Snowflake Trilogy ~ Posie Oneshots

Snowflakes in the Candlelight (Josie POV)

"Lantern burning — flickered in my mind for only you."

A lone candle sits across the room on my nightstand. The flame flickers in the soft darkness, throwing up dancing shadows on the wall. Snowflakes float down outside the window, shining like crystals in the candle light. The soft white blanket lies at the foot of my bed, and fluffy pillows are strewn across the top. I should simply walk over and lie down, but I won't.

The cold, wooden floor steals away half the heat of the cosy little room. My head hurts from leaning against the hard wall for too long. But I can't move — I can hardly even breathe.

You were gone. You were gone, and you were never coming back. I wasn't supposed to see you again. I was all alone. Sure, I have Lizzie, and Hope, and Dad — but they're all busy with their own lives. Every night after closing up the cafe, I go upstairs to my perfect little apartment, carefully carrying my mug of lavender tea up the slightly creaky wooden stairs. Lying in bed, I sip my tea as I read or watch tv until I can't keep my eyes open. And at last, I curl up in the soft white blanket and drift off to sleep.

But now, everything has changed. You're not thousands of miles away living your own life. You're back in Mystic Falls, in my cafe of all places.

I've been waiting for this day for days, months, years. All of my fears and worries were supposed to melt away. Everything else in the world would disappear the second I was back in your arms. I would cling to you, sobbing, and whisper those words that I'd been longing to say to you since the day you left.

I miss you. I love you. I want you, forever.

However, when the moment finally came, I left you exactly like you left me. You stood there in the room full of people, your hopeful hazel eyes glittering with tears. I watched your slightly chapped lips whisper my name, and I abandoned you. I ran as quickly as I could, knowing that if I stayed for even one more second, I would find myself back in your arms.

Because, you see, it can't be real. This is nothing but another dream, haunting me with possibilities of what could be. You, Alex, all of it — none of it is real. You'd tell me that you loved me and missed me too, but all along, I'd know that it couldn't last. I'd have you for maybe a few more hours, but when the sun rose, the sound of my alarm would steal you away all over again.

My fingernails pinch at the same spot in my other arm over and over again, trying to wake from this nightmare disguised as a simple dream. But it's not working — I'm trapped.

Closing my eyes, I lean back against the wall once more. Nightmares can't last forever. Maybe the sooner I give in, the sooner I'll be free.

After a minute, the quiet hum of people in the cafe below is broken by the light tapping of boots going up the stairs. It echoes through the hall, carrying the person I know can be only you closer and closer. At last, there's the soft click of my bedroom door opening.

"Oh, Jo-Jo..."

I mustn't open my eyes. I can do this. If I don't see you and pretend you're not there, maybe it will be a little less painful to lose you when morning comes. As long as I ignore you, I can remember that this is all a dream. If I give up and open my eyes, I'll lose myself in yours.

All of a sudden, gentle fingers caress my cheek. They trail down my jawline, stopping just before my lips, sending a shiver down my spine. It's so comforting yet so far away at the same time.

You're not real. You can't be. You're a ghost.

"Jo-Jo," that warm, familiar voice mumbles softly in my ear, "I know that you- I know that you must hate me, and I can't blame you. But won't you even look at me?"