I pulled my car into the parking space in front of the bank and dialed home on my cell phone. After two rings, Heather answered.

"Hi, babe," I said.

"Hi, Micky." I could tell she was smiling when she said it.

"I am stopping in at the bank and then I'll be home. I'll see you in a few minutes. I love you," I said into the phone.

"Okay. Hurry home. I love you, too."

I turned off the phone and got out of the car. As I opened the door, I took my wallet out of my pocket and started to take out the deposit I was there to make. When I stepped inside, I heard something that sounded like a bang or maybe more like a pop.

Suddenly, I was lying face down on the floor. I felt nothing but the cold tile under my face. I saw my wallet lying beside me with Heather's picture. I closed my eyes and I was walking up the stairs in our house. I passed all the pictures on the wall; pictures of our
happy life together.

Opening my eyes again, I realized that I had been shot. I had apparently walked in on a bank robbery. I was beginning to feel pain now in my chest.

I closed my eyes again to escape the pain and I was home again. I passed the picture of Heather I had taken in New England in October `99. We had gone to see the fall colors. She was so beautiful against the gold tones of the earth. I asked her to marry me that day.

There was a commotion around me and I opened my eyes to see the gunman. He was being handcuffed. He looked so surprised. He mouthed "I'm sorry" to me. How could I hold a grudge against the man when I was just a few minutes from death. I could feel the life slowly draining from me and I knew my time was near.

Again I closed my eyes and went back home. I made it to the top of the stairs and into our bedroom. I stopped at the eight by ten picture of our wedding. At least Heather will always have this picture to remember me. We were so happy. I'm sure it will always
be on her wall.

Someone touched my neck, but this time I could not feel it, I saw it. I was above the scene watching everything. The paramedics were trying desperately to revive me, but to no avail.

"I think we've lost him," I heard one of them say and then they covered my body with a white blanket.

No, I thought. It can't be true.

"No, Heather. No. I can't leave her."

I felt a hand on my chest and shot up into a sitting position.

"Micky, honey. Are you all right?"

I heard Heather's voice and opened my eyes to see her looking at me with a very concerned look on her face. I looked around the room and discovered that I was home, in my bedroom, with Heather by my side. I grabbed her and hugged her tight.

"Oh, Heather. I love you."

"I love you, too, Micky. Are you all right?" Heather hugged me back.

"I just had a bad dream, that's all," I said. "Just hold me the rest of the night," I said and we lay back down on the bed. In the moonlight I could see our wedding picture and I smiled at how happy we looked. I held Heather tight and finally we both drifted off to sleep again.

THE END