My Immortal

By Stephanie

Pretend there is a disclaimer here. Really, there is one. It is just in a very small font and also in invisible type.

May 22, 2003

A gray sky grew darker by the storm clouds that overtook it. Large drops of rain began to fall upon the small, lone figure that knelt by an intricately carved stone, but she was unaware of them. She was unaware that these raindrops mingled with the tears that ran in rivulets down her porcelain cheeks. She was only aware of one thing.

He was gone and he was never coming back.

Her long, slender fingers traced the etching of his name. "William T. Riker," she whispered as she felt each letter. She knew he was still with her if not physically, but by the bond that they shared and would always share.

He had given his life for her and she had held him as he had said the last words he would ever say, "I love you, Imzadi, and I will always be with you. You will keep me immortal with your love." He drew his last breath and his beautiful blue eyes closed in permanent slumber.

Her dreams had become nightmares after that dreadful day. She hated facing sleep because she knew that her mind would replay that scene over and over again until she would wake up crying and screaming for it to stop.

He was no longer there to comfort her, to hold her, to wipe away all of her tears, to tell her that things would be all right. Things would never be the same without him.

She felt so alone.

A cold Alaskan breeze blew around her, whipping long, wet dark-brown curls into her face. She tucked them back behind her ears and pulled her winter's coat up closer around her as a shiver shook her petite frame. She shoved her hands into the wool pockets; her fingers brushing against something made of paper. She knew what it was even before she pulled it out and looked at it.

His handsome face smiled up at her from the holopic. It was taken just before that day. The same day that he had called all their friends into Ten-Forward and proposed marriage to her. She had accepted. They had kissed then and the room had filled with cheers and applause. The image began to blur as droplets of moisture fell upon it. She didn't know if it was the rain or her tears, or both. She kissed the picture and placed it back into her pocket.

She pressed her cheek against the headstone and traced his name for the last time. "I will always love you, Will. My Imzadi, my immortal."

Deanna Troi stood and walked out of the graveyard, knowing that she would never be returning.

She had to leave the pain behind.

She had to let him go.

"My Immortal"
(Evanescence)

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
And though you're still with me
I've been alone all along