A nightly breeze attempts to bite through her winter clothing. Despite the near freezing temperatures, her heart is jumping with anticipation as her emeralds stare at the heart-shaped pocket watch with glee. She follows its arrow to the place where she needs to be.

Years ago, these special watches were gifted by Eros to help some humans find their destined lovers based on happiness, compatibility, and other factors. The matchmaker god had cut through the wasted time of bad dates and broken hearts like it was nothing. It also caused some problems.

Abby received hers in the middle of a relationship. Throwing out the watch only returned itself to her. She didn't want to meet that person since things were good for her......up until her ex kept questioning if she even loved her at all.

She kept reassuring her that she wouldn't leave but it fell on deaf ears. The questioning turned into emotional abuse that she couldn't tolerate any longer.

Since years were left on the timer, she took time to grieve her relationship....which resulted in her lifting weights, eating well, and building a life for herself and her future companion. She sits on the bench and takes a look at the timer.

"2 minutes. Stay here," the display mentions.

She can't help but smile from ear to ear while brushing back strands of red hair. She hopes her destined person was single to prevent a catastrophe.

3....2......1

As soon as the timer buzzed, a dark-skinned woman with a nicely done afro sits down near her. Abby followed the pointer directly to her. Her heart bounces with joy. Curvy hips with plump lips. Her golden eyeliner makes her brown eyes brighter in appearance.

She clears her throat. "Hello, I'm Abigail. Abby for short. Do you know of Eros' watch?"

The woman jerks her head and stares at the watch before looking up at her. She instantly pieces it together. "Oh, no," she gasps.

Abby's heart almost breaks from those words. "Oh, are you already taken?"

"No. It's....something else."

"You-You don't have to explain. I'm not your type and that's okay. I at least wanted to meet you," while her voice is on the verge of tears.

"It's not that. It's impossible for us to be together, Abby."

"If you aren't ready, that's okay. We don't have to get married or-"

"We can't be together because of this," she takes out a special watch of her own. A black shaped heart with its own timer.

"Abby, my name is Layla. A name I gave myself. I'm known by many other names, but," she exhales before confessing the rest. "I'm Death and I came to collect your soul. You're going to die soon. 5 minutes from now to be exact. I think Eros played a cruel joke on us."

The grim reaper looks at her caramel face to gauge her reaction from the bomb she tried to drop gently on her.

"Layla?"

"Yes?"

"What if I could get you to fall in love with me?"

"W-W-What?!"