Elysium

Nightmare 2

A grassy meadow was before me. It was rather lovely but the space was so open that I couldn't see anything but the overwhelming green in front of me. It seemed to stretch on forever and ever, and right in front of me three wooden chairs were unusually placed.

"Hello?"

 I shout out curiously. Where was I again? Was I dreaming perhaps? I decided to sit down in the middle chair and admire the bright blue sky. I guess I already expected someone else to sit on the chairs beside me, maybe it would stop feeling so lonely then. The sun felt so warm and I felt calm for the first time in a while. I got the sense that I had been here before, that maybe I even belong here. Suddenly multiple white flowers burst out from the grass, blossoming beautifully around the three chairs. I stared at them in awe, and reached out to pluck one. I allow my bare feet to be caressed by the soft grass and I cautiously smell the white flowers. Their fragrance was pleasantly sweet and I felt myself smiling down into the pure flower. I wanted to bury my nose deeper into it, but I was worried that I would just end up killing the poor thing instead. I suddenly felt somebody's presence behind me and I turned around instinctually. The flower fell from my hands and wilted into the grass. Lucius stood there, staring at me with a torn expression. He was now sitting in the left chair with his legs crossed, staring intently at me.

My eyes widened and my mouth curled up into a large grin and I threw my arms around him. How wonderful it was to see a familiar face again! Perhaps everything that happened prior was just a nightmare after all.

The flowers change into a delicate pink color, it was almost pastel like cotton candy or bubblegum. I hug him and he embraces me gently.

"Lucius! I've missed you so much. You're alive?" I cry out in glee. The words felt strange, it almost didn't taste right in my mouth. How ugly it felt to lie again. He doesn't say anything, instead he pets my head lovingly.

"Sit down with me Anna." His voice is soft and welcoming. I sit back into the middle seat and stare at his face happily. I wanted to pick all the flowers and play he loves me, he loves me not with each individual flower. Things that were beautiful could not stay pure forever, it was like an itch that needed to be scratched, something would eventually destroy them. The flowers change again into an ocean blue and sadness is suddenly apparent in the air. The sky now appears to darken to night and stars shine brightly down on us. We both stare at the sky thoughtfully and don't say anything.

"Annalina, are you forgetting about me?"

Lucius' voice is full of sorrow. I look back to face him, his eyes are shining with hurt. I was kind of confused with his question, was he trying to ruin everything? This perfect world, I started to feel defensive.

"Of course not! We're together aren't we? I love you!"

I pout, bitter lies coming from my lips.

"Why would you say that?"

Silence.

"I'm dead."

The realization of his words took me by surprise.

"Oh... right.." I mumble. I guess all of it wasn't just a dream after all. This made me sigh, I really needed to stop failing all the time... it was starting to exhaust me. He places his hand on mine.

"Promise you won't forget me." He whispers weakly. What a silly thing to say, I would never forget you that's why I've been trying to fix everything so many times over and over and over again. I wish he could see that, I wish I wasn't the only one stuck in this horrible purgatory. Was this my punishment for trying to change the inevitable?