First of all I want to explain something about this story. I want to say that since the day the news about Yael reached me I was stuck with something that I thought it would never happen to someone close to me. I didn't meet Yael and I wasn't even in FoLCDom when she was but I felt her death anyway. I remembered that I cried when I heard about what had happen to a FoLC, someone that shared my passion for LnC and therefore I felt closer to her and to the bad news than I ever thought I could do.
Some time ago I was watching Cold Case and a song played in the end of an episode. I got stuck with an idea for a fic, something that could help me see the world in a different light. The song was Heaven sang by DJ Sammy and since that day I couldn't stop listening to that song and I hear it with a different meaning especially because I heard a new version in memory of all the victims of 9/11. It was a so sad version because it had a child praying for her dad who was already dead. I got inspired to write something dedicated to all the victims of terrorist attacks all over the world but in special to Yael. Since it's been already two months that that horrible attack in Spain happened and my RL (not you Roger
) is not that crazy that I can't handle it I thought this was the perfect time.
I need to thank Anna Botsakou who BRed this story for me even when her life was going crazy. Thanks, Anna!
Anyway enough of my babbling. I hope that this little piece of work can make us all think and pray for everyone. I hope you enjoy. Don't forget that feedback is always welcome
**********
~ Heaven ~ By Raquel Guimarães
Rated: PG
It was supposed to be just an ordinary day in their lives. They woke up that morning, they smiled at each other, they made love and they got ready for one more working day. If someone had told them today was going to be so different they would probably laugh, they’d think that wasn't possible and they'd forget about it.
Lois and Clark arrived at the Planet at the same time they did every single day. They were going to have a meeting with a source that afternoon. Was it really important? Well, they thought so. It was just one more ordinary day. A day where they were going to work hard to get some winning story to send to Perry; a day where they would talk and laugh and do silly things because they were best friends and lovers; a day that wasn't supposed to change their lives at all.
The newsroom was all crowded as it was everyday. Reporters were running around, making phone calls or simply taking some cup of coffee. Lois and Clark were so used to the set that they didn't pay too much attention to it. They walked down the ramp, hand in hand and went to their desks.
Perry was busy talking to Jimmy about his last piece of work and everyone else was just doing what they were supposed to do. If someone entered the newsroom now they would wonder how people could work with so much noise or even how they could understand each other. People not used to it would get crazy there. Phones kept beeping, TVs were turned on, reporters were talking or discussing with each other, not to mention the chaos that were their desks. So many people, so many different stories to tell. It's funny how you can see life differently when you are an outsider...well let's get back to the story.
I was talking about how ordinary things were until now. What happened? Well keep up with me...
Lois was writing an e-mail to someone far away from Metropolis. Someone who was a really great friend even if the distance was something they had to live up with. Clark was researching for something they would use later today in their meeting so she told him she was going to write to their friend. She was a little worried because they hadn’t heard from her for a while now. Well, Lois thought she might be busy but it would be good to check. So she wrote:
‘Dear Marie,
I haven’t heard from you for a long time so I'm just writing to check if everything is all right with you. Clark and I have been busy so we'll understand if that's the reason why you didn't write for the last couple of months. We always appreciated your comments about our work or even the silly conversations we had on the net but you haven’t shown up lately so we are a little worried. It's not as if you're the kind of person who just disappears. I remember last year when you were going to visit your mom in Japan and you said you wouldn't be much online so I'm worried because you always tell us if you won't be able to get in touch with us for some time. The last thing I heard was that you were in love with someone. Did something happen? Please, if you can just write some short thing saying you're okay. Clark and I would appreciate.
I hope you're fine.
