Mist swirled in the breeze, spreading out as fog that blanketed the trail. The sun, dim from winter's spell, let a diffused glow in the canvas white sky. A detail that was duly noted by a little girl staring at the scene in abject wonder. In childish curiosity, she turned from the sight and rushed back down the path towards hazy figures that were always behind her.

"Stopping running, Vio. This isn't a safe place to be doing that." a warm voice rang out softly, despite the stern tone.

"Listen to your mother. You don't wanna fall and get hurt, do you?" a relaxed voice chucked, with slight amusement at the little girl's jubilant mood.

"No, no. I don't wanna get hurt but there is too much to look at!" Vio cried out excitedly. "I just saw a kitty! A kitty! It ran into that bush over there and when I went after it, it just disappeared!"

The couple smiled at the girl listing out everything she found new and fascinating, their hearts full of warmth. Looking at her filled with joy, their sacrifices seemed worth it. They had finally accomplished what they set out for. Life couldn't be more perfect for them.

"Daddy, can I ask you something? Promise me you won't laugh." Vio spoke shyly after her tirade.

"Sure little one. I would never laugh at anything you do." the man spoke seriously, causing the girl to stare at him suspiciously.

"Daddy, I have always wanted to ask: why is the sun always coming closer?" She spoke with curiosity.

"Don't be foolish dear. The sun doesn't move." the mother spoke, a helpless expression on her face.

"Yeah, the sun has never moved since the dawn of mankind." the father laughed, breaking his promise as soon as he made it.

"Then what's that?" Vio pointed to the sky, causing her parents to inadvertently look up just in time to see a white flash blind all.

|=====================|

The whir of a fan sent a gust through the room, generating ripples in all things fabric. A man sat on a couch, leaning back with his eyes closed while a sleeping cat lay on his lap, his hand stroking its soft fur. Gentle rays of the sun shone through the gap in the curtain, landing on the man's face and highlighting the traces of age on his visage. The scene radiated calm and serenity.

Like a forgettable dream, soft sounds spread in the hallway behind the room. The sounds seemed so unintrusive, that they almost seemed to be that way on purpose. Sounding like fabric rubbing on marble, they slowly shifted from one end of the hallway to the other with slight delays in between. Despite all this, the man seemed to stir, almost as if coming out of a nap. Immediately the sounds stopped. All that could be heard was the spinning of the fan and the rustling of the curtains.

Imperceptively, the sounds began, somehow even more subdued than before.

"Hah...stop right there..." a tired voice rang out.

Silence. Nobody responded.

"Stop pretending or else, I will ground you for real this time!" the tired voice spoke out louder.

" ...Uh...hello?"

The man sat up slowly on his couch and turned around. His eyes fell on a young woman standing on tiptoes, holding out heels and overall seemingly dressed for some occasion. She seemed frozen in that position, like a deer caught in headlights that were her father's eyes.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Hello to you as well. Quite a pleasant afternoon, is it not? Perfect for an outing. Wouldn't you agree, Viora?" his voice spoke out, with barely concealed irritation.

"Yes! Yes. I agree. That is why I am...am heading out!" Viora replied, her voice stammering in nervousness.

"Hmm, I can see that. Would you mind telling this worried old man, where you might be heading?" her father questioned, the tone taking no nonsense

"..."

"Hah...please, Viora?" her father spoke out again.

"I am going to meet my friends. We going to have some lunch and just hang out for a bit." Viora acquiesced, her voice tainted with reluctance.

"...good...good, I am glad. Now if I may ask...which friends?" he asked sternly

"...The ones from before?" She replied after some silence.

"Them?...for goodness sake...not those 'friends' again." her father started speaking louder.

"Give them another chance! It was a mistake!" Viora suddenly cried out.

"Mistake? It was no mistake! I told you to stay away from them!" he shouted out.

"You don't understand, they...what's happening? Why is the room...getting brighter?" Viora said, confused.

The room was getting brighter. The rays of light from the window seemed somehow sharper, penetrating even the curtains.

"What!" her father shouted, seemingly confused as well.

Just when Viora was about to speak, in a matter of moments a white flash overtook everything.

|=====================|

A strong breeze rushed through a lush, green tree, tearing off an unfortunate leaf to bring along for the ride. The leaf, now on a whole new journey, traveled along the wind to a place far off. It went through the sparse forest and emerged into an imposing city. Surrounded by enormous walls, it barred entry to all intruders. Of course, the wind cared not for the rules of man and brought the leaf along with it, over the walls. With a sudden gust, it blew the leaf through the streets as if on a mission until a grand hall emerged in front. Turning gentle, the wind brought the leaf through a window and placed it beside a flower resting on top of something. This somehow seemed to complement the flower and complete it. Nobody noticed the change, apart from a focused middle-aged man.

"Look there, Thea, look at that leaf. Even nature blesses this day." the man pointed out to the woman beside him.

"That...that is...she seems even more beautiful, Barry..." Thea gasped, her hands covering her mouth.

"Of course, that is our daughter. She deserves nothing but the best." Barry beamed in pride, looking at the beautiful young woman standing on the stage.

Pure white, the dress sparkled in the spring sun. Long and silky, every movement seemed to make the cloth dance entrancing all those witnessing the sight. A lone red rose rested on top of the shawl, with a now inconspicuous leaf beside it. The colors contrasted with the woman's flowing brown hair, accentuating her beauty. A rare view.

"Look at her, Barry. Look at our girl. She is finally growing up." Thea murmured amidst tears of joy.

"She will always be a child in my eyes Thea." Barry spoke in response.

"Hmph, you are just grumpy she wouldn't be around to call you daddy, aren't you?" his wife remarked.

"Ah, that was quite hurtful of you...by the way, where is that boy?" Barry asked.

"Don't call him boy! $%&#@ has a name, you know? Just accept it, he is the one Viora loves" Thea barked while pinching him tightly.

Barry didn't notice that though, rather he was confused as to why she couldn't say their daughter's husband-to-be's name correctly. While he pondered over that, he saw his daughter waving at him, to which he reciprocated. While he did that, he seemed to notice something strange. The light falling from the skylight seemed to be brighter. Brighter than the midday sun. And...it didn't stop getting brighter.

"Barry? Is it me, or does the light seem sharper?" Thea asked with uncertainty.

Before Barry could respond, all went white.

|=====================|

Light struck sharply on a man's face, causing his eyelids to tighten. He than began to get pushed by someone small.

"...wake...wake up, daddy, wake up!" a soft, childish voice continuously shouted.

With a struggle, Barry forcefully opened his eyes and tiredly sat up. He turned to look at the shouting perpetrator, a small girl with smudges of dirt on her face and a face full of reproach. With muted sorrow, Barry then closed his eyes and sighed.

"That dream again..." he spoke softly, so the girl couldn't hear. He didn't want to worry her further.

The Collapse was already too much...