Here On Earth: Chapter 13

Nick opened his eyes slowly and stared into the complete white around him. He couldn't see anything but the white. I guess this is heaven or something, Nick thought, not moving from where he was.
"You are a wonderful person, Nickolas Gene Carter, and you will be rewarded."
"Tina?" Nick called out.
"Yes, baby." He saw Tina standing before him.
"Am I…dead?"
"Dead?" Tina looked at him and laughed. "Why, no, my child! You are very much alive!"
"Why is it all white?"
"Snow, my love! You landed in the snow!" Tina laughed again.
"But…what about Eva and Brian?!"
"They're both alive and well!"
"But…how?" Nick asked, still not moving.
"You are a wonderful person, Nick. You chose an unselfish path to follow, allowing both of your friends to live in your place. And for that you were rewarded. For there is nothing greater than a friend who would give up his own life for that of another friend." Tina smiled. "Get up and join your friends. After this moment, you will no longer see me, nor hear me. I will exist only in your memory and your heart." She began to fade. "Enjoy your life while you have it, Nick. Enjoy your time with your loved ones." Tina faded, the sound of her voice echoing in Nick's mind.
He sat up slowly, not knowing what to expect. It was still white all around him, no color but white. He stood up and turned in a circle, breathing in fresh air.
"Nick?!" He heard Eva's frantic voice and turned towards it.
"Eva?" He began to run, but was slowed down by his skis.
"Nick!" He looked up and saw her standing on the top of the snow hill.
"Eva." He breathed, not sure if she was real. She was wearing the same clothes that she died in. He moved slowly towards her, watching her run towards him.
"Nick!" He fell over when she reached him and grabbed him in a hug. They fell into the snow.
"Eva? Is it really you?" He stared up into her face. Her beautiful eyes were shining clearly, obviously not those of the dead Eva he had seen earlier.
"Nicky, you saved us both!" She whispered excitedly. "How did you do it?"
"Brian's alive too?"
"Yes! But how?"
"I gave up my life for both of yours. I said to take me and allow both of you to live." He smoothed Eva's bangs from her face. "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."
"Nick!" He looked over Eva's shoulder and saw Brian running towards him, Sarah following closely behind.
"Brian!" Nick jumped up, embracing his friend eagerly.
"How?" Was all Brian said when they had pulled away.
"I offered myself in place of one of you so you both could live," he whispered so Sarah wouldn't hear.
"Nick," Brian murmured, then wrapped his friend in another hug. Brian let go and smiled at Nick, mouthing 'thank you'. He took Sarah's hand and Nick took Eva's. They began their walk back to the lodge that they had rented.
"Eva," Nick had pulled her back behind Brian and Sarah and whispered so they wouldn't hear. "Why was I down there? Why was I surrounded by snow?"
"Because Brian dared you to go down the expert slope, not expecting you to do it, and your ski slipped." Eva wrapped her arm around Nick's waist and he did the same. "It was all white because there's no trees on the expert slope that you went on." She said, reading his mind.
"How did you…?"
"Because I love you, Nick! I just have this thing about knowing what you're gonna say." She looked at him and smiled.
"You're lying!" She said before he could.
"Damn, your good!" Nick laughed, pulling her closer to him, thankful that she was still here. "You're really good."

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