Tomorrow [Short Story]

Ruby sat on the swing, flying higher and higher with every push of her legs.


The wind, combined with the swinging motion, made her hair blow into her face but she didn't care.

Her eyes sparkled at the sensation of feeling like a six year old instead of a sixteen year old.

She laughed as the tip of her shoe barely brushed the tree branch that hung somewhat hazardously over the old, rusted swing set. She laughed again as she touched it a second time and her best friend Damien watched in awe.



Ruby Emerald.

With a like that you'd assume she had red hair and green eyes, yet she'd been blessed with clichéd golden locks and periwinkle eyes. But to Damien it didn't matter, she'd be beautiful no matter how she looked.



Ruby jumped out of the swing, having completed her childish mission: touch the highest branch on the sycamore, and she landed on Damien, knocking him to the ground. Their laughs joined together harmoniously. Ruby turned her head slightly to look at Damien and and Damien looked at her. With her wind blown hair, flushed face, sparkling eyes, and it took every ounce of self control he had not to kiss her right then and there.

The voice inside his head wasn't helping either.



Come on! Tell her! Kiss her and tell her you love her now!



He leaned in slowly and then...Ruby's phone rang.

No latest hit or cool unknown band. Just...a ring.

He watched as she hopped up and answered her phone.

As he watched her walk back and forth absentmindedly he decided.



Tomorrow. I'll tell her tomorrow.







Damien laid in his bed as vision of a blonde haired blue eyed beauty danced in his head.

As soon as the clock struck twelve, Damien's eyes snapped open. Something was wrong.

He could...feel it.

Just then his phone rang. Just a ring. Just like Ruby's.

“Hello?”

“D-Damien. It's Ruby. She's been hurt.” As soon as the words reached his ears, he was out the door.



Damien's eyes hastily scanned the waiting room and he found the back of the blonde locks he knew very well.

“Mrs. Carmichael. Ruby? What's – what's wrong with her? Is she – is she okay?"
Then he saw the look on Ruby's mother's face.

“Oh, God.”



Tomorrow was too late.