Lois Lane Kent’
Lois sent the e-mail and sighed. She remembered when the Planet started to publish their articles online and that made the hottest team in town, Lane and Kent, get more fans over the world. Marie was one of the first who wrote to them and Lois remembered how nice it was to get this kind of feedback and how proud that made her and Clark feel about their work. They answered her first e-mail and she kept writing to them and they found out they got a real friendship out of that. Soon they started to talk about their lives, what they do, what they like to do and they found out she was only 25 and she lived in Paris and that because of them she wanted to be a reporter too. A few months after that she told them she was in love with a guy and that was the last thing they knew about her.
Clark walked towards Lois' desk. "So, Lois, did you write the e-mail?"
"Yes, I did." Lois seemed a little sad.
"I'm sure she is fine. Maybe she is just busy." Clark looked at Lois and squeezed her shoulder.
"I hope so. I'm just afraid about something." She looked at him.
"What?" Clark waited for her reply.
"What if she got tired of us? I mean I wasn't used to have a girl as a friend, Clark. You're my best friend and also my husband and don't get me wrong I do love to talk to you about everything but sometimes I just want to have a girl friend you know and..."
"Lois?"
"What?" Lois said quickly.
"You're babbling," Clark smiled. He loved Lois babbling when she was nervous about something or when she was excited about a story. She was just so cute.
"Clark, can you understand me?" Lois didn't pay attention to what he said.
"Let me see," Clark thought for a minute. "You're afraid about losing Marie because you always thought of her as your friend and now you're afraid she wasn't the friend you thought she was. You're afraid about getting disappointed. Am I right?"
"Kind of...well I guess." Lois smiled a little bit. How well Clark knew her. They were married for 3 years now but that wasn't because of that. Clark always knew her. He was the one who saw right through her since the beginning and he softened her heart. She really didn't want to get disappointed because she trusted Marie. She really thought she was her friend. Clark taught her how to trust people and she didn't want to get back to the way she was before.
"Lois, I'm sure there's an explanation so just wait." He kissed her forehead. "Now let's get back to work."
"Okay," Lois smiled at him.
**********
It was already afternoon and Lois and Clark had to go to their meeting. Lois asked Clark to check her e-mail for the thousandth time today while she was going to get some coffee.
Clark opened Lois' e-mail and noticed there was an e-mail from someone called Jose. He thought it wasn't important or maybe it was a new source of Lois that she hadn’t told him about. Well he would check that message just in case although he knew that what Lois really wanted to see was if there was a message from Marie and once again there wasn't. He opened the message.
‘Dear Mrs. Kent,
My name is Jose and I don't know if you have heard about me but I'm Marie's boyfriend...well I was her boyfriend. I live in Spain. I'm not sure how to tell you this but Marie died 2 months ago. She died in that stupid terrorist attack that happened in Spain. We were visiting my family in Madrid and she went to visit a friend that morning. Unfortunately she took the train to go there and she was killed. My life hasn't being easy since then and I'm sorry that you didn't know what happened before but only now I could get to check Marie's e-mail. I'm going to pay her homage in Spain next week and I'm sure Marie would love if you and Mr. Kent could come. I'll get in touch with you as soon as I know how things will work. Thanks for worrying about Marie.
Sincerely,
Jose’
Clark couldn't believe what he had read. He remembered about that terrorist attack in Spain and how not even Superman was able to save those people. He did what he could do and Lois told him after he got back home all sad about the set he saw there that what he did was enough. He remembered he got home and cried in Lois' arms. He couldn't believe how evil people could be with another human being. Why had the world to be that way? Why couldn't people live and respect the others? Aren't we all brothers and sisters?
Lois came back to her desk and noticed that Clark was staring at her screen and his eyes were full of tears. "Clark, what happened?"
"Lois...Marie..." He wasn't able to tell her. He didn't know how to tell her. He kept staring at Lois' computer and didn't dare look at her. He was reliving that day and what he saw in Spain. He didn't save her...he did what he could and Lois told him it was enough but he didn't save Marie.
"What happened????" Lois yelled.
"Look," he just pointed to the screen. Suddenly he felt as if the walls were closing on him. He wasn't breathing and he was sweating.
