Beautiful

Chapter 10

Dan's POV:

"Inconsiderate."

"What a bonehead."

"You really thought you could leave so easily?"

"Please...Phil...I can't take much more of this.

"Are you really that weak? I'm only saying what you should hear."

"Hello? Dan? If you can hear me, don't listen to me. Not me, the other me. Is he preventing you from me? Don't let him! Ok?!"

I could tell the voice was cracking this time. "You're fun, cool, special...the best friend I've ever met. I want you in my life. I crave you. Your eyes lead to another galaxy, and your dimples are the cutest things I've ever seen. You may not be in love with me, and that's ok. I just want to be with you until I die. Come home. Come home to me. I'll do anything."

"Psh. Such lies."

"THAT IS IT! I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!" I yelled at the Phil in front of me. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?"

"What? I'm stronger than you! Bring it! Fight me! FIGHT ME-oof!"

He stood there, stunned, as I hugged him tight.

"I've finally realized," I explained. "Fighting and believing your false words won't get me out of here. Compassion will." My eyes drifted upwards. "The Phil I love will." I released him. "You don't really want to do this, do you? Even if you do, there's no point now. I don't feel an obligation to believe you anymore. Go ahead. Slander me. Throw me down. It won't bother me anymore. My doubt is gone."

Suddenly, the room changed from black to blue, Phil's favorite color. Clouds formed in the sky as blue jays flew by, wind blowing across our fringes. Blue flax flowers emerged all around us. I smiled with satisfaction, taking in the scenery, but the most unexpected part of it all was when Phil placed his hands on my cheeks and kissed me. Now that I believed in myself, the Phil I'd seen first that had disintegrated in my nightmare was back. The other had disappeared.

"I knew you'd figure it out," he said.

"I love you, Phil Lester."

"I know. That's why you need to leave and find the me out there."

"Yet, this place is so beautiful, and I have you here with me. Can we stay for a little while?" I asked as I held his hand.

"What about Felix's party?"

"He'll be fine."

"Phil's worried about you. You should go."

"Please?"

"...Only for a little while."

"Let's look at the clouds."

We laid in the flowers together, our heads touching, continuing to hold hands. I wanted this to last forever.

"That one looks like a llama!" he pointed.

"Look Phil, a lion! Hold on. If this is a dream, maybe I can..."

"Wow Dan, it's gorgeous."

I made the clouds morph together into an image of us smiling ear to ear with our eyes closed and our heads down, and we were holding one another. I felt a touch on the side of my hair. Not in a way that made me feel like my physical body was feeling it, but I myself felt the touch. Phil had placed a blue flax in my ear.

"Precious," he said.

I placed one on him. "Stunner."

"Magnificent."

"Bright," I said softly.

"Supportive," he replied in the same tone.

"Creative."

"Unique."

This kept going for awhile. I didn't stop it because it felt good to hear Phil say supportive adjectives in this nightmare for a change. It was starting to feel more like a dream now though.

"Wonderful."

"Boyfriend."

I blushed then chuckled. "Haha, I wish, but unfortunately that's not the case."

"Well, Phil from outside said he was in love with you. If you leave, we can become a reality. All the dreams you've had of us, including this, can come true."

"You're right. I should get going."

"I'll see you again."

I turned and faced a door that showed a glowing light on the other side. My last words to him were

"I know you will."

I proceeded out and awoke with a start next to the man that meant the world to me.