beyond the veil

chapter 31

Neon's tears flowed freely as she embraced her brother Rowan tightly, seeking solace in his comforting presence. His gentle voice offered her a sense of reassurance amid her turmoil.

"My little one, what is wrong? Why are you crying?" Rowan's concern was evident as he held her close, his arms providing a sense of security.

Neon sniffled, trying to compose herself enough to speak. "Because I can't help you or Dorian. I feel like a failure," she admitted, her voice choked with emotion.

Rowan's expression softened, and he gently wiped away her tears. "Don't say that, my dear. You are not a failure. Just your presence here brightens my day," he said, his words filled with warmth and affection.

Neon managed a weak smile, grateful for her brother's comforting words. She reached out to touch his face, noting the changes she observed. "You've lost weight, brother," she remarked, concern evident in her voice.

Rowan smiled sadly, acknowledging her observation. "It's been a difficult time for all of us," he admitted, his gaze reflecting the weight of their shared burdens. "But having you here brings me comfort, my dear sister."

Neon approached Rowan, her heart heavy with concern as she witnessed him still working late into the night, much like Dorian. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch meant to offer both comfort and encouragement.

"Brother, please rest. You'll only make yourself sick if you keep pushing yourself like this," she pleaded softly, her voice filled with genuine worry.

Rowan looked up at her, exhaustion evident in his eyes, but he was reluctant to heed her advice. "I can't rest, Neon. There's too much to do," he replied wearily, his voice strained from the long hours he had spent working.

Undeterred, Neon summoned her healing magic, channeling it to soothe Rowan's tension and ease his weariness. She watched as his tense muscles relaxed under her touch, the effects of her healing akin to anesthesia lulling him into a peaceful slumber.

Once Rowan had succumbed to sleep, Neon settled into a chair beside his bed, her gaze fixed on his peaceful form. A sense of relief washed over her as she realized he was finally resting, even if only for a few hours. "Sleep well, brother," she whispered softly into the quiet of the night, her words a silent prayer for his well-being.

....
As neon wokeup,

Neon's heart raced as she awakened in her familiar surroundings, her old apartment enveloping her like a forgotten memory. Disoriented and confused, she scanned her surroundings, her mind struggling to comprehend the sudden shift.

"It can't be..." she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with disbelief. Everything appeared unchanged, as if she had never left. The events of the other world felt like a distant dream, fading into the recesses of her mind.

As reality set in, a wave of exhaustion washed over Neon, leaving her feeling drained and overwhelmed. She couldn't shake the feeling of loss and longing for the life she had left behind, for Dorian, Rowan, and the love she had found.

With a heavy heart, she whispered into the silence of her empty apartment, "It was all real... wasn't it?" The words hung in the air,
unanswered, as Neon grappled with the uncertainty of her newfound reality.

As Neon sat in her quiet apartment, the weight of her newfound realization pressed heavily upon her. Memories of Dorian's embrace, Rowan's warmth, and Skye's innocent laughter flooded her mind, contrasting sharply with the solitude of her present surroundings.

"I never knew what it felt like..." Neon murmured softly to herself, her voice tinged with a mixture of longing and regret. "To be loved, to be cherished... I didn't realize how much I craved it until I found it, only to have it taken away."

Her heart ached with the bittersweet remembrance of the affection she had experienced in the other world, a stark contrast to the loneliness that had defined her existence before. Yet, as she reflected on her return to this familiar but empty life, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss for the love she had left behind.

"I thought I could go back to the way things were..." Neon whispered, her words trailing off into the silence of the room. "But now I know... what I truly long for, what I truly deserve, it wasn't here all along."

In the solitude of her apartment, Neon grappled with the realization that she had tasted love, only to have it slip through her fingers. And as she contemplated her next steps, she knew that she could never truly return to the person she once was.

Neon took a few days off work she didn't leave her home didn't answer any call she spent all her time painting,With each stroke of her brush, Neon poured her heartache onto the canvas, the image of Dorian's smiling face a bittersweet reminder of the love she had found and lost.

"Why?" she sobbed, tears mixing with the vibrant colors on the canvas. "Why must I feel this pain again? Why must I live alone?"

The memories of her time in the other world haunted her, the warmth of Dorian's embrace and the joy of being loved now replaced by an empty ache in her heart.

"I can't bear to forget," she whispered to herself, her voice choked with emotion. "But how can I go on living with this pain?"

As she continued to paint, Neon grappled with the torment of her conflicting emotions, longing for the love she had known yet resigned to the loneliness that now enveloped her in her old world.

Lilly approached Neon slowly, taking in the chaotic scene of her apartment. Paint brushes scattered across the floor, canvases adorned with vibrant colors, and in the center, a series of paintings depicting a single man.

"Neon, what happened here?" Lilly's voice was filled with concern as she gently touched Neon's shoulder.

Neon remained silent, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She couldn't find the words to explain the turmoil that had consumed her in just a few days.

Lilly's gaze shifted to the paintings, her heart sinking as she realized the source of Neon's distress. "Who is he?" she asked softly, gesturing to the man depicted in each canvas.

Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Neon buried her face in Lilly's embrace, her sobs echoing through the room. Lilly held her friend tightly, offering silent comfort as Neon mourned the love she had lost.

With each passing moment, Lilly's heart ached for Neon, wishing she could ease her pain. But sometimes, all one could do was be there for a friend in their darkest hour.