The End and the Beginning

by QDS

Summary:

End of the year, and Sam thinks. Written for: The 8 January lifein1973 Friday Drabble Challenge.

Gene's laughing in Chris's ear. Annie looks at the clock, waiting for count down. Nelson pours bubbly into Sam's glass.

"Resolutions?"

"Survive till '75."

Nelson chuckles. But Sam's serious. Tonight is an ending...a death. The certainty of his own, fashioned by his leap of faith.

It starts. "Ten! Nine!..."

But, as he looks at his friends, he sees all the hopes for the renewal of the year. And now, feeling as he did when he jumped, he embraces them, and waits for rebirth.

"...Two! One!"

It's 1974. And Sam smiles into Gene's shoulder, and Annie's hair.