(as thanks to my best friend Nicole)

Chapter 1

It's a sunny evening in September. Normally, Nicole and her best friend
Yvonne would be sitting and chilling at her favourite place at Dublin
Castle.
Instead of doing that, Nicole is standing at Yvonne's grave with family and
friends. In front of her eyes a big coffin with her best friend inside is
about to be lowered. While a cd player silently plays "flying without wings"
a priest and several family members make speeches and. Nicole is closing her
eyes, which are filling with tears, and believes in a nightmare. Opening her
eyes again, tears are running down her face and drop on the envelope she's
holding in her shaking hands.

*Flashback*

One month ago. Yvonne and Nicole are at Dublin Castle like every sunny day.
They are lying head to head in the grass and staring to heaven.
"I love this place. it's so peaceful. The ideal place to just be chilling and
have a gorgeous view considering boys", Nicole says.
"Oh, have ya found someone good looking to spent for the rest of your life
with?" Yvonne wants to know. Nicole turns around and looks above her best
friends head.
"What do ya think about blond, spiky hair and absolutely a lovely smile?" Nicole romanticises.
"Alone or with his girlfriend?"
"Neither nor! He is sitting behind you with a friend."
"Gay!" Yvonne answers, turns around and smiles at her friend.
"Nope!" Nicole pouts.
Yvonne turns her head for a look at that boy, raises her hand and waves at
him. He looks irritated but starts to smile and waves back.
"Ok, he is not gay", Yvonne admits.
"How do you know that?"
"Dunno...just a feeling." Yvonne smiles roguishly.
"Bäh", Nicole sticks out her tongue.
"I love ya too. and just so that you know, I've got a little something for ya."
Yvonne gets an envelope out of her bag..
"I love letters esp. when they are from you." Nicole happily says and reaches out for it.
"Stop!" Yvonne withdraws the envelope, "promise me one thing,"
Nicole looks at her best friend, "What?"
"Whatever happens, don't open it before I'm dead."
Nicole's eyes are wide open, just at the thought of that she jerks, opening and closing her mouth without being able to say a single word.
"But.but, what do you want to tell me?" Nicole's voice is shaking.
"Just what I said. Whatever happens, promise me."
"I swear" Nicole's voice is still shaking and her eyes are filling with tears.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you starting to cry?" Yvonne notices.
"Because of you! I'm imagining the worst..." Nicole slaps her friend and wipes her tears away. "Which song do you want to be played then?" Yvonne asks mischievously and curiosly at the same time.
"Which one would you like?" Nicole wants to know ironically.
"Flying without wings."
"You are outrageous!" Nicole shakes her head, stands up and walks away. Yvonne jumps on her feet runs behind and puts her arms around Nicole.

*end of flashback*

Nicole walks forward to Yvonne’s grave with s rose in her hand, which head is already hanging. She throws the rose on the coffin, wipes her tears away, slowly sobs and mumbles,

"Why... just why? I will miss you."

With her head down she leaves, still holding Yvonne’s envelope in her hand.

"Don’t open before I’m dead, promise!"

Nicole hears Yvonne’s words all over again and again. Her walk becomes faster, her way straight to Dublin Castle. On the grass at the same place like months ago she takes a seat, buries her head into her hands and begins to cry bitterly.

"That can’t be true, that has to be a wicked nightmare" Nicole sobs.

She needs a while to calm down, takes a look at the crumbled and wet envelope and opens it.

Heya Nicole Babe,

Well I can imagine how you must be feeling. I actually hoped that this would never happen. I wish I could be by your side this very moment, hold you in my arms and wipe the tears from your eyes... like friends always do.

I had my reasons for giving you the letter weeks ago. To be honest, I knew what would come. But Nicole baby, I didn’t want to upset you. I had so many wishes and dreams that I wanted to share with you; aims that I wanted to accomplish with you ... one aim was going to London over New Year’s, just the two of us... oh yes it’s ladies night.

