Choices?
Borderline
That dream... it was oddly familiar.
I tell you, Starling, it’s a dream unlike anything I ever dreamt of—a dream that felt like... Home?
A world that felt distant yet so familiar. Under a tree on a cold evening, I found myself drenched by the rain, the drops shining on my bare skin as the red sunlight danced through them, snaking around my arms. The gushing wind sent a shiver down my spine, driving me toward what looked like an odd-looking gate. The unforgiving rain forced me past it and into an old, rustic house. At first, I was hesitant to step in... but if I stayed out any longer, I feared I would be smothered by lightning.
With water dripping off my feet, I awkwardly walked inside, leaving a trail of water and mud behind me. Then, I discovered a flight of stairs leading above. I made my way up, and that’s when I began to hear it—the sound of someone singing.
There was someone here. I followed the hum until it led me to a metal door. I pushed it open and saw a man cooking in his kitchen. His midnight hair was tied up in a bun, and his hands held a ladle, stirring the contents of a bowl that sizzled at the touch of the fire. The moment he saw me barging in, he broke his little hum.
The silence was heavy. I began to stumble over my words, “I am sorry... it was pouring outside and I assumed this building was abandoned by its looks. I’m so sorry that I broke in, I shall make my way out—”
I began to turn around, ready to vanish back into the storm, but his voice stopped me cold.
“Stay!” he called out. I paused, looking back. “There is fried potatoes and hot soup... might as well have a meal. You look tired.”
A small, surprised smile escaped my face. “Ah—thanks, but I don’t think it’s appropriate—” I stayed lingering on the edge of the staircase, caught between the cold rain and his warmth. He didn’t wait for me to decide; he made his way over, reached out for my arm, and gently pulled me in.
“Don’t act like you never visited me.”
His words perplexed me, yet the ‘I’ in this dream wasn’t surprised at all. I jumped into his arms and they wrapped around me, pulling me close. He placed a kiss on my nose as I finally found myself in his embrace.
“I missed you,” those words slipped through my lips like a secret. I held his palms firm... as if I were holding onto my last hope.
“I know,” he affirmed softly. “So did I.”
My stomach let out a low grumble. “Oh boy, someone is starving.” He tossed a towel into my hands and pushed me inside a room. “You will find some of my clothes in the closet; get changed and make your way to the dining hall.”
I patted myself dry; the wet clothes had wrinkled my skin. I opened the closet to pick a pair of clothes. My hands rumbled through the fabric, then my fingers were drawn to something soft and I pulled it out—it was a pink shirt, the scent of burnt roses lingering on it. I changed into it, pulled on a set of pants, and made my way back.
Hot food, served for two. He was eating and drew out a chair next to him. I sat and tried to eat, but my hands betrayed my hunger; for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to eat what was in front of me. He looked at me with those hazel eyes—one moment they were glimmering, the next they were black voids that devoured me. As I lost myself in his endless gaze, he took the cutlery from my hands and fed me without a moment’s gap, and before I knew it, my hunger was satisfied.
Then followed tears, for a reason I didn’t know.
He then took me to the swing outside; there it sat, nestled in the corner, dripping and drenched from the heavy rain. We sat there on that swing, his skin against mine. On that cold evening, the rain drenched us and made us cold, but it was the warmest moment with him by my side. I looked at him and his rain-drenched hair; he let out a chuckle and rested his head against mine.
Then I held his hand and asked him, “You won’t leave me again this time, will you?”
And then he simply replied, “Oh stupid boy, this is a mere dream. You will be awake already.”
And so—I was awake. I hope Raven carried this letter back to the Citadel. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you. My intuition tells me something awaits me in Ivor. We’ll meet soon, Starling. Andiamo. ~ Ciao
“Ciao” is how the people of the Summer Palace say goodbye.
It's sooo good!!!
Oh boy! It was so soothing to read.