On My Own (TVD Series)

Vividly Dreaming

Lauren's POV

It was dark at first. A looming silence before a long quiet ring echoed inside my ear, dying out softly as the sound of crackling fire took its place. I was surrounded by the dim lights of orange, yellow, and red flames, hugged softly by the smell of apples and oak burning from the ashes. Standing by the fire at my family's estate, my eyes darted to the wall above the fireplace, gazing at the portraits of old family members resting on the shelf before me. But as my eyes started to roam down at the floor, there was a lingering warmth between my fingers. I reached over so softly at the empty air beside me, almost as if his fingers caressed the sides of my palms.

"Enzo" I sighed, feeling my chest cave in.

Letting the weight of my head lead me towards the rest of the living room, everything looked oddly out of place. The couch was pushed up against the far wall, and the lounge chairs were off to the sides, leaving a large gaping space above the rug for the coffee table and a board game.

"...I remember this day," I whisper to myself.

It was the day I came back from the prison world. Hestia and Selene were drinking tea while Gaia was trying to hustle Enzo into letting her win. But they weren't here, at least not in the room. I could hear them above me, sleeping soundly as heavy boots came wandering from around the corner near the foyer.

Striding casually with a hand in his pocket and a glass of bourbon in hand, Enzo tipped his head slowly, letting the liquor run gently across his lips. I didn't see it then, but he looked sad and melancholy at the same time. He stared off at the fireplace, losing his thoughts against the surroundings. But as his eyes burned through the heat, they suddenly softened at the voice sighing behind me.

"You haven't said a word since dinner."

My voice. My breath rolled off my lips while mine were in awe at the sight of my reflection, my doppelganger, walking from the hallway behind me.

"...there's not much to say," Enzo mumbled, his eyes now glued on her.

"Oh, I doubt that. You are a man of many thoughts, yet so few words."

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Watching myself casually lead the way towards the middle of the room, standing on the opposite side of the rug where Enzo stood. They watched each other carefully, more so Enzo, as his eyes were glued on her as the rest of the glass was empty and placed on the shelf above the fireplace.

"I don't have a penny, but you do have my attention." I smiled.

Silence loomed around me, around them. Facing towar,s the middle, Enzo stood with his hands behind his back, slowly inching his way step by step until he was in the middle of the rug.

"...I don't think you're real. At least not to me."

"And why would you say that?" I asked.

"Because I was there...I heard Kai tell me what he did to you. That he...he left you behind."

"And you think it's too good to be true that I'm here?"

"...yes." He gasped.

"Well...is there any way I can prove to you that I'm real?"

Holding my breath, I watched as she stepped forward, closing in on the two feet of space between them. His eyes wandered carefully, studying her lips as she stood just inches below him, that's what it was I saw, And it wasn't just Enzo, it was her too. Her hand had lifted from her side, reaching for the rolled-up arm cuff of his button-down. With a single finger, she trailed her touch against the fabric until we were skin to skin, that's when I heard it. Enzo's shuddering breath as the rest of her fingertips joined and grazed his forearm.