Chapter Text
I looked over at Marco with a smile. We were sat in his Honda on a warm Summer's afternoon, heading to the beach and happy to be in each other's company.
My eyes flicked to the road as the traffic signal changed to green, and I heard him giggle at something as he pressed the accelerator. Probably nothing. He would laugh at anything, my happy, happy Marco.
It was an anniversary of sorts - the anniversary of when I finally got my shit together and kissed the big dummy. He had been surprised - I had denied it for a whole year of college that I had feelings for my (male) roommate - but he had laughed as he kissed me back. We'd been together ever since.
I had loved that big dork for five years, but I loved him even more every day. I was thinking about the apartment we had bought together, and the ring sitting hidden away in my jeans pocket, ready to spring on him when he was least expecting it. Hopefully.
I reached my hand over and rested it on his leg grinning. It was pure bliss.
"I love you, Freckles" I said, barely able to stop myself from asking him right then and there. The afternoon sunshine shone through the windshield, illuminating his features. His brown eyes glowed and his freckles, those beautiful 'blemishes', were bright upon his warm skin. I knew every single one of them.
"I know," he said with a smile, glancing back at me. That was all that needed to be said.
And that's when the truck hit us.
***
I woke up with a gasp, sweating and dazed. "Marco!" I called out, panicked, the covers twisted around me, trapping me. "M-Marco!"
"I'm here," I heard him say, quietly. "It's ok, we're alright."
But as I looked to the side of me, my heart rate slowing as I searched for him, there was just an empty bed. Unslept in since June.
It was just a dream. Just a cruel joke played by my mind.
Marco wasn't there.