Clith’s chest rose and fell in the steady rhythm of deep sleep, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion that had haunted him. As he slipped further into the embrace of dreams, the world around him seemed to shift and blur, the harsh edges of reality giving way to the soft, sepia-toned memories of a life he had almost forgotten.
In his mind’s eye, he found himself standing in the kitchen of their first shared apartment, the scent of burnt toast and coffee mingling in the air. Mara stood at the counter, her brow furrowed in concentration as she attempted to salvage their breakfast.
“I swear, this toaster has it out for me,” she muttered, her lips pursed in a playful pout. “It’s like it knows I’m trying to impress you with my culinary skills.”
Clith chuckled, his heart swelling with affection as he watched her. “I’m pretty sure you could serve me charcoal, and I’d still think it was the best meal I’ve ever had,” he teased, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Mara leaned into his touch, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Careful what you wish for, mister. I might just take you up on that.”
Suddenly, Mara’s expression softened, a wistful smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She turned in Clith’s arms, her hands coming up to cup his face. “You know this is a dream, don’t you?” she murmured, her voice gentle and achingly familiar.
Clith’s breath caught in his throat, his heart clenching at the bittersweet realization. “I know,” he whispered, his eyes searching hers. “But it feels so real. I don’t want to let go.”
Mara’s thumb brushed across his cheekbone, wiping away a tear he hadn’t even realized had fallen. “Oh, my love,” she breathed, her own eyes glistening with emotion. “It’s okay to let go. You don’t have to hold onto the past forever.”
Before Clith could respond, the dream began to shift and change, Mara’s form growing hazy and indistinct. He reached for her, desperate to make the most of this moment, to keep her with him for just a little while longer. But even as his fingers grasped at empty air, he could still hear her voice, a soothing whisper that seemed to echo from everywhere and nowhere at once.
“Remember, Clith,” she murmured, her words fading into the ether. “I’ll always be with you, no matter what. But you have to...”
The rest of her sentence was lost as the dream dissolved, leaving Clith alone in the shifting landscape of his subconscious. But even as he felt himself being pulled towards another memory, another bittersweet glimpse of the life he had shared with Mara, he could still feel the warmth of her touch, the love that had sustained him through even the darkest of times.
As the dream shifted and swirled, Clith found himself transported to a different time, a different place. The scent of saltwater and the distant sound of laughter filled the air, and he felt the warm sand beneath his feet.
He opened his eyes to find himself sitting on a beach, the twin moons of Veridia casting a soft, silvery glow over the scene before him. Beside him, Mara sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, her eyes fixed on the colorful lanterns that bobbed and danced on the gentle waves.
It was the annual festival of the tides, a celebration of the rich ocean life that sustained their planet. The beach was crowded with people, their faces alight with joy and wonder as they watched the elaborate displays and performances.
But Clith only had eyes for Mara. She was radiant in the moonlight, her skin seeming to glow with an inner light that took his breath away. He reached for her hand, twining his fingers with hers and marveling at the perfect fit.
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“Do you remember this night?” Mara asked softly, her gaze still fixed on the horizon.
Clith nodded, a lump forming in his throat. “Of course,” he murmured. “It was the night you told me...”
Mara turned to him then, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “The night I told you I was pregnant,” she finished, a tremulous smile on her face. “I was so nervous, so afraid of how you might react. But you... you were so happy, Clith. You picked me up and spun me around, and I swear, I could have flown to the moons and back.”
Clith felt his own eyes burn with emotion, the memory washing over him in a wave of bittersweet nostalgia. “It was the happiest moment of my life,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “The thought of starting a family with you, of bringing a new life into the world... it was everything I never knew I wanted.”
Mara leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder as they watched the festival unfold before them. For a long moment, they sat in silence, content simply to be in each other’s presence.
“I miss this,” Mara said at last, her voice almost lost beneath the distant strains of music. “I miss the way we used to be, before...”
She trailed off, but Clith knew what she meant. Before the illness, before the long, painful decline that had stolen her away from him piece by piece.
“I know,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “But we’ll always have these memories, Mara. They’re a part of us, a part of our story. And no matter what happens, no matter how much time passes... I’ll never forget the love we shared.”
Mara lifted her head, her eyes searching his. “Promise me something, Clith,” she said, her voice suddenly urgent. “Promise me that you won’t let the past consume you. That you’ll find a way to move forward, to build a life for yourself and Selan. She needs you, my love. More than ever.”
Clith felt his throat tighten, his heart constricting with a pain that was both old and new. “I promise,” he whispered, the words feeling like a vow, a sacred oath. “I’ll try, Mara. For you, and for our daughter... I’ll try.”
As the festival reached its crescendo, the sky above them exploding in a riot of color and light, Clith held Mara close, savoring the feel of her in his arms. But even as he clung to the moment, the dream began to shift and change, the warm sand and salty air giving way to the soft, muted tones of their bedroom.
He found himself sitting on the edge of their bed, a book open in his hands. Beside him, Mara lay propped up on a mountain of pillows, her once vibrant features now pale and drawn. The illness had taken its toll, stealing the color from her cheeks and the sparkle from her eyes.
But even in her weakened state, she was still the most beautiful thing Clith had ever seen. He reached for her hand, his heart clenching at how thin and fragile it felt in his own.
“Keep reading,” Mara murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I want to hear the end of the story.”
Clith nodded, his mind racing with emotion as he turned his gaze back to the book. It was an old favorite of hers, a tale of love and loss and the enduring power of hope. He had read it to her countless times over the years, but now, with the end so near, each word seemed to take on a new weight, a new meaning.
As he read, his voice low and soothing in the quiet of the room, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Mara’s face, watching the play of emotions across her features. She looked so peaceful, so serene, as if the story had transported her to a place beyond the pain and the fear.
For a moment, Clith could almost forget the reality of their situation, could almost believe that they had all the time in the world. But then Mara’s hand would tighten on his, her breath would hitch in her throat, and the illusion would shatter, bringing him crashing back to the truth of what lay ahead.
And so he read on, pouring all of his love, all of his devotion into every word, every syllable. It was the only thing he could do, the only way he knew to show her how much she meant to him, how much he would miss her when she was gone.
As the final page turned and the story came to its bittersweet end, Clith felt the dream begin to unravel, the edges of the room blurring and fading away. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Mara’s forehead, his lips lingering on her skin as if to memorize the feeling.
“I love you,” he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. “Always and forever, Mara. No matter what happens, no matter where you are... I will always love you.”
And then the dream was gone, and Clith was falling, falling through the endless expanse of his own mind, his heart aching with the weight of all that he had lost, and all that he had yet to lose.
He dreamed, and then dreamt no more.