If I Die Young-ZaDr

Dib stood at the edge of a sparkling pond, the just rising sun reflecting beautifully off the nearly clear water. The scene would have been beautiful to him if it hadn't been for the reason he was coming here. Tears were falling silently down his face and he clutched the dead Pak more firmly against his chest. The panels on it were still glowing dimly and he'd tried...oh how he'd tried to reactivate the piece of technology and fashion it to a body. Oh how he'd tried to bring back that hateful spaztic alien.

He knelt down at the edge of the water, placing the technology down on a boat he'd fashioned with such care. The rose petals he'd laid around the satin pillow he'd placed the Pak on complimented the still glowing panels beautifully and he had to blink back more tears. He took a deep breath before placing his hands on the back of the boat and pushing it forward gently. He didn't want to let it go and he lay a hand weakly against the edge of the small boat before it could get too far away. The teen couldn't get rid of the last thing that could remind him of that crazy alien. He needed something to keep his sanity...so he knew that the irken had been real. He had to know that all of their fights hadn't been for nothing...that all of their kisses hadn't been for nothing.

The teen placed his other hand on the top of the Pak, stroking the cold metal surface in an almost loving way. He knew he needed to let go and move on...but he needed something to remind him that he'd been loved once...accepted.  He was about to pull the boat from the water and put it back on his bedside stand...like he'd done the last 3 times, but a small gust of wind came from behind him and he felt something soft and gentle brush up against the back of his neck. He turned slowly to see the white flower petals from the tree behind him swirling down to brush against his face...like a million small kisses. He closed his eyes and a single word slipped from his lips, "...zim."

He knew that if there was a way to send messages from beyond the vail of death...this would be a message from his alien lover. That small gesture gave him the strength to turn around and nudge the boat gently towards the center of the lake. He didn't reach out, and he didn't stop the makeshift boat. He simply stood, and watched as the white pedals followed his last reminder of Zim...he'd finally moved on.