I hope you enjoy this short flash fiction of Sophia and Martin. ~ Fiona

Sophia savored the scent of peppermint and coffee on his breath. Martin drew closer to her and she couldn’t resist brushing her lips against his.

His arms encircled her waist and caressed her lower back. Being with him had been unlike anything she had ever experienced.

A soft glow illuminated his face. The light came from under her lashes and dread filled her at the unwelcome presence of her traveler’s power. She thought it might stay away this time. In minutes she’d leave this world and be forced to enter another.

Sophia smiled and caressed Martin’s cheek. “I love you.” Martin’s laughter generated a vibration of warmth in her stomach.

“You’re an easy morning date. Muffins and fresh squeezed OJ equals you wrapped around my finger.”

Oh, how she would miss his laugh. “I love you without the muffin.” She wrapped her arms around him hoping the earlier flash had been an illusion.

Martin pulled her close. Vertigo slammed into her. She stumbled against him.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?”

She wished for just one last kiss before the vortex sucked her away into another body, another life, another love she could never have. She stroked her lips against his generating a soft liquid heat.

Martin pulled back and cupped her cheeks sensing something was wrong.

His furrowed brow sent the knife deeper into her heart. Martin would forget her. The darkness descended.

“I love you, too,” he whispered.

The transition overcame her.

“Whoa. I’ve got you.” Martin’s solid arms caught her.

Martin’s warm lips and strong arms disappeared, and the cool floor chilled her back. Sophia had transitioned successfully. Her summer in paradise quickly turned to a bitter winter. She coughed. Who was she now and who would she be with? Awakening in a new world always brought her confusion and terror.

“It’s okay. I’ve called 911. You fell unconscious and stopped breathing. I performed CPR.”

Sophia blinked her eyes open. She didn’t know what CPR meant. Each world was different enough that she would stumble over terminology for a while. Martin stood over her. She laughed. It was going to be okay. “Oh, my love, my knight. You are a sight for sad eyes.”

He pulled back an unfamiliar scowl on his face. “Is there someone I can call for you?”

“Martin, you came with me.” She sat up on a city sidewalk. All the sights and sounds unknown to her. “Give me a few moments to situate myself and I’ll tell you everything.”

A woman rushed over and evaluated Sophia. A doctor she guessed.

Martin stepped back with narrowed eyes. Other medical personnel or some sort of officials stopped and questioned him.

The doctor opened up a bag beside her and took out various instruments and what could only be bandages. “You’re one lucky woman. My fiancé and I were having breakfast and he saw you collapse while I was still inside. I’d like to take credit, but Jackson is the one who saved your life.”

Sophia would have to thank the mysterious Jackson.

Martin stopped his conversation and came back over to them. “I think she hit her head pretty bad. She could have a concussion.” He hesitated then said, “she thought she knew me.”

Sophia’s hands went cold.

The doctor stood as a vehicle drove up to the curb with flashing lights. “You’re quick thinking saved her, Jackson. Got to go. I’ll see you at home.” She brushed her lips against Martin’s before hurrying over to the vehicle.

Depression washed over Sophia. Her hellish life of becoming someone else just transformed into torture. Martin was now Jackson. In this world she’d have to watch the love of her life love another.