Hiraeth

C H A P T E R E I G H T

It was a great day, the fulgent sun peeked from behind the clouds. I was listening to someone humming. It was a nostalgic song, somehow, it brought me back fragments of memories again.

 The tune of the song was really familiar, as if I used to sing this song everyday. I opened my eyes. I noticed I was holding a Polaroid camera, and I was lying down on the lap of a guy. Who is he?

I was smiling? Smiling at him. This person whom I am laying down beside me brings me happiness. I don't feel anything that is near sadness. I couldn't see his face, everything was blurry somehow. The sun beams behind him were making it difficult to make out who he is. But he was wearing a black beanie, and I am happy to be with him. He continued singing, I saw his lips tug to a smile as he caressed my hair. I suddenly started singing along to him.

I realized I wasn't really in control of my body and I was just watching these play before my eyes. My hand raised, bringing the camera up my face and took a picture of him. I heard his chuckle and a thought came up, suddenly saying "I love his laugh." I felt happier at the moment. "Stop that." He said between his chuckles as I took the printed polaroid out of the camera, waving it around for it to dry. "You looked perfect, though." I chuckled back and raised my head to kiss him on the nose.

Who is he? Whoever this person is, I wonder where he is right now. I would want to know him and my memories I have with him.

And then suddenly, things started to glitch. As if, it was a game encountering a virus. An image of the guy appeared, but he was wearing an oxygen mask. I was crying while holding his hand. He wanted to tell me something. He slowly removed his oxygen mask with his weak hands and whispered, "Don't remember me."

Then I heard the flat line, I was screaming, crying at him.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"Nooo!" I jolted up, screaming. I was having a cold sweat and I was trembling. I saw Flynn and Nixon beside my bed, holding both my shoulders tightly.

"What happened, Tori?!" Flynn exclaimed, scared of what was happening. Nixon stared at me, almost teary eyed. I knew he was panicking, he was having a hard time taking in everything that was happening and was worried sick about me.

Rey barged in the room with his phone held up to his ear. He looked at me with a relieved expression as he placed his phone down, canceling the call.

"I... I-I'm sorry." I said softly, tears staining my eyes.

I made a mess again. I made them worried again.
"Don't say sorry, you dimwit. What happened?!" Flynn said, now holding both my shoulders to make me look at him.

"I dreamt about him, Flynn. The same guy I kept blabbering about ever since I got out of my coma." Wiping my tears with my palms, Flynn placed my messy hair behind my ear. Rey yawned as he sat down beside Flynn while Nixon rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he sat beside Rey.

"Tell me." He answered shortly. I nodded and hugged my knees, the memories of my dream slowly playing back to my head, all of it still crystal clear. I turned to look at the clock that just struck three in the morning.

"He was dying." I said. I wiped the tear that ran down my face. Even though my dream was about a person I didn't know, the way he died left an excruciating pain in my heart. It was too painful for me, yet I don't even know what kind of relationship I actually have with that stranger.

 I lifted my head to see Flynn's reaction, only to see his eyes wide open.

"What is it?" I asked. Flynn cleared his throat and looked away. He shook his head no. I continued the story as tears suddenly started streaming down my face.