I want to ask you to take the tickets and fly to London with a person you love like you loved me. I’ll never forget you, little sister. I love you so much,

Always yours, Yvonne

P.S. I’m always by your side, whenever you need me... I’ll be there for you, like I’ve been there before...

Nicole puts the letter down, stares into emptiness and feels that her eyes are filling with tears again. Her body begins to shake, all handkerchiefs are used up and she’s cold.

"Hey I know you" a voice behind her says.

Nicole looks up with howled eyes into blue eyes.

"What’s up with you girl?" the boy asks and offers her another handkerchief.

"Nothing, I’m at my highest point in my life. And I’m happy about that, can’t ya see?" Nicole sobs.

"Yeah, yeah, I see. I don’t want to disturb you in your happiness. But you lost something" he says and gives her a necklace.

Nicole takes it, looks at it and sobs again.

"That was her lucky charm" Nicole stutters and clasps the necklace.

"Please calm down" he whispers and comforts her in his arms.

Nicole leans her head on his shoulder, tries to stop shaking and taking control of her tears. The boy gently strokes over her back.

"Whatever the reason for your sorrow is, you’ll get over it. Not now, not tonight and not tomorrow. But anytime soon, you‘ll see."

Nicole withdraws herself from his hug and looks at him thankfully.

"You are still shaking. I lend you my jacket" he smiles.

Nicole wipes her tears away and puts the jacket on .

"Thank you" Nicole whispers in tears. "Can I spend you a drink?" he wants to know.

Nicole nods, puts the envelope in her bag and stands up.

"What’s your name by the way?" he asks while they’re walking to the café.

"Nicole, nice to meet you. And You?"

"Nicholas, called Nicky by friends" Nicky beams and reaches out his hand.

They arrive at the café and take a seat in a corner. Nicole grabs the menu for beverages and stares inside. Disconcerted Nicole turns the pages. The only things she sees are pictures of Yvonne and herself. She closes the card, opens it again but still doesn’t find drinks in there. She flings it back on the table, takes off Nicky’s jacket and looks at him upset.

"Sorry, but I can’t stay", stutters Nicole and starts cries again.

Nicky watches her leave.

Chapter 2

Nicole lets fall herself on her bed and takes the last picture of her holidays with Yvonne in her hand. She softly touches the glass of the frame and weeps.

"It could have been anyone, why did it have to be you? Why? With whom should I speak now... who’s gonna take care of me? Nobody will understand me!!!" She buries her head into the pillow tries to stifles her sorrow and tears. Being very tired and exhausted she finally falls asleep.

Every day when she walks through her flat it feels weird. No happy whistles or enraged screams because Nicole won’t get out off bed and loud music who keeps Nicole from sleeping. Nothing of that, just silence of death... only the clock is making a sound. Nicole takes her coffee cup, falls on the chair and stares at the watch. Seconds later she carries herself in front of the television. She zaps through the channels all day long and goes to bed at midnight.

Weeks are passing by without Nicole seeing more than one hour of fresh air.

One night Nicole turns form one side to the other an back, slaved by nightmares. Sweat all over her body she wakes up, gets out of bed and opens the balcony door. Then she pushes the store in front of it and gets back to bed. The store’s blowing in the wind and Nicole thinks that he silently whistles "Angels wings". She nuzzles in her pillow and closes her eyes again. Hours later she can hear noises which are growing mute at the same time.. She opens her eyes, turns on the other side and takes a look at the table.

"The pen was writing something" her thoughts go through her mind.

Startled she rushes up, sits in her bed and looks over to the table. But the pen just lies on the papers and doesn’t move.

"Nicole you have a bright fantasy!" she admonishes herself.

She closes her eyes and trying to fall asleep again. Something inside her is stronger so she stands up, walks straight to the table and reads

"Go out, start to live again and enjoy it! I’m helping you, like I promised you. I love ya!"

