Obsessive Daydreams & Beautiful Nightmares

Alone

He stood several feet from her, staring at her black cladded back. He crept slowly towards the form, thinking he would surprize her. He opened his mouth to exclaim his presence.

"You've been gone for so long. I thought you weren't coming back." The sweet soft voice he knew so well hadn't come out of his mouth.

He furrowed at her words, "You know I would never leave you. I know I was gone for a while but..."

"Let's go," she barked as she jumped off the tree stump, forcing her legs forward.

He ran up beside her and matched her strides. She was his eyes, leading him wherever. She knew the place far better than he did and he was willing to follow her anywhere so long as he was promised her company.

They stopped in front of a small sparkling pool. Dark red glittered where the dim light grazed the thick black substance. It was sheltered by the long and twisted branches of the surrounding trees decorated with thousands upon thousands of agonized faces molded onto the bark.

He watched her walk towards the pool's edge. She didn't remove her cloak as she stepped into the dark liquid.

"What is that?"

"It's from the cries of the newborns, the ones that have recently joined this world. Their pain and agony fills this pool." She looked at him over her shoulder, nothing but a dark shadow sitting where her face should be. "Won't you come join me?"

She only had to ask and he was there beside her. He would never hesitate to grant her wishes.

"Are those them? The faces on the trees?"

"Yes. The newborns are now maturing and taking their place amongst the trees. They help form the forest; they help keep it alive," she reached her slender, silky hand out to him, "they help keep us together."

He took the offering, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. They both looked out over the smooth surface before them.

"Do you still think I'm perfect?"

The question caught him off guard, but he answered it with all sincerity, "Yes I do."

"Do you still love me?"

He looked at her now. She wouldn't meet his gaze. "I will always love you. Don't doubt..."

"Then what about her. You think about her all the time. You're even starting to day-dream about her. I feel myself fading away when you do." There was a blend of anger and hurt in her words.

"Esther doesn't mean anything. She's a nice girl, we get along. I feel... I feel like she gets me."

She turned to him. Her voice was entrancing, "She doesn't get you. You just think that she does because that's what you want. You want someone from the outside to understand you, but they won't. I am the only one that gets you and I am the only one that cares."

"I-I just..."

Her hand cupped his cheek, "I know, but this is all there is. This is all you need. Don't go out there in search for something more because all you will discover is disappointment. You know there's nothing for you out there, you know that. And you know that she is just going to end up hurting you."

He wished he could kiss her, but even in this place her face was nothing more than a shadow.

"I know."