[ WP ] Everyone in the world hears a chime in their head when they are about to die , it chimes 3 times over a short periode , just enough time to get your things in order . You have just heard the 3rd chime , but for some reason your still alive ...

The First Chime woke me from a dead sleep. I rolled over and looked at my husband, the fear struck hard and cold in my gut. The Chimes were a set of three rings inside your head, alerting you to your imminent demise and to get everything in order. My husband and I had already set everything up ahead of time, plots and tombstones, to prepare us for when they were to sound. We had done this in the first year of our marriage. It was hard, us just starting out on our own together, buying a house, following our careers and dreams. We were now in our tenth year, still young and still looking forward to many things. We were supposed to be going hiking this weekend then a cook out with his family. I could n't go back to sleep knowing I would have to break the news to him. I made a choice, the choice to not tell him until the Third Chime. I know he would be mad, but I do n't want him to worry, not with his huge project he has to deal with. 
 
 
 Morning came and we went along with our usual routines. The Second Chime came almost two weeks later. That was a shock as most usually were a few months or so. I had just barely started on preparing things. The time between the Second and Third Chime usually was about two to three weeks. I made a quick call to a florist to arrange for flowers for my grave. She sounded really sad about it when she told me that I sounded so very young. I thanked her for her concern, but I had other calls to make. The hard ones would be to my parents. This was going to be more difficult that I had thought. I decided to change my mind and tell Mike when he came home from work. 
 
 
 I was half right, he was mad at me but he was mostly upset and worried. I had n't taken out a life insurance policy yet because I was waiting for our funds to recover after our basement flooded and we had to get the foundation redone. That had hurt a lot. I felt horrible that I had n't done that yet. He told me not to worry, that my parent and his parent would help out best they could. This was sudden and no one was prepared for it. I am so thankful he is so very understanding. 
 
 
 The Third Chime happened later that week. Mike and I were having dinner and I stopped and dropped my glass. It shattered on the floor, spilling water everywhere. Mike leaped up from his seat and was by my side in an instant. 
 
 
 `` Alyssa?'' Mike asked, worry chocking his voice. 
 
 
 `` I heard it, it's time.'' I said in a bare whisper. `` It happened so very soon.'' 
 
 
 `` Come to bed, I'm sure that's where you want to be.'' Mike helped me up and walked me to the bedroom upstairs. 
 
 
 I laid down and let him tuck me in. We had lined the mattress with plastic for the inevitable release. I was a little sad we were using the sheets we had gotten when we first got married, but it was a sentiment thing and I was happy about the tiny blue flowers that decorated the linens. Mike sat next to me, grasping my hand as if I would just vanish from existence. I had always wondered what it was like when the last Chime sounded. Now I knew. I waited and waited for a bright light at the end of the tunnel, heavenly gates, something. Nothing. 
 
 
 My eyes flew open as a sudden pain stabbed through my gut. I gasped and sat up, the pain causing tears to stream down my face. Mike was talking to me, nearly screaming over my pained gasps. Was this how it was like to die? I felt like I had just released everything in my bowels and the pain slowly subsided. Taking in heaving gasps, I looked up at my terrified husband. Something was off. I had heard the Third Chime, but I was still alive. The ashen look on his face as he looked down at my lap caused me to pause in my sudden joy that I was alive. I followed his gaze to the growing stain of red. My heart sank into my stomach. 
 
 
 `` Oh, no, no no no.'' I whispered, covering my mouth with my hands. 
 
 
 Mike hugged me close. `` It's ok, Lyssa. I'll call the doc and we will get you in. I'm so sorry.'' 
 
 
 I buried my face into his shoulder and just cried. 
 
 
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 This was painful for me, sorry if it causes sudden onions.