Nicole wipes over the written words and realises that the first letters are blurring. Frightened Nicole goes some inches back and looks around the room.

"No fear, I look after you!" Nicole notices a whispered voice, then the store moves more and more, then all of a sudden stops. Nicole goes back to bed, looking around the room one more time, before falling back in her dreams.

Chapter 3

Still sleepy Nicole drags her feet to the bathroom, leans on hand-basin and looks in the mirror.

"Hey you" she talks to herself. "What ever happened last night... dream or reality... it was amazing. I’ll go out and live my life."

Nicole turns away, grabs a towel and goes to the shower. In front of the shower she looks back in the mirror

"And I start with you!"

Fifteen minutes later she is styled, wears her favourite clothes and ‘flies’ through her flat with a big smile. She scrapes her keys, twinkles a "thank you" towards Yvonne’s picture and closes the door behind her.

She enjoys the last sunbeams of October, walks in Dublin’s city and strolls to the Castle. In front of the big and heavy iron gate she stops and looks to heaven, Smiling and shaking her head at the same time.

"What exactly am I doing here?" Nicole whispers and walks through.

"You will see" Nicole hears a soft voice.

She turns around, looks left and right but can’t see anyone.

With rotten feelings she walks around in the grounds of the Castle when she sees Nicky sitting on a bench. A smile appears her face, her heart beats faster and she gets nervous. Nicole looks above to the clouds.

"You didn’t mean that, did ya?" Nicole wants to know from the mysterious voice.

Instead of an answer the sun comes out again and shines at Nicole.

"That’s it" Nicole smiles.

She looks to Nicky again, takes a deep breathe and walks straight to him.

"Hey Nicky" she smiles at him passes by and takes a seat on the bench that stands next to his.

She relaxes, puts her sunglasses into her hairs and blinks to him. He waves, twinkles and smiles at her. Nicole can almost feel Nicky’s eyes on her and looks over to him again.

"Maybe I should go to him" the thinks, stands up and wants to go to him.

A breeze blows out of nowhere and pushes her back on the bench.

"What?" Nicole asks and looks to heaven, "Do you wanna talk to me?"

"Of course, if you like?" Nicky says standing next to her.

"Ehrm..hey Nicole stutters as she looks shyly in Nicky’s eyes.

"I havent seen ya since our last meeting" Nicky starts talking and looks to the ground. Nicole turns her head towards Nicky, then opens and closes her mouth seconds later. She lets her shoulders hang and thinks about what she could say.

"I’ve been here nearly every day" Nicky starts again. There’s a shy smile displaying on Nicole’s lips.

"Do you know what? I’ll spend you a drink this time and I promise that I won’t run away." Nicky raises his head and looks at her with his beaming blue eyes.

They’re heading to the same café again, taking a seat at the same table.

"Hello" the waitress says "what would you like to drink?"

"I take a tea and you?" Nicky orders and looks at Nicople.

"Cappuccino." The waitress nods and then asks Nicky which kind of tea he would like. "Ehrm... green tea, please."

Both start talking, Nicole talks from her first meeting with him and plays nervously with the can of sugar. She raises her head and catches him staring at her, then fixing his eyes to a spot behind her.

"Everything all right" Niclole wants to know.

"Ehrm... yeah, but behind you... " Nicky starts and looks at the girl behind Nicole. There’s a girl shaking her head and putting her finger on her mouth.

"I... what I want to say is... " Nicky stutters on.

Nicole turns her head and looks behind her but is nothing. "There is nothing, what did ya see?" Nicole wonders.

"But I.." Nicky tries to explain. He looks to the place were the girl was but now she is gone. Irritated Nicky looks around the café. Nobody has left the room but she isn’t there anymore. Nicky shakes his head, stares in his green tea and smiles. Nicole sips her Cappuccino before she continues with her story. She gets Nicky’s attention back and he raises his head smiling at her.

"Nicole?" Nicky starts.