Lois didn't know whether she wanted to look at the screen or take care of Clark. It was obvious there were some bad news. She quickly read the e-mail that was open and felt her knees go weak. She knew what Clark was thinking about. "Clark, look at me."
When he did she said, "Clark, whatever happened to Marie wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known she was there and even if you knew you wouldn't be able to save her."
Clark didn't say anything and just hugged Lois. Lois was holding her own tears. They spent a couple of minutes in silence both just trying to relieve some of the pain they were feeling.
"You think this kind of things happen to other people and that they won't reach you but in one lousy second you find out that it can happen to everyone. Not even Superman can stop that, Lois," Clark finally said and reached for Lois' hand.
"I know, Clark. I know." She squeezed his hand.
Lois didn't know what she should say. She was a reporter and she should be used to see things like that happening. The world isn't a beautiful place after all. There was too much pain, intolerance, anger and evil around. She knew Clark was the one who suffered more about these things simply because he thought that his powers should be able to save everyone. He thought that if he was super he should be able to stop all the evil in the world. Clark suffered because he was a good person. Someone who believed all people have the goodness inside them. He believed in love and so he thought everyone was like that too.
"Do you want to go there?" Clark asked Lois.
"I think it would be nice. Marie would like us to go there. I'm sure Jose will want to do a nice tribute to her."
"Yeah," Clark said.
"Clark, I think we should talk to Perry and go home. I don't think we'll be able to work today."
"Yeah, you're right."
Clark was still far away and Lois was worried about him. "I'll tell Perry."
Lois was going to Perry's office when Clark went towards her. "Lois?"
Lois turned around. "What?"
"I want to write a tribute to Marie. Actually I want to write a tribute to all the victims...to all the people who died because of terrorism. I think I'll go and tell Perry myself."
Lois smiled. "I think that's a good idea, Clark. I know we can't stop things from happening but maybe if we can make some people realize what's happening with the world we might be able to live in a better place someday."
"Yeah. I'll write the article when we get back from Spain next week."
"Okay, go talk to Perry then."
He gave her a smile and went towards Perry's office while Lois sat and waited for him to come back. She knew he wasn't really feeling okay but she was relieved that he wasn't blaming himself anymore and that he wanted to write a tribute to the victims of terrorism. Knowing Clark he would write a very touchy piece that would make everyone think about their actions.
**********
The week went by really quickly and soon they were going to Spain. Jose had called them and let them know where the tribute would be held. Lois thought that it was a little weird that it was going to be held in the cemetery where Marie was buried but when they got there she saw it was really the best place they could choose. The place didn't even look like a cemetery. It was like a huge garden in heaven. Lois sighed. Marie would like that.
There weren’t a lot of people so that was why it was possible to do the tribute there. Lois was holding Clark's hand with one hand and with the other she was holding a beautiful white rose.
Jose was holding a guitar and he walked to the pulpit. "Thanks everyone for being here today. I'm sure Marie would be glad to know you all care for her that much. Well, I asked you to come because I wanted to do a tribute to my beautiful and lovely Marie who died without being able to live the life she wanted to live. She was only 25 and she wanted so many things for her life but most of all she was a happy person and so that's why I don't want to see people sad. Marie would love if you could be happy and I especially know she wants me to be happy. I'm going to play a song for her. A song she used to love without even knowing its full meaning. Today this song is going to be hers."
Lois looked at Clark and held his hand tight as soon as Jose started to sing the song.
Oh, thinkin' about our younger years,
There was only you and me,
We were young and wild and free
Now nothin' can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now,
You keep me comin' back for more
Clark smiled at Lois while a tear came down his face. He didn't know for sure what he was feeling.
Baby, you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms,
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need,
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Lois stared in silence at the people that kept walking and putting flowers on Marie's grave. She was feeling so differently. She was feeling as if the world was turning in slow motion.
