It was at this point that Sua knew she would not win. She couldn't. Relief flooded her senses when she looked at the scoreboard and saw that she was one point behind. Sweat trickled down her face, and she anticipated what was coming next. She smiled at Mizi, breathing her in one last time, studying her perfect pink hair as it fell not quite in front of her eyes. She already missed her amber eyes, the ones where she would often stare deep into until one of them broke the silence.
She barely felt the shot, making herself focus on Mizi. But the image was ruined when blood splattered her face, her eyes widening in disbelief. Sua wondered whether she would get to look into those eyes in every universe, admire her smile in every world, kiss her lips on every planet, and thought about how life wouldn't have been worth living without her.
The edges of Sua's vision turned black, and she was falling to the ground, safe with the knowledge of Mizi moving on with the next chapter of her life.
~~
"Just tell her already," Ivan pushed Sua towards Mizi. "She's got to be so confused, there's no way that she doesn't know that you're avoiding her."
Sua stumbled towards Mizi, already shaking. She'd liked Mizi for a month or two, and while she may have had crushes before now, this one was different. Sua was pulled to Mizi's energy, her warmth, her kindness. "Mizi? Can we talk?"
Mizi practically jumped off of the bench she was sitting on in front of their school, the bench where they'd always met in the mornings. "Finally, are you going to tell me what's going on now?" She stuffed the book she had been reading into her backpack. "I was beginning to think you hated me."
Sua's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She quickly shook her head. "I could never hate you." She hesitated, "In fact, it's the opposite."
"What is that supposed to-oh. OH." She paused, considering this briefly before a grin spread across her face. "You should've just told me. Till and Ivan had a bet on who would confess first-"
"First? You mean, you like me back?"
"I adore you."
~~
Mizi fidgeted with the box in her hand. They'd been dating for over seven years, and they'd graduated a few years ago. Mizi and Sua finally had a stable life together, sharing an apartment near Ivan and Till. She couldn't think of a better time to do this, but what if it went wrong? What if Sua wasn't ready?
She'd told Sua they were going to a fancy restaurant on the other side of town, which was half true-if all went accordingly, they'd be going there afterwards. Mostly, though, Mizi knew Sua would most likely be embarrassed if she wasn't dressed up for this.
"Sorry if I'm late!" Sua panted, breathing hard like she had been running. "I ran into some unexpected traffic. Are we ready for dinner?"
Mizi took a deep breath. "Sua, I love you. I've always loved you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, in every possible world, and all of the impossible ones. You have always been there for me and I wouldn't be able to live without you." On one knee, she opened the box to reveal a glittering ring, one that she knew Sua would like as soon as she saw it. "Will you marry me?"
Sua pulled Mizi into a standing position and kissed her. "Yes, you are my universe. I need nothing other than you."
~~
Seven-year-old Sua shyly handed Mizi the bouquet of flowers she picked. "For you."
Mizi gasped. "They're so pretty! Where'd you get them?"
"Back there," Sua pointed to the bottom of the hill they were standing on. "There's still more!"
"We should go see them," Mizi said excitedly. "Come on!" She lay down on the hill and let gravity push her down.
"Okay!" Sua rolled down beside her, landing next to her on the soft grass, trying to pick blades of it out of her hair.
Mizi looked around. "It's perfect," she breathed.
Sua sat straight up, pushed Mizi's hair out of her face and tucked a purple, star-like flower by her ear. "No, now it's perfect."