Life in paradise

I wake up on our anniversary to see those eyes, his beautiful blue eyes. And the way the sun glistens off his ebony skin, it could stop anyone's heart.

Still I don't believe he is mine.
He has always been too good to me.
He gently brushes a strand of hair behind my ear and his touch still sends electricity through each nerve ending. He is fucking incredible.

I remember our wedding 20 years ago, I was a true bridezilla.
He says I was perfection, but of course the other person is always viewed as perfect in the puppy love phase.

Yet, to this day he still calls me perfection.

He made me breakfast in bed.
A BLT with extra bacon, my favorite.
I kiss him and thank him for the thoughtful card, then I reach in the desk and hand him his.
The dimples in his smile never get old.

We cuddle and make sweet passionate love for the next hour. We would stay in bed all day if we could, but we have to get Zoe up and ready for school.

She's in her senior year of highschool. My god how time flies.
I will always be grateful I was lucky enough to raise such an amazing girl.
I'll miss our cuddles and dance offs forever. Now I get the basic hugs, but that's enough for me.
Her sweetheart Jayden Is the one who gets her love these days.
He's such a great kid.
They were accepted into the same college.
I really think they might marry one day.

Zoe comes into the kitchen as I'm making her eggs, and what's left of the bacon.
Wow, she looks so much like her father.
Long black hair, bright blue eyes, and dimples a little smaller than his.

I'd almost be jealous of him if she wasn't so beautiful.

***

Another 20 years have passed. We aren't the same youthful couple we once were. Yet he still calls me perfection.

And I was right, Zoe did marry her sweetheart.
Now they have their own little one, Isabelle. Somehow it must have skipped a generation, because she looks so much like myself.
I smile as I watch them play.

I look over at my husband, and he is already looking at me.
We smile and communicate our love non-verbally.
He grabs my hand, and places a gentle kiss on it as we-

***

I feel like a jolt of electricity just hit me, and I see nothing but white light.
I call for my daughter and husband, but I hear another familiar voice.
My sisters yelling something.
After a moment my vision starts to clear, and when I see my surroundings, reality starts sinking in.

“Why did you do that??” I shout at her. It's dangerous to disconnect without finishing the simulation!” I yell.
But that's not really why I'm angry with her.

“Your husband and Zoe are gone… you can't keep living in a fake future."

“Please sis, let me just one more time.”

I wake up on my anniversary…