Her Fire

Shaken

'I've lost him forever. No... no.' Someone shakes me and says my name, I think. It's hard to hear anything over my wailing, but I continue because nothing else makes sense. I get shaken again, a little more firmly.

"K . . . . . e" is all I hear. I scream again.

"KYRIE!" I hear loud and clear, as I'm shaken roughly. I open my eyes and rub at them to try and clear my vision of the tears. My eyes slowly focus on the face in front of me.

"Tobias?" I ask, fear invading my expression, worrying about him yelling at me again. Instantly regretting using that name. I snap my head up and sputter,

"Axl! I mean Axl. I'm so sorry." I can't break my gaze from his, my hands covering my lips, waiting for him to say something, anything.

"KYRIE!" I hear from the man in front of me and he shakes me again.

"WAKE UP!" My eyes pop open as I sit straight up in bed. My cheeks still wet from all the tears.

"Kyrie, look at me." I hear coming from beside me. I turn and look for the voice.

"Tobias?" I sob again,

"Is it really you?" I ask, wishing desperately for a positive reply.

"What's going on? What happened? Are you okay? Why are you crying?" his questions are rapidly fired at me and my head spins. I put my hand to it to stop it.

"Whoa." I whisper.

"Kyrie!" he exclaims again, and I look at him. Fresh tears spill from my eyes and I jump to hug him.

"Oh, Tobias. It is you!" my body clinging to him like he'll disappear if I let go. He wraps his arms around me and runs a hand through my hair.

"Baby, please tell me what's wrong. I got so scared when you just started screaming." the worry in his voice dripping through every word.

"It was so horrible." and I continued on to tell him about my dream that wasn't a dream but was. Then about the nightmare it became. I told him about him thinking I was crazy. And then I told him about him leaving me. I told him I could actually feel my heart breaking as he walked away from me, from us, from all our lives together. He sat and listened to it all. Despite all my sobbing. I could see flashes of different emotions cross his face as I was telling him everything. My sobs slowed as I watched him, as my mind began acknowledging that this was actual reality. I finished my story and looked at him with my red, puffy eyes and rosy cheeks trying to discern what he was thinking.

"Oh Kyrie, my love." and he pulls me into him once again.

"Can I tell you something to ease some of those silly things floating around in that pretty head of yours?" he asks, ruffling my hair a bit. I half smile and reply,

"Yes, my good sir, you can." He begins,

"I may not remember you in each new life but know this. There is a piece of me that does. That piece knows you Kyrie, you, this you, and It's always keeping an eye out for you. And when it sees you, it lets the rest of me know. You remember when I said that seeing you that day at the bookstore changed me?" I nod in reply, not wanting to interrupt.

"Well, that change was that little piece saying 'Hey, you big dummy, she's right there'." I giggle.

"I told you that I'd never not want you. That little piece of you that floats inside me makes it so that it always remains the case. I'll always want you Kyrie. I may not know why at first, but I will always want to remember you, all of you. I love you."

"I love you too Tobias." and I kiss him passionately. We stay in each other's embrace for another hour or so.

"How about some breakfast?" Tobias asks as he runs his fingers up and down my arm.

"Sounds wonderful." I say, leaving a small peck on his lips. I get up to begin getting dressed. Tobias gets up as well and pulls on some sweat pants. He exits the room and heads for the kitchen. I follow shortly after in shorts and one of his baggy t-shirts. I sniff at the air as I enter the kitchen.

"Mmm, something smells good." I sigh as I sit at the bar. He turns around and sets two plates of French toast on the countertop.

"This looks fantastic," I tell him as I kiss him.

"Thank you."

"Of course, minxy." he replies, kissing my cheek. We sit and finish our breakfast. Tobias goes back upstairs to shower for work. I head up to get dressed for my day. We meet in the living room and exit together. We get in his car. He starts it and begins the journey to drop me off at my house. Along the drive, he reaches over and holds my hand. We sit like this, in silence, enjoying each other's company. We arrive at my house all too soon. I look over to him and smile. I lean in and say,

"Goodbye, my love. Have a good day." I turn to exit the vehicle.

"Wait," he says, refusing to release my hand. I turn back and face him.

"I didn't get my kiss." he pokes out his bottom lip, pretending to pout. He reaches up as I lean in and our lips meet, his hand on my face. I move my hand up to his and I lean into it. I smile and inhale his smell. I leave a kiss on his palm.

"I love you Kyrie." he expresses.

"And I love you, Tobias." I sigh out. He releases my hand as I exit the car. He pulls away, heading for work. I enter my house and begin my morning routine. My head is in the clouds and life is great.