Beyond The Darkness

On this night where the sky is filled with the faraway stars and fireflies dance whimsically, I walk unknowingly beside you.

I am forever gone, forever invisible to you. Yet I am always with you. Nostalgia is my constant companion, as I remember the days of us together in the daylight, laughing. We were young and innocent, because darkness would never come. I truly loved this place, the warmth and beauty of nature. It's ever growing trees, protecting us from harm; they stood before us like intimidating fathers, strict and scared that someday we would get hurt. When we ran through our familiar labyrinth, boots brushed long grass, it whispered "Welcome back!". Even in our teens, we both believed in the sheer magic of this place.

It was winter when my time suddenly came. The trees naked and shaken, the grass muddied and silent, a fog lingering in the air, and in your heart. Yes, I watched you, as you grieved. In the darkest days you refused to leave your bed; preferring the numbness of sleep, the pain of hunger. The only light you would accept was Romeo's artificial light, and even then you strained your eyes, at natural light you screamed and howled. "But I am here!" I called, even though he never heard me. Helplessly I hovered over him, praying that someone would save him. "Forget me!" I cried one day, "If you forget me, you will smile again. Forget me and you will be happy." He must have heard, for the next day he left his room and went to school.

I followed him as he went back to his normal life. He stayed in lessons without causing any problems, he chatted to our friends without shouting at them. I was completely forgotten it seemed, He had moved on. I should be happy, because this is what I wanted. Stupidly, I went to a private place where I cried alone. Idiot, you are alone, no matter were you are. "If only I had lived"I thought as I cursed my fate.

Tonight he has a date. He struggles when deciding what to wear, should he go casual or formal? He goes half and half, wearing jeans but a shirt. When he tried to smoothen his hair, I imagined my living self ruffling it, saying "Why bother? It's always a mess". These days I don't bother saying anything to him, all I do is walk beside him. An expressionless, useless spirit, with no reason. Ah, when will I be relieved of this pain? When will I be allowed to move on as he has? I am nothing more than a shadow as he walks out of his house, along the neighbourhood, and into the forest. I look at him in surprise, he hasn't come here since I was here.

Nothing has changed here, The beautiful summer night is breathtaking. Everything I've been denying pours into me, filling me up. I look back at him and see he feels the same. He remembers it all. All the happiness and sadness. He remembers me. I laugh out loud, and dance around the forest in ecstasy, "He remembers me!" I shout and sing. He laughs.

Then someone shouts from the distance "Hello? Are you there?" and he responds. As he walks to her I am by his side. I look at the stars, the fireflies, his face and know it is time for my to go.
"Goodbye" I say, as we both leave darkness behind.