A Thousand Nights Before

A thousand nights just like this one. A handsome man at my side. A camera flashing as the local paper gets a picture for the lifestyles page. Tonight shouldn’t have been any different.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught a flash of something out of place. I searched the darkness beyond the lights for another glimpse. There it is. Light reflecting off of something across the street.

I knew this day would come. I had planned on it, but not yet. It’s too soon. I’m not ready yet. I took a deep breath. Letting it out as I stepped between the man I loved and a bullet with his name on it.

I saw the surprise on his face as I crashed into him. Felt his anguish as he called me seven different types of fool. I heard the cries of alarm rippling through the crowd. There was the sound of running feet as bodyguards dove to cover us both. Someone shouting about finding the shooter. Then I heard and knew nothing.