Hey everyone! So as I promised here's that short story... my gods I'm such a procrastinator and I apologize for releasing this late!! Just a few things before we get to it, This story is somewhat based around actual events from my personal life and also, of course, made with elements of fiction. This story is dedicated to a certain Otter, with whom I've had the pleasure of meeting and having in my life for the past couple years or so. To him I just want to say, thanks so much for sticking by my side through all the hard and good times! A little more information about this work, it's not dealing with the characters from my series The Road of Life, The main Character is me as my Fursona. I hope you enjoy this short story, as always I enjoy constructive criticism as it helps me to improve my writing skill. So anyway, here's Heart's Longing Message!

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Heart's Longing Message

About three months prior I was excited to go, to once again be out on the seas on another adventure. Out on the seas... the place I used to always used to call my second home. But, as time drew closer, I felt uncompelled to leave. I didn't want to leave home, where, in the past few months, I had become extremely secure and withdrawn to. My roomate, Tal, a beautiful Otter who I had fallen deeply in love with earlier in the year said it would be good for me to get out and try new things, to just relax and have fun.

Earlier in the year we had broken up, and honestly, it had devastated me to lose someone who I loved completely. I didn't want to leave, because I still loved him so deeply and had come to greatly enjoy his presence. He had moved in, mostly for me I think, to keep me a little sane and happy. I loved the nights that we spent cuddling on the comfy green couch, but it was also painful. At times I wanted to kiss him, to be with him again but I always forced myself to resist.

We spent my last night cuddling on the couch together, a memory I'll cherish for the rest of my life. I explained to him that I had this dreadful feeling that I was leaving and never coming home. His simple response to my fearful statement was, "You are coming home." That morning, after sleeping for only a couple of hours, I got ready for the day and we went out for an early breakfast at the local Denny's. It was a simple little farewell treat to me.

We embraced several times before I left with my parents to the airport. Going through security and all took the better portion of an hour before we boarded the plane to Seattle, Washington. We spent that day in Seattle, I rested most of the day while my parents explored the city. The next day we boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas, beginning our journey to Alaska.

It was a day at sea and the day after that we arrived in Jenuae where all we did was shop. The next day we arrived in Skagway where I did more shopping and before we left port I called up my friend Relena, complaining that I was depressed, that the feeling of not coming home grew worse and worse. She and I talked for awhile, her telling me to not dwell on it and have fun, go to karaoke and make a friend. My simple response was, "I will try." I also called Tal and his advie was near the same but seemed to reach me more effectively. We talked longer and it made me feel much better than when I was talking with Relena, but it was nice to know they both missed me. I said my goodbyes and went back to my cabin to take a nice warm shower, breaking down and crying to myself because of the extreme loneliness I felt.

The next two days at sea were the most important of the trip for me, simply because they were my last... or so it seemed. I spent the dinners of past days with my family, joking and being social to a degree. That night I did end up going to karaoke and I did talk to a few people. The last day at sea was uneventful until the evening, when everything, all at once, seemed to just go wrong. The whole day I had noticed little oddities and had the most dreadful of feelings, but it was at dinner when the crew seemed to act the strangest. It didn't take too long before a loud rumble was heard and the ship began to tilt to one side. Only one word could possibly ring out in my mind, sabotage. There were a few more explosions and rumbles before the emergency alarms were going off. I barely managed to escape the dining room with the massive amount of mayhem being caused.

The ship was sinking and I attempted to get to my muster station but a good number of crew had somehow obtained guns and were picking off the passengers as they attempted to flee. Screams filled the air which gave me fair warning not to advance. I ran and hid as best I could, pulling out my cell phone and dialed Tal's number in panic. Ring... ring... ring... ring... ring... voicemail. I didn't know how long I had before the ship either sunk or the renegade crew found and killed me. I quickly dialed again, ring... ring... ring... ring... ring... and once again voicemail. This meant he was either sleeping or busy gaming and was unable to answer. I decided that I'd leave a voicemail message, probably the last message I'd ever get to him. There was the last bit of his answering machine spiel and then the beep.

