Zaterran's Lotus

Chapter Five

Love wins all wars, they say.

And yet here we are.

Nighttime in Tajan was either a blessing, or a curse. Sometimes the wind would be nice and cold, or it would be warm and accompanied with a storm.

It was a blessing this night, luckily. The two lovers were walking around the dimly lit forest hand-in-hand.

"You know, I wish we'd get cold rain."

Leixia chuckled, noticing slight raindrops.

"The air is cool tonight, Leixia. Maybe your wish will come true."

Syzoth responded, giving her a slight nudge.

"If that's the case, I wish we'd get married tomorrow."

Leixia teased, nudging Syzoth back.

"Who knows, Leixia? Maybe the Gods have that in their cards."

Syzoth deliberately kept it ambiguous, he knew how to keep her on her toes.

He already had a ring from their 1 year anniversary a week ago... maybe tomorrow was the right time to propose.

Leixia has shared her wish already, he'd grant it ASAP.

Syzoth just needs to keep it sneaky and quiet tomorrow, he'd make it a real surprise.

"You tease."

Leixia chuckled, shaking her head.

"I don't care if you don't propose tomorrow, I just want to love you."

She said, twirling him around.

"Just let me love you, and I'll be content."

She said, giggling at him

"You're always so..."

Syzoth... ran out of words to describe her with, let's just say that.

"You've probably said every compliment in the book by now, Syzoth."

Leixia teased, pinching his cheeks.

"When I learn more words, I'll compliment you a lot more."

She chuckled, letting out a sigh.

"I'm afraid it's my curfew, Syzoth. I hope to see you again tomorrow!"

She said, giving him a good night kiss.

"Same place as usual?"

Syzoth asked.

"Same place as usual."

Leixia answered, walking off into the night.

When Syzoth went to bed, he was so giddy. He was finally going to propose to the woman he loved.

He woke up early, fixed his hair, got his clothes together, and finally took the ring.

When he got to their usual spot, there was... nothing.

"Leixia?"

He called out, feeling slight nervousness.

"Are you hiding, my love?"

He gulped, hoping that she was just joking around...

"Leixia, it's not funny. I'm worried."

He sighed, his breathing getting quicker.

"Please..."

He begged, yet there was no answer.

Minutes turned into days, days into months, months into years.

He was soon woken up by another woman... a woman that wasn't Leixia.

"Are you alright, Syzoth? You'll wake the baby."

In the months since Leixia's disappearance, he'd met another woman, married her, and had a son with her.

He... only thought of her as a replacement. He loved her, he really did, but not as much as he did Leixia.

"It's... nothing."

Syzoth replied, looking off into the night sky.

"Just another nightmare."

He added, leaning back in bed.

"You've been having way too many nightmares lately. Are you okay?"

His wife asked, caressing his back.

Syzoth abruptly removed her hand, placing it on their pillow.

"I'm fine."

He said, his tone growing a bit nore... hostile.

He waited until his wife was asleep, walking outside to be alone with his thoughts.

"Leixia... why did you leave me all these years ago? I still think about you, I still miss you, I still love you."

He sighed, sobbing silently into his hand as he thought about the one that got away.

He cried and cried, his heart yearned for Leixia; but he couldn't hurt his wife either.

They had a son together, by the Gods' sake!

But now, all he could do was just... cry.

He recalled all their memories. Their first kiss, the first time they held hands, those times whenever Leixia made him feel loved...

He was hurting, but he had to be there for his family. Even if it wasn't the family he wanted.

He loved his wife, she just wasn't the first option.

It would, and always be Leixia. How he missed her dearly.