"Yeah?"

"You have a downy beard" Nicky points at her upper lip. She tries to lick it with her tongue but she can’t find.

"Nope" Nicky smiles and waves her over. Nicole leans on the table and looks directly in Nicky’s eyes. His hand slowly comes to her face. When Nicky’s fingers gently touch her face a shiver runs through her body. Without breaking eye contact he wipes it away. A big grin displays on his face and he licks it from his thumb. Nicole stares at him speechless, slips down in her chair and clasps the arm of her chair.

"What are you doing tonight?" Nicky brings her back to reality.

"Ehrm..." Nicole stutters "Nothing, I think shopping in the city or so."

"What a luck, I need to go to the city centre as well. Do you want to come with me?" Nicky asks and raises his eyebrow.

"Of course!" Nicole eyes smiles.

In the evening Nicky brings Nicole home. "Thanks" Nicole shyly smiles and looks down. "Na... No problem. I loved to bring ya home." Nicky says.

"That’s not what I meant" Nicole stops him.

"Nope?" Nicky wonders and Nicole shakes her head.

"For the day! Only for the day" Nicole’s voice lowers and her eyes are searching his’. In front of her flat they are standing head to head and say nothing. Nicky raises his hand, wipes hair from her face and lays his hand on her cheek, slowly closing the distance between them. Nicole feels Nicky’s breathe, goose-bumps overcoming her and butterflies are in her stomach. Nicky stops for a second and wants to touch her lips when Nicole’s mobile rings. Both go back Nicole opens her bag and searches for her mobile. As she wants to pick up the phone she stares at her display.

>Yvonne is calling<

"What’s wrong, pick up!" Nicky wonders.

"Cause... ehrm... That can’t be!" Nicole mumbles.

Disconcerted Nicole stares at her mobile which is still vibrating in her hand.

"Are you all right?" Nicky’s voice reaches her ear.

"Yeah yeah" Nicole looks at him "I better go."

"Ok, see you later" Nicky answers gives her a kiss on her cheek and leaves. Nicole goes in closes the door leans her back at the door and closes her eyes.

"I hate ya Yvonne" Nicole wispers. Nicole opens her eyes again lays her keys and walks thought the flat.

"Did ya hear that, Yvonne? I hate ya" She shouts and looks in every room. She opens the balcony door, takes a seat at the couch, lights the candle and stares through the flame into the TV.

"You didn’t want him to kiss me, You think: its too early. Am I right?" Nicole asks and waits for an answer. "Come on, say something" Nicole begs. Nothing happens, the store doesn’t move and the pen lays on the paper.

"What am I doing now?" Suddenly a wind blows through the room and blows out the candle. Nicole’s thoughtful face turns into a big smile.

"I think that’s the first time we spoke of different things. I was referring to Nicky." Nicole laughs, shaking her head and goes. "You are right, I’ll go to bed."

"Good Night" Nicole whispers and lays herself to bed. The store slightly moves and Nicole takes it as an "To you as well ".

Chapter 4

The weeks of November passes by and Nicole started working again As often as she can she’s meeting Nicky and there’s not a single date that doesn’t end without Yvonne’s ‘help’.

At Dublin’s Morgan Nicole is lost in her work.

"May I ask you something?" Nicole recognises a voice in front of her. Without raising her head and continuing her work she nods.

"Yeah of course!"

Nicky leans his elbow on the counter.

"Would go out with me tonight?" Nicole stops working, raises her head slowly and take a deep breath. Just when she wants to answer her eyes lock with Nicky’s.

"Hey." She greets him.
"So?" Nicky asks nervously.

"Yeah" Nicole smiles.

"Eight o’clock at your place" Nicky smiles happily, jumps on the counter and kisses her on the cheek.

"See you later", he says from cloud number nine and flies out of the shop. Nicole looks dreamily after him.

Nearly eight Nicole’s doorbell rings.

