!"

Andrew tried to fight back the rage. "And that's suppose to make it okay? I'm not suppose to hurt anymore because it's been four months? My feelings are suppose to just disappear?"

Daphne was silent for a moment, as if she was trying to pick her words carefully. "Andrew. We were never even really together and besides, it was only two weeks."

Andrew's response was quick, "It wasn't even two weeks. If you want to get technical, it was one week and 2 days. Of course, it never felt like that. As I tried to explain to you before, it felt like I'd known you forever. The effect you had on me . . ."

"That was you. I had nothing to do with it. Andrew, you changed your life, I didn't."

"How can you say that? You didn't know me before. You don't know what I was like. You changed all of that. You brought happiness into my life. You made me want to be everything I thought I could never be. Daphne, you made me want to live again. It was you, it wasn't me. If it had been me, I'd still have that. I wouldn't be this person standing before you."

"How did I ‘change' your life? What did I do?"

Andrew shook his head, "You really don't know? Daphne, you completed me in a way I never thought possible . . . you were everything I had been waiting for my entire life, and when you left .you took a piece of me with you . . . and I'm empty inside. I honestly can't remember how I lived before I met you. It's like my entire life up until the day I met you never happened. That day I first saw you, the moment you flashed that smile, I was reborn . . ."

Daphne was silent. Had Andrew's words shocked her? She looked closely at Andrew and spoke, "That's not right. That can't be."

Andrew shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "Why do you find this so hard to believe? Can you just not fathom the idea that someone actually cares about you that much? Is it so hard to grasp the concept of someone wanting to be with you beyond anything else? Daphne, what do I have to say to make you understand?"

Daphne spoke, her voice was soft, almost as if she didn't want to be heard. "What do you want from me?"

"Daphne . . . all I want is to be with you."

Daphne shook her head. "You know I can't give you that."
Andrew was holding back the tears. "I know. . . I'm a fool . . . I'm sorry. Once again, I've opened my mouth and probably said something that was better left locked away in my heart. Just like the night you left. . . . I spoke what my heart had to say . . . and I lost you."

"You never had me . . ."

"So everything was a lie? All of it? The connection, the feelings, the sense that you were the missing part of my life? It was all a lie? Even the happiest moment of my life?"

"What are you talking about?"

Andrew wiped the tears from his eyes and spoke, "I'm 23 . . . and the happiest memory of my entire life is the night I held the most incredible woman I'd ever known in my arms."

Daphne's eyes widened. She could only stare.

"You heard me. That one moment . . . that one instant . . . it's all I have. It's what keeps me going. I won't let you take that away from me. I won't let you ruin it. You can tell me you never cared or that you never felt anything for me . . .but I know you better than anyone else does. You did and you just won't admit it.

"Andrew . . . this isn't why I came."

"I know why you're here. You broke up with Jeff and now you're moving back to Elm Cove."

"How?"

"Stacey called me. I'd made her promise to let me know if it ever happened. Why do you think I'm here? I'm trying to deal with everything in my head."

"Like what?"

"Like the small hope I always carried that when you and Jeff parted ways that maybe I'd have another chance . . . and now I'll never know . . . You're leaving . . ."

"I don't have a choice. I was living with Jeff and his roommates. You know my parents moved back to Elm Cove a few months ago. What am I suppose to do?"

Andrew shook his head. "I don't know."

"What I don't understand is why you're taking this so hard?"

"Isn't it obvious? Don't you know?"

"Know what Andrew?"
Andrew stepped closer to Daphne. "I don't want you to go."

"But why?"

Andrew's head sank. "If you haven't realized it, I have no right to tell you."

"I know you're hurting Andrew . . .it's hard to miss. I just don't know why. If you don't tell me I'll never know."

Andrew looked deep into Daphne's eyes and spoke, "Daphne . . . I love you. I've known since that night I held you. In that brief instant it was all so clear. I wanted to be with you, spend the rest of my life by your side. In that instant, nothing mattered but you. I wanted to make you happy. I wanted to be everything you ever needed. And I failed."

Daphne wasn't sure how to respond. "Andrew . . . how can you be sure?"

"There are some things in life you just know . . ."

"Andrew . . . I realized something recently. You made it a point to apologize to me for anything you thought you might have done. I appreciated that. It showed that you were sincere in everything you always said. Of course, I never had the courtesy to do the same."

"Daphne, what do you mean?"

Daphne's eyes began to water. The tears began to fall from her eyes. "Andrew. I want you to know, I'm sorry. I never meant for things to turn out like this. I never intended for you to have to feel like this. Can you forgive me?"

Andrew stepped towards Daphne. He wiped the tears form her eyes and spoke, "I forgave you a long time ago." Andrew wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

Daphne looked up at him. Her face was tear stained. She tried to smile. "Andrew . . .I really have to go . . .it's a long drive back to Elm Cove."

Andrew shook his head. "Seems like all I do anymore is lose you . . ."

"Has anyone ever told you you're very melodramatic?"

"I get that all the time . . ."

"I do have to go though . . ."

Andrew looked into Daphne's eyes . . .he knew this was it. She'd walk out of his life again and this time it'd be for good. He moved in closer.

"What are you doing?" Daphne asked.

"What I should have done four months ago." Andrew leaned in and kissed Daphne. He pulled back and spoke, "Just remember we could have been magic." He pulled his arms back from her and took a few steps back. Daphne looked at him almost dumbfounded, turned and walked to her car. In a matter of moments she was gone and all Andrew could do was cry.

Daphne was almost home. The drive had been a long and tiring one. As she pulled into the driveway of her parents home, Andrew's words echoed in her mind. "We could have been Magic." She dropped her head into her lap and began to cry. "I know, Andrew . . .I know."

Day-YUM!! That one's a downer...

Date: 01/30/2000
From: Sliding_Cpt_Bridger

That was beautiful, man. I'm a writer...and often times I look at writings a little differently than others. I read that, and it makes me wonder what's been going on with you lately..everything ok?

...anyways...I just thought I'd tell you that that was great. It makes me think about my situation a little closer...never waste a moment.

Thank you, man.

Sliding Captain Bridger
Hymleter@odsy.net

Bravo! Man...

Date: 01/30/2000
From: Informant

That had a lot of emotion in it. Good job.

What can I say?

Date: 01/30/2000
From: sleepingtiger

You are the man!

Totally impressive piece. Amazing emotional depth...character development--why can't more folks write with those two elements?

Seriously a respectable piece.

 

Tigs.

ps. BFL Forever baby

Far too emotional

Date: 01/31/2000
From: Slider_Sarah

If i wasn't at school, I would cry. It's beautiful. I love it.

Sarah.

7:'-0

Date: 01/31/2000
From: Blinker

I'm not crying... I just happened to splash a large bottle of glycerine in each eye... yeah, that's it...

*HONNNNNKKKK*

- Blinker 7:'-O
http://welcome.to/gate_haven

hmmmm

Date: 02/01/2000
From: sflite

Daphne does not seem to be a smart girl to pass that up=( Such a sad story...Somebody pass the kleenex.
SF

Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/16977
Nominated by Blinker