Scott realized he was hallucinating when he felt the needle.
He blinked, coming back to his body, feeling the needle slide into his arm. He jumped, struggling.
"Stop, stop! It's me!"
He paused, looking around. Right. The vacation. It wasn't real then. He looked down at himself.
Had he eaten? He swallowed roughly, his throat sore. Or drink anything?
"It's fluids. You're severely dehydrated," Ana explained.
Ana. What was she doing here?
"How did this happen, Scott? Why are you doing this?° Ana frowned.
His throat hurt. Had he spoken? He hadn't spoken. Ah. Right.
He pushed her away, making her frown. "Scott?"
He pushed her away further. Wincing.
"Scott why...what is this? Is this a tactic? Just say something."
He blinked. Scott sighed, pointing to door. She followed his gaze.
"Hey, just say something would you?"
She sighed. "What do you want? You want to marry me again? Want me to move in. Fine. Fine. You win! You always win."
Scott pursed his lips, turning over. He didn't want this. He closed his eyes, trying to dream. It was better. That's what he realized.
Because Ana, the real Ana would leave. He realized that now. He thought he would always have the strength to keep her.
But he realized that wasn't true. So then it was better. To just dream.
Easier. He closed his tighter, trying to take himself away, but the fluids made him nauseous and he couldn't concentrate.
He sighed, sliding the needle out of his arm carefully, before turning back over.
"Scott what the hell are you doing? Do you understand you're gonna die if you keep this up? Scott-"
Her voice dissolved as he returned to his vacation.
Ana smiled at him softly. "Welcome back, Scott! What do you want to do today?"
He smiled back. "Today...mh. I don't know what I want to do today. What do you want to do?"
She cocked her head. "I guess...I mean..."
"Yes?" Scott urged her.
"I guess I want you to live!"
Scott frowned,
"Even if our marriage fell apart even if you're a manipulative bastard, damnit Scott I want you live!"
He shook his head, smiling at Ana. "Yeah. Let's live. What does that mean?"
She giggled. "I don't know. I don't think I've ever really lived before? What about you? Do you think you've lived?"
He thought about it. "You know what? No. No I don't think I have/ I've spent most of my life jest surviving. Barely making it. Let's live today, Ana."
Ana cried over him. "Please Scott. Just stop tensing. Scott you're dying. You are going to die for this bit Scott. Just stop it!"
Scott grabbed Lia, putting his arm around Annika as Ana laid her head on his shoulder.
They stood on the balcony of their vacation house as the sun rose above the hill.
"Here comes the sun," he whispered. "It's a new day."
Please Scott! Just let me help you! God, please! I'll do anything, you hear me?
"It's beautiful," he grinned, looking at him family, "Really beautiful."
Scott please. You're dying Scott. You can't keep living like this. You're gonna die soon at this rate. Days, Scott. You only have days-
"Dad?"
"Yes, Annika?"
"Let's stay here forever."
He smiled, squeezing them tighter. "We will."
Ana sobbed, the tears in her eyes missing his smile of happiness, as the sun rose in the dream that will kill him.
"We will," Scott said again, softly.