Oh once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Pick you up when you’re feelin down
Now nothin' could change what you mean to me
There's a lot that I could say
But just hold me now,
Cause our love will light the way
Clark walked to Marie's grave and put a yellow rose there. He stayed there for some minutes thinking if one day the world would change. "Rest in peace, Marie," he said.
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms,
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need,
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
It was time for Lois to walk and put a white rose on Marie's grave. She couldn't hold her tears and so they ran and wetted the ground. "Thank you," it was all Lois said.
I've been waiting for so long
For something to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are comin' true,
Through the good times and the bad,
I'll be standin' there by you
Jose kept singing while he walked towards the place where everyone had already put their flowers.
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need,
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Jose put a red rose there and tears came down his face. He almost couldn't finish the song but he did.
Oh, Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, oh....
We're in heaven....
"We'll meet in heaven someday," he whispered.
Lois and Clark sighed and hugged each other.
"Lois, never forget that I love you and no matter what happens I will always love you," Clark said.
"I know and I love you too, Clark. I know how you're feeling. You use to think that people are immortal but just when something like that happens we realize how fragile we all are and how the world can be so cruel."
"We better talk to Jose now," Clark said.
"Yeah, you're right."
They walked towards Jose who was still staring at Marie's grave. When they reached him Jose looked at them. "Thanks for coming. Marie always told me how much she liked your work."
"She was a great girl," Lois said.
"Jose, we want to write a tribute to her in the Planet. Is that okay with you?" Clark asked him.
"I guess so. I'm sure she would love that. She loved your articles."
"I know we can't change what happened but we can try to make people see what's happening and try to convince them we should all care," Lois pointed out.
"Lois is right. So as soon as we get back to Metropolis we'll do our part," Clark said.
"Thanks again."
**********
HEAVEN
by Lois Lane and Clark Kent
We all heard the last news about terrorist attacks happening all over the world. We all like to think that everything is so far away from us and we think things won't ever reach us. As reporters we thought that reporting violence against people is just our job. Something we do everyday and therefore it's not something to really stop and think about. How many people do that? It doesn't matter where we live, what we do for a living or what's our age, we all behave the same way. We behave as if we were immortals and that things just happen to others; others we shouldn't care about, until the day everything changes. Things change when something reach us, something we don't understand or we don't care about but something that's out there and can happen to anyone.
Some time ago we received an e-mail that changed our lives. It was an e-mail saying we lost a very dear friend in one of these violent attacks. We didn't know it was possible for us to have someone we care about die in that way. Everything changed that day. We lost our ground and we become aware that our lives can come to an end and that not even Superman can save our lives all the time. Earth is not heaven. We live in a war and we seem not to care about it.
Why people have to live and die that horrible way? Why can't everyone live their lives respecting the beliefs and differences of each other? Why can't people trust that they are responsible for the world and what it becomes?
Marie was 25 years old and she had dreams. She was going to become a reporter because that was what she wanted to do. She believed that even if she couldn't change the world she could do her part. Marie had a boyfriend, a house, a family and friends that loved her and she died because of the growing intolerance. “What about it”, you may ask yourselves. We all ask ourselves that everyday when we hear this kind of news but when we are on the other side of the story we realize that we shouldn't waste time and that we should try to do something to change what the world is becoming. She was just an ordinary person, living an ordinary life, she didn't believe that things could happen to her and that's what we all think too. She was just one more victim of the intolerance, an intolerance we can't predict but that's out there. How can we just stay with our arms crossed when there are so many deaths, violence and disrespect in human's life? How can we get used to see people dying, victims of a war without a country? That's what terrorism is, a war without a country. Let's think about it.
To all the victims rest in peace and may your deaths teach us something. Teach us that we aren't immortals and neither the people we love; teach us that life is too precious to waste in a war that can never stop; teach us to be better human beings and to care about others.
To us all, let's start changing and believe that we can do our parts and maybe one day we can live in a perfect heaven on Earth. May the peace be with us now and forever.
In loving memory of a dear friend...
~ THE END ~
