I gaze at the cloudy sky stretching for miles above me. As the chilled air brush the red leaves across the grey street, I pull my black coat's collars around my face as best I can. I was so cold.

He used to hug me when I was cold.

We wanted to grow old together, but instead he left; and for what?

"A cheeseburger?" My nostrils flared as I scowled at Joseph. "You left me in a parking lot for a freaking cheeseburger! Give me that!"

I reached over to grab Joseph's food, but he shoved it into his mouth before I got close.

"Hey! " He yelled. "Mine!" He gently slapped my hand away, laughing uncontrollably. He twisted the key in the ignition and set off to take me home in his blue, battered truck.

Silence stretched time. I looked at him in his red collared shirt. I used to think he looked so good in red. Dust curled around the air in front of him.

"Are we..." he cleared his throat. "Are we going to talk about this, or are we just pretending this isn't the last day we'll ever see each other?" His knitted together as he looked directly at me, observing not my eyes, but my hair. I returned the favor by examining his dark hair, his angular jaw, and his pink lips... Anything but his big blue eyes.

He almost jumped when he realized he was still driving and returned his focus to the road.

"It's just college," I snapped, but then I tried to calm my voice. No need to get defensive. "It's not the end of the world." I shrugged.

A scoff escapes his lips as they curled into a sad smirk. "It is to me. You'll be halfway across the country!"

"It's called a long distance relationship," I said, leaning into his shoulder and pressing my finger nails into him, holding firmly to his arm as if I'd never let go. He jerked his shoulder slightly as he tried to make a clean right turn with me still attached to him.

"Long distance relationships aren't considered-- Agh!" He slammed his palm onto the horn of the steering wheel. "Get out of the way, you fu--"

"Hey!" I shouted. "Calm down! We're fine!"

Joseph's eyes fluttered at me and then back on the road. Although he sighed as if he would do as I say, I could tell he was still a little irritated by his stiff posture. He opened his mouth; then paused for a second.

"I love you, you know that? And I want you to succeed and be happy."

Those words sound so distant now.

His contagious grin beamed at me as he waited for me to respond. His eyelashes covered some of his Mediterranean colored eyes.

I laughed softly to shake off the awkwardness. "I love--"

My head jerked forward and suddenly the entire vehicle was flying. Joseph's ocean eyes locked onto mine, dread passing over his face; gravity was pulling us apart. A sudden flash of darkness overwhelmed my vision before pain erupted everywhere and I realized I was hanging upside down.

My head was pounding. My neck strained as if an invisible person had his hands around them and was pulling me towards the floor.

"Joseph..." A small, squeaky voice said.

I waved my heavy arms, frantically searching for him. Dots were now dancing in my eyes. My own panicked scream startled me as I looked to Joseph. Blood streamed across his neck; a large gash was above his eyebrow.

Arms embraced me from behind, pulling me toward the side of the car.

"Joseph," my voice cracked. "I love you! Joseph! NO!" I reached for him, but they were pulling me away. I grasped at air, straining to see him. Paramedics blocked my view. I was shoved into an ambulance.

One month later, I start my journey with a bruised rib and a minor concussion. They said I needed to go to college like Joseph wanted me to. All I wanted was to make my fiancé happy.

I climb into the bus to begin my new life, remembering the moments we'll never have.