Chapter 69

Nathaniel

In the haze of my mind, I find myself in a dreamscape that feels achingly familiar yet just out of reach. The sky above is a soft blue, with cotton clouds drifting lazily. A warm breeze tugs at the edges of my awareness, carrying with it the scent of flowers and something sweeter, like vanilla. I see a figure standing a distance away, her red hair dancing in the wind like flames against the clear sky. She laughs—a sound that echoes with joy and lightness, wrapping around me like a warm embrace. My heart swells with an indescribable emotion, something pure and tender. I know, somehow, that I love her deeply, fiercely.

A small child runs up to her, giggling, tiny feet pattering against the ground. The child’s laughter is like music, infectious and bright. I can't see the child's face, but I feel an overwhelming urge to reach them, to be with them. They are my world, my everything. The woman turns, her hair catching the sunlight, and she smiles down at the child. Her smile...it