Atonement

Jenna sat beside her boyfriend on his bed as he talked on the phone.

"Zach…" she wanted to ask him something.

Zach ignored her and got off the bed, still talking on the phone.

"Zach, I love you," Jenna said.

"Yeah, me too," he whispered back quickly.

It was Christmas Eve. Jenna held her boyfriend, Zach's hands tight as they walked back to her house.

"I love you," she said to him.

"What? Yeah, I love you too," he replied her without even looking at her.

In her heart, Jenna knew he didn't really mean it. She was hurt, but she didn't let it show. Jenna didn't let Zach know. She loved him.

Suddenly, Jenna stopped walking.

"What's wrong, Jen?" he asked.

She said nothing. She didn't look at him.

"Jen? Are you okay?" he asked again.

This time, she looked.

"Really, Zach, do you?" she asked.

"What?"

"Do you really love me?"

"Of course! What is this about?"

Jenna looked right into Zach's eyes. Tears began to fall from her eyes. She looked away from him as she wiped the tears away.

"You're lying," she said softly.

"What? Baby, I love you, I do!" he answered and hugged her.

Jenna pushed herself away from him, still crying.

"You're lying. I can see it in your eyes when you lie," she said softly again.

"Come on, Jen! Don't do this. Not here, not now. This is bullshit! Baby, I love you! Really, I do!" Zach answered.

"Forget it, Zach. Let's just stop this. Obviously, you don't love me so just… We're over, Zach," Jenna said and walked away.

As Jenna was crossing the street, a speeding car crashed into her.

"Oh my God, Jen!" Zach screamed and ran over to Jenna.

He held her in his arms as blood oozed out from several parts of her body.

"Jen… Jen… No… Jen, baby, I love you," Zach said.

Jenna gave Zach a weak smile.

"You're telling the truth," she said as tears fell from her eyes again.

"Hang on, Jen," he replied.

"I love you," she said weakly.

Jenna started choking and blood spewed out of her mouth. Then, her body became lifeless. Zach knew she was gone.

The next day was Christmas. Everyone else was busy celebrating as Zach sat on the couch in Jenna's apartment. He stared at the fireplace in front of him.

Then, Zach got up and decided he could not stand being in Jenna's apartment, so he left. While walking back to his apartment which was not far from Jenna's, he saw a beggar dressed tattered old clothes holding a cardboard sign with the words 'A Penny for A Wish' written in black.

People who walked past him ignored him. The man saw Zach looking at him. He smiled at Zach, flashing his yellow teeth.

"Be kind this Christmas, sir, and help a man in need. A penny and you can make a wish," the man said to Zach.

Not wanting to deal with this beggar, Zach gave him a penny.

"Thank you, sir. Make a wish. It might just come true," the beggar said and walked away.

I wish for Jenna to still be here. Can that come true? Ridiculous old man, he thought.

When he reached his own apartment, Zach poured himself a glass of whisky. All he could think about was Jenna.

Suddenly, a girl dressed in a pale blue dress, almost white, appeared in front of him. Zach dropped his glass of whisky on the carpet floor.

"Hello, Zach," she said gently.

"Who… Who are you? And how did you know my name? And did you just… just appear in front of me? Am I drunk already? Am I dreaming?" Zach panicked.

"Calm down, Zach. My name's Jen… Jennifer. I heard your wish," she answered.

Zach studied her from head to toe. She reminded him so much of Jenna. Her looks, her hair and the way she talked.

"What wish?" Zach asked.

"That wish you made when you gave that old man a penny," Jennifer answered.

Nothing came out of Zach's mouth. All he was concentrating on was how much Jennifer was like Jenna.

"Tell me, Zach, do you love her? Do you love Jenna?" she asked.

"Of course I do!" Zach answered quickly.

Jennifer looked straight into Zach's eyes.

"Then why did you treat her so horribly? Why didn't you appreciate her more while she was alive? It could've made a tremendous difference," Jennifer said.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I loved Jenna, more than anything else in the world," Zach replied.

"But you hurt her. Remember last Christmas?" Jennifer asked.

Jennifer took Zach back to last Christmas.

"Wow, where are we?" Zach looked around and asked.

"Just watch," Jennifer said.

"Zach, where are you?" Jenna asked as she waited at the restaurant alone.

"Baby, I'm so sorry I can't make it in time. I'm caught up at work," Zach answered over the phone.

"But it's Christmas," Jenna said.

"I know. Go to my apartment and wait for me. I promise I'll be there as soon as I can alright? I have to go now. I love you," Zach replied and hung up the phone.

Tears trickled down Emma's face.

She got up from her seat and left the restaurant.

"Did you know how hurt she was?" Jennifer asked.

"That's not all" Jennifer said before Zach could say anything.

The next thing he knew, they were in another place.

"Zach, you know what I think?" Jenna asked.

"What?" Zach asked back.

"I think we should get a puppy," Jenna answered.

She bit her lower lip, hopeful that Zach would agree but also afraid that he would disagree.

Zach narrowed his eyes.

"Jen, why would you want a puppy?" he asked.

"Because they're adorable!" she replied.

"You of all people should know by now that I don't have time for these things. I hardly have time to be with you! And besides, I didn't even know you liked dogs," he answered.

"I do like them. I told you when we first met, but you don't remember," Jenna was disappointed.

Then, Zach and Jennifer were at his apartment again.

"You've done many more things besides those. You treated her like she was nothing, and yet she loved you with all her heart," Jennifer said.