"Tal, it's me... it's crazy here. This ship is sinking, the crews gone nuts and killing everyone.. I'm so scared Tal."

A sad smile formed on my face as I spoke, "I don't think I'm coming home Tal... so, I want you to know something..."

I paused and there was another explosion which caused the lights to flicker. "You are the most amazing Otter I've known in my life... when... when you left me... it honestly devastated me, especially when you said I deserved someone better than you."

Tears began to form in my eyes both from fear and sorrow, "In my eyes I felt undeserving of you, like you deserved someone better than me, it's why I pushed myself so hard... I wanted to become the fox of your dreams. I thought you were perfect for me... you were everything I had ever dreamed of."

There were a few sobs when I paused to take breaths, "Even when I first met you I thought you deserved better... it's why I ran the first time, why I disappeared for so long. I didn't want to taint you, because you were so perfect. I miss you more than you'll ever know..."

I took another breath, there was also another explosion and the gunshots began to get louder, closer, along with the pained screams of the falling passengers.

"There's one thing I want you to know most. I love you, Tal. I always will... I'll love you even in death. I don't think I have much longer before they find me, so... goodbye Tal... I lo-."

BANG.

My chest burned as the bullet pierced my flesh and bones, sinking its way into my heart. I looked into the eyes of my killer as the world around me grew cold and my vision began to fade. Eyes of hate, the eyes of a man with no regrets of who he killed.

"-ove you..." I finished in a whisper as I dropped the phone, life leaving my now blank eyes.

Hours after the ship sunk it aired on T.V. all over the U.S. and even in some other portions of the world that a band of terrorists had destroyed the Rhapsody of the Seas, killing most of her passengers on board. I sat in a field of white, glowing flowers, free from darkness and pain. In the distance I saw two heavenly figures approach. One bore a great sword and the other a spear, Angels! I recognized them as the angels, Michael the protector and Raphael the healer, coming to welcome me into heaven. As they approached I withdrew a bit, nervous to be in their presence. They spoke to me, words that were filled with peace.

"It is not your time yet young one. Return to Earth, for you have much to learn." Michael spoke.

"Call on us in hours of need and like your good friend we will rush to your aid." Raphael spoke.

I was speechless, unable to speak to such perfect beings. Raphael put his hands over my chest with a soft smile. Suddenly there was a sharp pain in my chest. I sat up, screaming loudly and clutched the part of my chest where the bullet had penetrated. Somehow I opened my eyes to the scene of a white hospital room. I learned later that somehow rescue teams had managed to save some trapped survivors. I was amongst the first handful of survivors to be rescued and had been immediately airlifted to a hospital.

Moments after my scream filled the air Tal ran into the room, to make sure I was ok. He looked as if he had gone without sleep for several days, and looked as if he was worried sick. I was shocked to see him there. He told me that he broke down when he listened to my message, fearing that I was indeed dead. When he got the call that I was airlifted to a hospital and that I was alive he booked the first available flight and came to see me in the hospital they had taken me to.

He told me that the hospital staff said that I was extremely lucky to be alive, that the Angels in heaven must have really watched over me. The mention of Angels made me start to cry and I hugged him as tight as I could, holding on to him for what seemed like ages.

"Looks like you were right Tal... I will be coming home after all."

For months after the events that transpired I woke up screaming , mostly because the wound would still hurt, but also because of the nightmares that remained to vivid in my mind. Tal always ran into the room, to reassure me that everything was ok. Often times he'd just hold me until the fear faded and I was able to fall back asleep. A lot of the time once Tal entered the room I also felt the presence of my Arch-Angels Michael and Raphael, comforting me as well. For some reason or another whenever I drifted back to sleep, possibly out of delirium, I would whisper to Tal, "Looks like I am coming home..."

*~The End~*