Light Never Dies (II)

Chapter 20 - Identity Found, Memories Lost

I awoke in the morning just like I had any other morning. But this morning was different. I couldn't tell if what had happened last night was a dream or not. Because when I awoke, I wasn't in my sleeping bag. I was in the tent, collapsed next to Lightning who had fallen asleep in my arms. I had fallen asleep in a sitting position with my back against the wall of the tent.

There was a thought that passed through my mind. I could play it off like an illusion. As if to her it was a dream. And she might even believe it. She'd wake up and ask me if I remembered anything last night and I could lie by saying I was outside all night with my mask still on. But what kind of a person would I be if I did that to her. She was in pain every night. She would start crying again and I'd have to live with the fact that I had lied to her. Eventually she'd figure it out as well. Either way, it was going to hurt in the end. So I might as well not lie to her.

She awoke slowly, opening her eyes to reveal the shine within them. She looked into mine when she awoke and had started to remember what had happened the previous night.

"Finally, I can rest easy. I don't have to worry about chasing you or never being with you again." She said.

I swallowed painfully as my throat hurt and I might've started crying if I hadn't taken a few breaths first. For the first thing I had to do was break her heart.

"Lightning, who am I to you?" I asked her. She gave me a slightly confused look before speaking once again.

"You're my..." she looked away blushing for a second.

"I'm your what?" I asked.

"Love." She said.

My brain froze. For the only love that I remembered was Noire. I had no memory of Lightning. Let alone ever having romantic feelings for her. I didn't know how to explain it to her. But I didn't completely understand myself either. If I had never known her, then why did I call her "Light"? Why had it hurt me so bad when I heard her crying softly. And why in the hell did I come in last night to comfort her?

"Light. I'm sorry." I told her.

"You don't have to be sorry. You're here now and that's all that matters. Please don't apologize." She said.

I could feel my eyes starting to sting along with my heart. As I had to break hers by uttering what to her would've been verbal poison.

"But I have to apologize." I told her.

"Why though? What have you done?" She asked.

"I don't know. I don't know what I've done." I told her.

"Quinn you're not making any sense. What are you saying?" She questioned.

"Because Light, I don't remember you at all."