When their eyes met it was magical. The world stopped turning and the air stilled. He was the most perfect specimen he'd ever laid his eyes on. He glided across the floor to the other man. The young man took the beautiful strangers hand and kissed it, "What a beautiful sight," whispered he.

"Whom? Me?" Asked the mysterious stranger.

"Yes, of course," he smiled,

"I'm Lance," the younger man introduced himself.

"Takashi," he smiled back.

"Can I have this dance?" Lance questioned. Takashi mulled over the question."I don't see why not," he spoke softly. The two danced across the floor into the night. They were beautiful together, nothing like anyone had seen before. Two beautiful strangers made the room feel magical, at least to them. Yet the night ended just a little too soon. The men parted ways, only then had Takashi realized who his dancing partner really was. He was the prince, the one and only, Lance McClain. And to think he'd made fun of the crown. He was sure he would be harshly punished for this.Days had gone by and Takashi was losing his mind over the possible things that could happen to him and his mother. Late in the night, a knock was heard at the front door, Takashi was still awake and answered the door. A man dressed in dark clothes and a scarf around his mouth stood there peering into Takashi's soul. "W-who might you be?" He asked in a scared tone. Was this the man sent to kill him? The man pulled down the scarf to reveal a smirk.

"It's me, Lance," he said with a large smile. "I had to see you again, I know we aren't supposed to, but I believe in love at first sight, and you, my good sir, have captured my heart," the young prince explained to the middle-class farmer. A deep blush painted the older man's face."Me? But I'm just a simple farmer, why would I capture your heart?"

"It is not your social standing, but what is in your soul that's brought me back tonight. Please, Takashi, let us have one night together. I know we come from different worlds and this won't ever work, but I just want one more magical night," Lance begged. Takashi blushed more, a prince begging him for a magical night, who would've thought this would ever happen. He nodded and let the prince into his home. Lance gazed around the small home and smiled.

"I like this place," Lance spoke softly.

"Really?"

"Yes, I don't like the castle too much. It's much too big," lance shrugged. Takashi nodded "I see,"

"Takashi, dance with me," Lance said as he took Takashi's hand and waist. He hummed as they danced until early dawn. "Goodnight, my secret lover," Lance whispered into Takashi's ear. Their lips met in a sweet kiss. Nothing had ever felt so perfect. Nothing had ever felt so right.

Back in the day we didn’t have your fancy hospital types like you do today. In my day the people that were disagreed with, or even unliked, were locked up in “hospitals”. I was one of those disagreeable people. I was 17 when they brought me there. I was a “troubled” girl. The only troubled thing about me was that I was a free thinker, someone who thought much too highly of themselves, and well, a little staby. They said I was murderous, and a devil worshipper. All I had done was stick up for myself when my uncle tried to beat me and make me into a housewife. My family wasn’t ones for women’s rights and all. So when I stabbed that bastard in the stomach as he tried to “make me his wife”, they locked me up.

Some day late in August, on a sweaty, blistering hot, afternoon, a nurse came into the room. I’d never seen her before, she must’ve been new. She was short and a little plump. She had short curly auburn hair and as she got close I could smell her perfume, it smelled like lilacs. The sent brought me back to a childhood memory of playing in my grandma’s backyard. I was snapped out of my thoughts when she spoke, her voice was like listening to silk. She was perfect in everyway I could see. Her warm smile made me blush.

“I’m Annie,” she said while she got medication ready.

“Pepper,” I replied. She laughed a little. My god, she sounded like an angel.

“I know, Pepper, I’m your nurse,” I nodded and blushed more in embarrassment. “These are gonna make you kinda tired, so that’s why I’m giving them to you now, so you’ll sleep better tonight,” she explained to me. I sighed softly as I accepted my fate, to be a doped up reject. I sat up in my chair and looked at beautiful Annie.

“More drugs, just what I need,” I mumbled, “Ya know why I’m here, right?” I questioned her. She nodded, seemingly afraid of me now. I frowned at her reaction “he was a bastard, I had to kill him, and I’m not what they say I am,” I looked out the barred window and sighed as I looked at the dead trees and muddy ground. She nodded,

“I would’ve killed him too,” she whispered. I looked at her with wide eyes and then a smile grew across my face.

“Glad to know I’m not alone,” I said and took my meds. I drank some water and leaned back “hey, Annie?” I looked at her with my eyes barely open. She looked back at me. “Don’t let them kill me here,” I sighed. She smiled a little,

“I would never let them hurt you, Pepper,” I smiled at that, no one really calls me by my name unless it’s another patient, and I don’t really socialize with them. I’m otherwise known as patient 563.

Over the weeks as the temperatures dipped and fell, I fell too. I was falling in love with Annie, and I thought she was feeling the same way. It was October when I touched her hand for the first time on purpose. I wasn’t very pretty, so it was nerve wracking to try this. I’ve also bitten my nails, my teeth were a little crooked, and my hair was always a mess. So when she held my hand back I nearly died. It was a quick little squeeze, but it was enough to make my heart swell and burst. We shouldn’t do this. We weren’t supposed to fall in love, but you can’t stop your heart from wanting.

In November, she brought me a sweater she made for me, I wore it around so proudly and happily. It even smelled like her lilac perfume. Thanksgiving, she came to visit me on her day off. She came into my room and we kissed. Her lips were soft like velvet and she tasted like bubblegum. Holy shit I’m kissing the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, is what went through my mind over and over again. She wore a beautiful skirt and tights, with a lovely sweater, that I just wanted her to shed. I might have only been 17, but I thought I had found my soulmate. As we kissed for what seem like an eternity, I was starting to feel weak and tired. I wondered if my medication was working already. She kissed my neck and I was burning red from blush. My body was heating up under her touch and I couldn’t think straight anymore. As my eyes closed I saw a smile on her face, I smiled too and went off into darkness.

I was suddenly somewhere dark and cold. I called her name. Suddenly flashes of light and warmth in my chest. More lights and I woke up with a big gasp and in an ambulance.

“Welcome back, Ms. Pepper,” a man said. I pulled my sweater close to my chest,

“Where am I? Where’s Annie?” I asked concerned. The man shook his head

“You stopped breathing and another patient saw you, there’s no one called Annie,” he explained. I blinked, Annie wasn’t real?

I still look back fondly on those few months. She may have been death, but I loved her wholey and with all my being. Yes, I was in love with death and all my life I’ve edged myself to where I could meet her again. Now I’m 92 and she’s been here for about 3 months with me, tonight she will take me away with her. Tonight, we will intertwine as one and I will leave this earth. I might be dying alone in a nursing home, but I’ve got my Annie.