I didn't quite know how, but I found myself standing in a room. There was no door. Just 4 solid brick walls, leaving me estranged from outside world. There was an old radio, covered in dust of forgotten time. I paced slowly towards it. Intrigued. Curious.
Like being worked by magic, beautiful music began to fill the atmosphere of the room. I took a step back. I shook my head in disbelief. I knew the song. It was our song.
***
-Do you love me, darling?
You nodded.
-I love you too.
You arched the corner of your red lips, giving birth to a smile that made my heart melt and freeze at the same time.
You rested your head on my shoulder as our feet gave way to the intoxicating melodies. I sniffed the sweet, citrus smell of your hair. It was such a perfect moment; you, me and the Cranberries. We swayed together through the night, paying no regards to the space and time in which we existed. I gazed into your dark brown eyes.
-I can see myself in your eyes.
You giggled.
-There will forever be you in it.
I blushed and hid my face against your hair.
Suddenly the music died. The 18th-century chandelier began to dim above us. I held you even closer. In the fading lights, I realized the image of me was no longer visible in your eyes. And so were the sight of your face. I grew panicked. I wanted this moment to stay.But there was nothing I could do besides watching your silhouette slowly became one with the darkness surrounding us.
***
I was back in the room. The radio was no longer there. I looked around and around for it, like a young kitten chasing its own tail. There was none to be found. I sat heavily on the hard floor, feeling rather frustrated and annoyed until moments later when a bright, ray of light shone into my eyes.
I stood up and dragged my feet towards the source. It was a window. I peeked through the glass. My eyes feasted upon the majestic sight of vast green fields and hills that seemed never ending. The sun was about to come out. I knew right away, it was sunrise.
***
-I always love sunrises.
-Why?
-Because I know I will have another day to love you.
You looked up to me before you leaned back against my chest.
-Then you must hate sunsets. Because the day ends with it.
-Not quite. Because I know I will have another night to spend with you.
You pinched me for my wily answer.
We laughed happily together. We savoured the morning ocean breeze, the crushing sound of waves hitting the shore and the sound of palm leaves brushing against each other. Almost like a harmonious symphony of nature.But to be honest, I'd rather be in the arid, unforgiving desert with you than to be in this moment alone.
You were building a sandcastle, although your novice artistic articulation caused your sandcastle looked more like an igloo to me. The sun rose higher and higher. I fell asleep. When I woke up, you were not around. I searched frantically for you, but there was not even a single footstep of you imprinted on the white, grainy sand along the beach.
-Where are you?
***
The window was gone. I was standing facing a solid wall. I screamed your name until my throat felt sore. I punched, kicked and rammed my body against it before the pain stopped me from continuing my futile effort. I flopped and cursed angrily. I could see the bruises and cuts on my battered limbs.
I guess that was exactly how your heart is right now. Bruised. Hurt. I closed my eyes and tried to recapture our happy times together. But the haunting vision of you shedding your tears overpowered me. I opened my eyes, only to find a blue envelope resided in front of me. It was very familiar to me. It had once came across the path of our life.
***
-Happy Birthday, my love.
I offered you a maroon coloured card with writings of silver ink.
-Happy Birthday to you too, dear.
You gave me a blue envelope. It was stained with your lips mark. Your signature.
You took a moment of silence and read the birthday card that I made for you.
"For the girl that I shared my birth, life, and death with,".
I heard your voice trembled. You stopped and looked deep into my eyes. I saw your teary eyes.
-Please don't cry. It's our birthday.
You inhaled few deep breaths and gained your composure once more.
-Aren't you going to see what's inside the white envelope?
I grinned and slowly opened the envelope. There was no birthday card to be found. Only a photo. Our photo that we took on our very first date years ago, also happened on our birthday. There were small writings engraved behind the photo.
"There is no birthday gift greater than to have you in my life"
I hugged you and kept the photo inside the envelope. You also placed the maroon birthday card along with it.
-Shall we get the cake now?
***
I reached for the blue envelope. I opened it slowly, not to damage the invaluable treasure inside it. I took out the maroon card. It was empty. No words whatsoever. I was left clueless. My shaky hands pulled out another treasure from the envelope; the photo. It was our photo. But there was only me left in it. You had vanished out of trace.
I sat alone, waiting for another flash of our memory.