blue

XXII

Melia's POV

***

I woke up in a trance. My surroundings appeared almost translucent, as if nothing was truly there. The only thing that stood out boldly and completely opaque was Ashton sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed. He, also, seemed unaware of what was going on because he didn't notice me open my eyes and stretch as if I was a cat waking up from a nap.

Although I was calm and my heart-rate was normal for the first time in days, something wasn't right. My world seemed faded. The colours weren't as bright as they usually are. They didn't make me feel anything. Ashton was directly beside me, the colours should be as clear and bright as day. But instead of being a sunny day, they reminded me of a washed out, faded, rainy day.

What was happening?

"Ashton," I called, snapping him out of his daze.

"Oh! You're awake."

I laughed. "Yeah, and I have been for about ten minutes now."

He smiled. "Sorry, love, just day dreaming again."

How can he be day dreaming when everything 's a nightmare?

She decided to be upfront about it and tell him what's wrong. He is the cure to her achromatopsia; if her colour spectrum was slowly fading and becoming duller, maybe he is, too. Maybe his spark is slowly dying. Maybe he is becoming a spark in a world of explosions.

"The colours - they're fading; almost disappearing... Are you okay, Ashton? What's going on?" I raised my voice in an attempt to seem intimidating. If something was going on, I deserved to know.

He didn't say anything, he just walked over and held me in his arms. It has been so long since we had this. Peace, quiet; love.

"There's something wrong, Melia. Our bond - it was bound to fall apart; I just didn't think it would be this soon. "

I didn't understand. Fall apart? How are we falling apart? I loved him, and he loved me. Or did he? Did he finally get what he wanted and move on?

"I understand," I said, but I truly didn't.

"What do you mean?" he asked, innocently.

"You don't love me anymore."