"Hey hello, come in" Nicole greets Nicky and holds the door open. "Hey".

"I’ll be ready in a few minutes. You can take a seat on my couch while you are waiting for me" Nicole points at the couch before going straight to the bathroom. Nicky walks curiously through Nicole’s flat and looks at the picture at the wall.

Nicole leaves the bath and takes her necklace from the table in the living room.

"I’m ready to go" Nicole says as she turns around and accidentally runs into Nicky.

"Ouch" Nicky lowers his look to Nicole and can’t hinder himself from smiling as Nicole rubs her nose. She looks up to him and shrugs her shoulders. Nicky looks deep in her eyes, put his head downwards and wants to kiss her. Just when his lips touch hers a wind blows into the room and all the papers are flying off the table. Nicole turns her head, goes to the table and picks them all up. With the papers in her hand she stands in the middle of the room and asks "What?"

"What do you mean?" Nicky asks insecurely.

"I wasn’t talking to you, sorry" Nicole replies.

"To whom did you then?" Nicky wants to know.

"You wouldn’t believe me anyway" Nicole says, falls on the couch and puts her head down. Nicky sits down himself beside her, takes her hand and strokes her back of her hand.

"Tell me."

Nicole looks at him and notices that her eyes are filling with tears.

"Do you remember my friend who waved at you when we met for the first time at Dublin Castle?" Nicole starts and Nicky nods.

"The girl from the picture, am I right?"

"Yeah... she died in September."

"I’m sorry" Nicky cuts her off and wipes her tears away.

"Our second meeting at Dublin Castle wasn’t an accident" Nicole goes on "she led me there. As you tried to kiss me, she was calling me. And now the wind in my flat".That were no accidents." Nicole leans forward and he lays his head on hers.

"To be honest it sounds a little crazy, but it could be true" Nicky whispers and kisses her head. All of a sudden music is silently floating through the room, but gradually gets louder. "Yvonne!" Nicole screams in her thoughts as she listen to the music.

‘It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart,

without saying a word you can light up the dark,

try as I may they could never explain,

what I hear when you don’t say a thing’

Nicky who hums along with the melody starts to sing.

"the smile on your face lets me know that you need me,

there’s a truth in your eyes saying you never leave me,

the touch of your hands says you catch me wherever I fall,

you say it best... when you say nothing at all."

Nicole lets go off Nicky’s embrace and looks at him, bewitched from his voice and lost in his eyes. Nicky shyly smiles and starts another attempt to kiss Nicole. But this time Nicole stops him

"We should leave." Nicole smiles, stands up and switches the stereo off. Nicky nods, stands up as well and walks to the door.

"Why did you turn on the music so late?" Nicky wants to know. Nicole scrapes her keys, smiles and means with a twinkle to Yvonne "I dunno."

After a brilliant evening Nicole falls into her bed and is fast asleep.

In the early morning when Nicole goes through her flat, the door bell rings. Singing, she opens the door and is surprised to see Nicky standing in front of her.

"Good Morning" he grins.

"Hey" Nicole replies.

"I want to take you on a trip. Are ya interested?" Nicky asks.

"With you, always. But wait, I need something" Nicole answers and puts the envelope she got from Yvonne in her bag.

"Where are we going to?" Nicole wants to know.

"Surprise" Nicky replies and gives her a helmet. Her eye brown raises for question. She takes the helmet and follows Nicky downstairs.

"Just a little outside of Dublin" Nicky explains as he sits down on his Harley. Nicole puts her helmet on as her mouth stands wide open. Nicky starts the Harley and grins.

"What’s up? You wanna come with me or not?"

Nicole nods, takes a seat behind him and puts her arms around his waist.

"Closer" Nicky shouts, than he loses her hands and pulls tighter.

"I don’t wanna lose ya."

3 ½ hours later they arrive at a big parking place. Nicole descends and stares at a big screen. >Welcome to the cliffs of Moher, Co. Claire<

Nicky hangs his helmet on the Harley and goes to Nicole.