Zach sat on the couch. Tears wet his cheeks as he covered his face with his hands. Jennifer then went over and sat beside him.

"Tell me, how did that make you feel? Seeing the way you've treated her, how do you feel?" Jennifer asked.

There was no reply from Zach, but she knew he was hurt. For a minute there, she felt sorry for him.

"What if I told you that I could send you back to the day before she died. What if I could give you one day to make up for every lousy way you've treated her? Would you go back for just one day?" Jennifer asked.

Then, Zach turned to her.

"What are you saying?" he asked, confused.

"I could grant you an atonement. I could send you back to Christmas Eve. I'll give you one day to make up for the past," she replied.

"You can do that?" he asked again.

She nodded.

Zach was still sleeping on the couch when the doorbell rang.

Some dream, he thought as he got up from the couch, thinking he must've been drunk the night before and passed out on the couch. He couldn't help thinking how real that dream felt.

He walked to the door and opened it. Immediately, a girl with dark blonde hair and dark blue eyes hugged him.

"Tomorrow's Christmas!" she exclaimed.

He smiled at her then kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm here to make you breakfast!" Jenna said joyfully.

Before he said no, he thought about the woman in his dream, Jennifer. He thought about the way he treated Jenna before.

"Alright then, I'll go shower," Zach smiled at her before walking into his room.

Before he showered, he made a call to his secretary, telling her that he was not able to go to work today. Then, he made a call to Jenna's favorite restaurant to make a dinner reservation.

He went into the kitchen and saw breakfast on the dining table.

"They look good," he said.

Jenna, who was sitting at the dining table, smiled.

"Hurry up and eat or you're going to be late for work. You're not even dressed for work!" she said.

Zach sat beside his girlfriend and smiled.

"I'm spending today and tomorrow with you," he answered.

Jenna grinned.

"I love you," he said.

Jenna was shocked. For the first time in a long time, Zach said that to her first.

She smiled at him.

"I love you too," she said.

After breakfast, Zach took Jenna out.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see," was all that he said.

Soon, they arrived at a pet shop.

She turned to Zach. "What are we doing here?"

"You told me you love dogs. You wanted a puppy remember?" he answered.

Jenna hugged her boyfriend tight.

"Oh, I love you!" she said.

"I love you too," he replied.

That night, Jenna wore a knee-length red strapless dress to dinner. It was where they went on their very first date a few years ago.

"Zach, can I ask you something?" she asked.

"Go ahead," he said.

"Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? I mean, why all this?" she smiled and tilted her head sideways a little.

"Because I know I've been treating you like dirt. I love you Jenna, I do, I just have a hard time showing it sometimes," he answered.

Jenna smiled again.

"I love you too," she said.

After their meal, Zach went to the men's room. Inside, he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. He took a dark blue box from the pocket of his pants. He opened it and smiled. Then, he closed it and went out.

He thought Jenna looked more beautiful than ever that night.

"Jenna, I love you," he said.

Before she could reply, he went over to her side and bent down on one knee. Tears immediately fell from her eyes.

"Jenna, I know I haven't been treating you like I should lately, and I'm sorry. You loved me, even after the way I've treated you. I love you, Jenna. Will you marry me?" he said, opening the little dark blue box.

Inside was a beautiful princess cut diamond ring. Jenna covered her mouth with her right hand and nodded.

He held her tight as they waited for a cab outside the restaurant.

"Honestly, Zach, the ring's a little loose. I think we need to get it resized," she said, looking at the ring on her finger.

"Shit. I knew I should've measured you finger first," he replied.

She smiled at him.

When she put her hand down, the ring slipped off her finger rolled not too far down the street.

"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry, I'll go get it!" she said and hurried to where her ring was.

She picked it up and blew the dirt off it.

"Got it!" she said.

Suddenly, a speeding red Subaru hit Jenna, but the driver did not stop. The driver just drove off.

Quickly, Zach ran to his fiancée's side. Blood spewed out from her mouth.

"Somebody help!" Zach shouted.

He held Jenna in his arms.

"Baby, stay with me. I love you, Jen. You're going to be alright," he said.

Seconds after that, Jenna's eyes were closed shut. He held her lifeless body in his arms and cried.

The next day, Zach sat on his couch with a glass of whisky in his hand. His face showed no expression at all. Then, Jennifer appeared in front of him. His eyes stared at her like they were going to pop out, dropping his whisky on the ground.

"You… you're not real! You were in my dream! Is this just a bad dream? Is Jenna still alive?" he stood up and said.

Her heart broke to see him in such pain.

"It wasn't a dream, Zach. I wasn't a dream," she said.

"So it was real? The atonement?" he asked.

Jennifer nodded.

"But you said you'd give me a second chance with her!" he yelled.

"I said I'd grant you one more day," she answered him calmly.

Zach fell back onto the couch. His hands covered his face as her cried. Then, he looked at Jennifer with anger shown in his eyes.

"Why did you make me lose her twice? Why did you take her away from me twice?" he asked in a deep tone.

"I said I'd give you an atonement, not a chance to bring back the dead. It was Jenna's time," she replied him in the same calm tone as before.

He didn't say anything.

"At least this time she knows you really loved her," Jennifer said.

Zach looked down and cried again.

Tears slowly trickled down Jennifer's face. She looked at the princess cut diamond ring on her finger. Then, she looked at her fiancé who was still crying on the couch over her death.

"I'm leaving now," she said softly.

There was no reply from Zach.

"I love you. Goodbye, Zach," she whispered and then disappeared.