REMINISCENT

THE ACCIDENT

Song for the chapter: "would you still love me?" by Brian Nhira.

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After a successful dinner, Aiden excused himself with Ashley, leaving his parents behind at the restaurant table. He wanted to give them a moment alone, but more than that, he wanted a moment alone with her.

Hand in hand, they walked down the path that led to the beach. The cool night air brushed against their skin as the distant hum of the restaurant faded behind them. The sand was soft beneath their steps, and the silver light of the moon spilled across the water in long, shimmering ribbons.

They sat where the tide reached far enough to kiss the tips of their toes. Aiden stretched his legs forward, and Ashley swung hers across his lap, resting her head on his shoulder. The sound of waves folding onto the shore filled the silence between them. It was comfortable, grounding—until Ashley's soft voice broke it.

"Thank you for dinner. I loved it." She smiled faintly, her eyes locked on the way the moon danced across the water's surface.

Aiden only hummed in response, his gaze distant.

Ashley lifted her head, her brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head quickly, forcing a small smile. "Nothing." He cupped her cheek and kissed her—slow at first, but quickly deepening, pulling her closer as though he needed her to anchor him.

Ashley frowned into the kiss, sensing the shift in him. When he pulled away, her eyes searched his. "Aiden, I know you're lying to me," she added, her voice trembling as her gaze dropped to her hands.

Aiden exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I just—" His voice cracked slightly, but he steadied it. "I remembered my dream. I don't know why it had to show up now, of all times. It makes me nervous... uneasy. I didn't want to tell you about it because I didn't want you to think too much of it. You know I'm a lucid dreamer, but the fact that I couldn't control this one—that's what's bothering me the most."

Ashley's heart twisted. She reached for his hand, squeezing it. "Okay. But... can you at least tell me what it was about?" She tilted her head, her voice gentle but pleading. "Please, Aiden."

He hesitated, trying to resist, but then her eyes found his—those eyes he could never say no to. He sighed, defeated. "Fine. It was about an accident."

Ashley frowned. "An accident?"

"Yeah." His voice was low, strained. "We were involved in an accident. I don't know where we were going or who was driving, but I know we crashed. And after that... I was useless. I couldn't move, couldn't speak—I was a vegetable." His words were jagged, broken. "And I saw you, Ashley. I saw you constantly caring for me, day after day. But then one day... you looked so tired. So... drained. I doubted if you still loved me anymore, and it was the worst feeling I've ever had. I just wanted it to end, to free you from me, from the punishment I forced on you. I wanted to see you smile again, to see your face without tears or dark circles. But in that dream, you looked miserable. And it broke me."

Tears filled Ashley's eyes before she could stop them. She threw her arms around him, clutching him tightly. "Aiden, no matter what happens—I will always love you. Always."

He held her just as tightly, his chin resting on her hair. But even as her words wrapped around him like a promise, he couldn't bring himself to answer. The image of her broken face in his dream lingered, heavy and suffocating, whispering doubts he couldn't silence.

...
Laughter filled the car, bouncing off the windows, making it feel like the night couldn't possibly hold anything but joy.

Joshua's steady hands gripped the wheel as Kairah sat alert beside him, like always double-checking every crossing. When they reached a crossroad, Josh slowed, scanned both sides, and began to move forward once Kairah gave her quiet nod of reassurance.