Dear Anzu

The woman stirred in her bed, unaware why tonight she was having a hard time falling asleep.

She tried counting ballerinas, but it wouldn't work.

Realizing it was 3 am, she groaned.

She continued to lay on her bed, and soon counting sheep turned into thinking of repressing thoughts she didn't wish to relive.

"Pharaoh." she thought, suddenly finding her throat tight.

Just like the burning light of a candle, in a single moment, he vanished from them.

The woman curled on her bed and pressed her tears back. Her heart ached as she repressed her sobs from erupting.

It was useless; he was gone.

He was gone without giving her the chance to say goodbye properly.

She laid curled in bed for a while, crying silently when sleep finally got to her.

____________________________________

"Hello?" the woman asked as she studied the area around her.

She appeared in the sky, with a mirror below her reflecting the clouds and blue sky.

"Ooof!" she heard before turning to the person who said that.

Mana whined as she rubbed her head.

"I'm never twirling my wand like Master Mahad." she cursed to herself as she continued to rub her head.

Anzu instantly froze, refusing to accept the fact that the magician's apprentice was before her.

"M-Mana?" she stuttered.

The green-aquamarine-eyed woman stopped what she was doing and broke into a huge smile.

"Anzu!" she greeted enthusiastically before jumping to hug her.

Anzu was stiff when the magician wrapped her in a hug.

Letting go of Anzu, Mana straightens her skirt.

"How have you been, Anzu? How are the others? How's Yugi?"

Realizing that if one of the Pharaoh's friends is here with her, that means Atem was here too.

Ignoring her questions, Anzu began to look around the endless field of sky.

Where was he?

Just where was he?

Didn't he know how much they missed him?

"He's not here."

Anzu turned back to look at Mana.

Mana gave her a sad smile.

"The prince. He isn't here. It's just me."

Anzu grew sad.

"Where is he?" she wanted to ask but bit her tongue.

Mana sensed her question and sighed.

"He's back in the afterlife. The gods permitted me to visit you in your dreams."

"Why didn't he ask that?" Anzu demanded angrily before realizing what she said was rude.

Mana looked taken back before lowering her gaze down sadly.

Knowing she had hurt her, Anzu started to apologize.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. It's just that-"