Click. Capture the Moment.

Click. That was the sound of my camera catching the moments of this world. We, the people of Earth, live in a rush. Everything is set by appointments; on the highway speeds get upped in order to suit the demand of ‘rushing.’ I was never the one to go for jobs where you had to be in an office all day. Instead, I made my living doing exactly what I was doing now. I caught those brief moments in time that should be preserved.

Walking back into my house I sighed; self portraits, painting, landscapes, and photographs cluttered the walls. My forever ready photo printer lay amongst the chaos I called a living room. Putting on my slippers I made my way to the room that brought back so many memories. Even here, pictures were placed all over of my ‘best friend’ and I. Looking at them all it brought back a torrent of memories and a flood of tears. Even though it’s been a week since Caleb passed his absence is overpowering.

The day Caleb passed he told me that he loved me. I know that as best friends we have a mutual ‘love’, but Caleb was being completely serious when he said, “Adele, I don’t care what you think of this statement but don’t give up our friendship on this. Adele I love you, seriously love you. You are what keeps me going when struggles arise; just knowing that you’re here I can make it through.”

Caleb was the man that could make me, yet he was also the very same one who could break me. That night after our ‘moment’ spent together came to an abrupt end as Caleb started coughing up blood. Blood started pouring out from his mouth and then he passed out. I called ‘911’ and they rushed to the place. As we practically flew to the hospital I prayed that nothing could be seriously wrong with Caleb…I was wrong.

Caleb was hooked up to a heart monitor, numerous IV’s, and a breath pump while the doctor told me what was wrong. Caleb’s body was in the far stages of leukemia, there was nothing they could do to save him; Caleb had at most a couple of hours to live. Nodding at the doctor then going to Caleb I grasped his hand a cried. My love was going to die…

Caleb’s parents came in and glanced at my hovering by his hospital bed while tears rolled down my face. Deciding to let his parents be with him alone I murmured, “I love you,” then walked out of the room. Seconds later I heard the monitor flat-line…

The next couple of days were a blur. I remember Caleb’s funeral, but all I can vividly recall was his casket being lowered into the ground. Leaving the cemetery I drove home in utter silence; not one noise erupted from the speakers or me. When I got home I crashed down onto my bed prepared to sleep when something caught my eye.

An envelope was tucked under my pillow with my name messily scrawled on it. Knowing that writing from anywhere I knew this was Caleb. Opening it I began reading my letter that was enclosed:

“Dearest Adele,

If you ever find this I will probably be gone. I should’ve been dead years ago but you brought the light back into my eyes; I now have a reason to live.

When I was born I was diagnosed with leukemia. Through the years I’ve battled with it and I’m down to the end of the line. Every day for the past month I’ve walked the fine line between life and death; I’m sick and tired of it. I know my time is close, but do me one favor. Keep capturing those moments that you love, you’ll go far. Always capture the moment as you did with us.

Be what you want and do what makes you happy, I’m behind you all the way. When I’m gone I’ll be there watching over you. We’ll meet up again one day, I promise.

Loving you until the end of foreve- because r ends it,

Caleb.”

That day I made my choice and now laying here with my camera and pills beside me, I couldn’t go back on it. I was never one for pain so I chose the easy way out. Taking a picture of the pills, I uncapped the lid and poured six into my hand. Taking them slowly, I thought that six couldn’t possibly be enough. Dropping five more into my hand I took a picture of that too and took them. Today I was “capturing the moment.”

Minutes, or it could’ve been longer, they ticked by. My eyes started drooping shut and I could feel my breaths become shallower. Dying wasn’t so bad, not when I did to see the one I loved. Getting one last picture of me my body fell back onto the bed. My last thought was, “Capturing the moment complete. If I’m dying, well so be it; I’m happy knowing that I can see you again Caleb.”

Floating down an angel with black wings spoke, “Nobody really knows the real reason Adele killed herself, not one living soul. Some say she did it because she was crazy, others say it was because of depression. I know why Adele killed herself because it was me. I ended my life because I knew there was somebody waiting up here for me. Even though originally I couldn’t get in to see him, he came down for me.”

Another angel with gray wings came and wrapped his arms around Adele. Speaking in a caring voice he said, “And I would do it time and time again.”

Adele and the gray winged angel went off, arms wrapped around each other smiling. “As would I Caleb, as would I.”

Lying down on the ground a girl and her friend were talking quietly as not to disturb what they were watching. Pulling out her camera, the girl took a picture of two angels, one black-winged and one gray-winged with their arms wound around each other with one small, final click.

A/N: I don’t know exactly how this story came to mind. I was just in work and I thought about how everything gets rushed and this is how it came out to be. Thanks to Brittany for helping me with the names.