"Are you ready to go?" Nicky asks.

Nicole nods and slowly starts walking. Both follow the paths along the cliffs and stop at the stairs.

"Incredible" Nicole says and watches the sun hang over the cliffs.

"Wait till we are at the top - that’s incredible!" Nicky answers, takes her hand and leads her up the stairs. At the top Nicole goes over to the barrage and looking out on the open sea. She is overwhelmed.

"It’s so beautiful. The view is amazing." Says Nicole while watching the sunbeams touch the surface of the ocean. Nicky walks up behind her, puts her arms around her waist and puts his head on her shoulder.

"I like being her. I think it’s the most wonderful place on earth" he gently whispers in her ear. Completely agreeing with Nicky Nicole just nods. For a while they just stand there taking in the spectacularly surrounding without saying a word. Nicole lets go of Nicky’s embrace and walking away from him heads towards the O’Brien’s Tower. Not wanting to break the contact with Nicole Nicky takes her hand in his. Nicole stops, turns around to him and nearly has to close her eyes because of the sun.

"You even look more beautiful in the sunlight" Nicky shyly says.

Nicky is still holding her hand and taking a step towards her closes the distance between them.

"Do you think" Nicky stars while Nicole at the same moment says "What are you?"

Both start to laugh.

"You first" says Nicole.

"No" Nicky shakes his head, "Ladies first."
With a serious _expression on her face Nicole continues.

"What are you doing over New Year’s eve?"

"Nothing planed yet. Why are you asking?" asks Nicky.

"Well, Yvonne and I wanted to go to London over New Year’s and she left me the tickets for the flight with her farewell letter. She wrote that I should be going with someone who I like just as much as I do like her." Nicole explains trying not to break the eye contact with Nicky.

"If you really want to take me?" Nicky says not sure whether he heard correctly.

"Yeah, I want you to come with me." She smiles.

Nicky slowly starts stroking Nicole’s head and not trusting his voice softly asks "Do you think Yvonne is going to disturb us here as well?"

Nicole shrugs her shoulders and nervously plays with the ring on her finger. Nicky then puts his hand around Nicole’s neck and pulling her little bit closer looks directly into her eyes. They close their eyes and for the first time their lips touch with a softest kiss. Nicky pulls back just a little and smiling he sighs "I’ve been dreaming about that for so long", before he kissing her again even more gently.

After what seemed an eternity to both of them they stop kissing and open their eyes. Nicky lifts his head a little and pulls Nicole into a hug. He can’t believe his own eyes when he sees that girl standing behind Nicole again.

"I don’t know whether you will believe me but the girl I saw in the café on our first date is here." Says Nicky not taking the eyes off her.

"Really? What girl?" Nicole asks.

"Turn around."
Nicole takes a step back, turns around and seeing the girl Nicky was talking about, she asks "Yvonne?"

"You can see her as well", Nicky sighs relieved.

In a kind of a trance Nicole starts walking towards her best friend and reaches out her hand. Copying Nicole’s movement Yvonne touches Nicole’s hand and smiles at her.

"You’ve been with me all the time" Nicole whispers while tears are running down her cheeks.

"I’ll be there for you, like I’ve been there before. A promise is a promise." Yvonne answers starting to cry as well.

Nicky walks up behind her and putting his arms around her looks at Yvonne.

"I thought you can’t cry" Nicky asks.

"Why shouldn’t we?"

Not knowing an answer Nicky just shrugs with his shoulders. Then a dazzling sunbeam falls on Yvonne.

"I have to go now" she says.

Nicole and Nicky both look up to the sky and then follow the sunbeam to Yvonne.

"Please don’t go" Nicole begs.

"I have to... good luck to you" she whispers and slowly flies to heaven, taking one last look at her best friend and her new found love.

The end

special thanks to sylvia for helping me to translate into english.....