*inspired by the H.I.M. song 'join me (in death)*

The sound of the front door slamming shut echoed through the neighborhood as Melissa raced down the street. She ran blindly, dashing tears out of her eyes and fumbling for her cell phone. Stopping on the bridge, she threw her phone as hard as she could out into the canal. Without waiting for it to hit the water, she ran on. By the time she reached Chris's house it was after midnight. She let herself in and walked quietly up to his room. She saw him, lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Chris?" she walked further into the room and noticed that he was playing with a switchblade.

"Hi Mel," he said calmly," where were you? You didn't answer your phone."

"That's 'cause is in the canal."

"Oh." He sat up. "Why?"

Melissa began to cry again. "I'm moving."

"So? It can't be that far, can it?"

Laughing through her tears, Melissa looked at Christian. "How far is England from California, Chris? I thought it was pretty far away, but."

"England? They can't do that!" he protested. But they both knew that they could. Melissa sat down next to Chris and he hugged her. The two of them sat there in silence. Chris lapsed back into the thoughts that had been going through his head before Melissa had arrived.

"Mel, do you love me?"

"Chris, you know how much I love you." She pulled up his shirtsleeve so that she could kiss the word on his arm. They had been going out for over a year and a couple of months ago they had each carved the word 'Always' onto the other. It was a reminder that they would love and be there for each other always. Chris smiled, and gave Melissa a kiss on her hip, right over the spot where hers was.

"Yeah, I guess. Mel, if I decided that I wanted to die, would .would you come with me?"

"What?" Looking at her Christian saw shock and horror cross her face. And then as she considered it, a radiant calmness began to melt across her features.

"I hadn't thought about it. Why are you considering death?"

"Its not worth it. Life I mean. I don't see a reason why I should keep living in a world I hate. The only thing that makes it worthwhile is you. And now you're leaving me."

"Chris." "I was thinking about this before you got here, and now I am seriously considering it. When you leave, I will probably kill myself."

"Chris."

"Will you join me?"