PUNISHED AND FORGIVEN
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Chapter 1 - Emile
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She was the one.  Nothing could deny that.  She was the only one.  The only one who cared to the end.  Then she died...




Chapter 2 - Immortal Love
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She haunted his lonely dreams.  She remained embedded into his heart.  With each passing moment, he slowly died, waiting for her to return to him.  His blood slowed to a crawl, just enough to keep him alive.  His limbs became stiff and cold.  His hair grew long and unkept.  His eyes glazed over with a strong grayness.  He could not move, he could not think, for he could not be without her.  And so, he died...




Chapter 3 - Monarchy
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His death came fast.  The Reaper came and swung his scythe into the man's heart, tearing it into two.  His vision faded to black.  He had gone to where he was to go.  Hell or Heaven, he did not know...




Chapter 4 - Man In The Shadows III
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He did not know where he was.  He had commited so many sins before he had met her.  So many secrets kept within him.  So many demons.  He stood in the darkness, surrounded by his fears.  

A voice came:  "Everyonce in a while, something great comes along. Then later in life, it'll go away.  That's when you're tested to see how much you want it.  And if you're worthy enough, you'll get it back.  If you're lucky, just lucky enough, you'll realize how much you want it or need it before it's gone forever."

The man stood and listened.  After he heard it all, he fell to his knees.  The voice spoke again:  "I am the man in the shadows.  I know all of your secrets and all of your sins."  The man responded not with words, but with tears.  He could not help, but cower in fear.  He whispered:  "Forgive me..."




Chapter 5 - The Waiting
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The darkness faded away into light.  The man looked around for something.  He did not know what he was looking for, but he knew something was there.  The sound of footsteps came and caused the man to freeze.  He stared into white distance, awaiting what was creating the sound.  The blood of his soul began to move as his eyes were filled with the vision before him.  She had come back to him.  She touched his face with her hand and spoke quietly in her always angelic voice.  Everything faded away once more into darkness.  When he awoke, he was seated in the chair that he had died in.  




Aftermath
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With each day since, he dreamed of his time with her and cherished his memories of her.  He was still saddened by her death, but he could not change that.  He knew this and so continued his life without her.  He remained faithful to her.  He still loved her.  He still did things to impress her, knowing that she would be watching.  He understood that while she may not be there physically, she was still there with him, for he realized...she had never left.



Written by Darminato.
E-Mail:  Darminato@hotmail.com
All songs can be found at www.alteredperception.com
Note:  Aftermath is NOT a song.  It does not exist as of 10.3.2000