Leira's eyes jolted open, quick and sudden, its was so bright, then she jumped to a sitting position, her eyes then began to scan her environment. There was soft sunlight spilling through thin white curtains, she was sitting on a bed with smooth and soft sheets, warm from sleep. For a moment, she didn't move, only her eyes did, the air felt calm, too calm. Her body didn't ache, her back or belly didn't burn, the water, the mist, the echo, everything was gone.
Slowly, she began turning her head to the side, a man was lying beside her, with his back facing her, his breathing was deep and steady as he was fast asleep.
She frowned with uncertainty as a small voice in her head whispered "Kael?"she slowly stepped out of bed, the floor under her feet was warm, she walked to the other side of the bed, hesitating before she leaned forward to see his face.
She gasped, eyes widened… it really was Kael. He looked so peaceful, as if the outside world had never existed. Leira scanned the room some more, the walls were pale, sunlight was pouring through the window, picture frames all around. She turned to the mirror near the closet, and she saw herself for the first time. She was dressed in a silk nightgown, her hair was free over her shoulders, and her reflection was calm but confused.
She slowly touched her face, there were no cuts, no bruises, no signs that she had been fighting battles.
While she was staring at the mirror, Kael slowly began stirring, his voice was soft and rough from sleep.
"Good morning, baby."
Leira froze.
She slowly turned around. "What… what did you just say?"
Kael sat up, he rubbed his eyes, smiling lightly.
"I said good morning babe. Are you okay?"
Her throat got tight. "Umm… where are we?"
He blinked. "What do you mean? We're in our bedroom… in our home…"
"Home?" She repeated, her voice rising without even realizing it. "Kael, what's going on?"
He titled his head as he gradually began getting concerned. "Baby, are you feeling alright?"
"I… I don't understand what's going on here," she whispered. "I… I mean we were on the boat, you were rowing, there was mist and…"
Kael gently reached out and brushed her arm, trying to comfort her.
"Sweetheart, I think maybe you had a nightmare or something. It's okay, I think you just need to rest, okay? I'll get the kids ready for school."
Leira blinked. "I'm sorry… did you say… kids?"
"Uh… yeah"
"Whose kids?" She asked, her voice trembled.
He laughed lightly. "Last time I checked, they were ours."
"Kael, what are you talking about?"
He gave her a puzzled look, and then stood. "Okay, you know what, we'll talk after I get them ready, the bus is gonna be here soon."
Before she could say another word, he left the room.
Leira stood there for a long moment, she could hear her heartbeat loud in her ears. She slowly walked toward the dresser, he eyes began scanning the walls; pictures of her and Kael at a wedding, laughing under flower petals. Another picture of her in a hospital bed, cradling a baby in her arms. Another one with another newborn and a little boy that looked less than two years old. Her hands trembled.
This isn't real.
But everything looked too perfect, too organized.
After some time, Kael came back. "Kids are off to school," he said, walking toward her and then standing. "Now, tell me what's going on?"
He guided her to the bed so they could sit and talk. She looked at him, as if she was searching his face. "We were on the water," she said. "You were there, and I was… stabbed." She remembered.
Kael frowned. "Leira, we haven't been to the lake house in years. What are you talking about?"
"I'm serious!" She said very sharply. "I was stabbed on the boat… I felt it!"
His voice softened. "Babe, I think you need to rest, you may be getting sick or something. How about you stay in bed while I make you breakfast, sound good?
He stood and walked out before she could protest.
Leira sat there, hands gripping her knees. Rest? How could she rest when everything felt wrong?
Still, when Kael came back with breakfast; eggs, toast, orange juice. She didn't stop him. They talked quietly while she ate. He told her about work, about a new client, about how the kids had been asking for a pet, she listened, her mind was torn between confusion and disbelief.
But the more he talked, the more his voice sounded… right. The warmth, the way he smiled, it felt perfect.
For a moment, she let herself believe it, convinced herself that this was okay to have.
Hours passed before they realized it was time to pick up the kids. Kael smiled, asking if she wanted to come along. Initially, she hesitated, but then she nodded.
She stood up and walked into the a shower.
The steam filled the bathroom, causing the mirror to fog. When she looked up at the mirror, she froze.
Someone was there.
Cassian.
His face flickered faintly behind her reflection, just for a second, his eyes were dark, his expression was unreadable, and then… just like that… it was gone.
Leira gasped, spinning around but there was no one behind her, the bathroom was empty.
She stood there, her heart was racing. "What was that…" she whispered. When she looked again, and the mirror showed only her own face. She took a deep breath and tried to wave it off. "It's fine, it's just in my head… I'm fine."
She finished her shower, got dressed, and then they drove together to pick up the kids.
The drive felt so strange, the streets were quiet, the trees danced as soft summer breeze calmly blew through them, Kael was humming softly to a song that was playing on the radio, everything just felt… peaceful.
At the school gate, two children came running out, it was a boy and a girl. "Mommy!" they shouted.
Leira froze.
The boy wrapped his arms around her legs, the girl put both her hands up, signalling that she wanted Leira to pick her up, and Leira did. They laughed so much and so loud. She slowly bent down, almost against her will, and hugged the little boy as well. It felt so real.
She blinked hard, swallowing the tightness in her throat.
They went for ice cream afterward, shop smelled like vanilla and chocolate. Kael sat at a table with the kids, laughing as they made a mess with their cones. Leira smiled faintly and went up to order. The man behind the counter turned around… and for a split second, it was Cassian again. Same dark eyes, same faint smirk.
She blinked hard and he was gone.
Her hands shook as she took the ice creams. When she sat back down, Kael was telling the kids about a funny story from work, Leira smiled when they looked at her, but inside, she felt something was wrong, but she chose to bury it, deep down. She didn't want to let go of this… this very moment, she didn't want it to end.
Later than night, after dinner, they were sitting around the table. Kael was talking again, his voice so soft and playful, this was such a different version of him, no weight on his shoulders, no sign of past pain in his eyes, he was truly happy. Leira stared at him for a while, but then her mind began to wander.
Then she saw it. There was someone standing behind Kael.
Tall…Still.
Cassian.
She gasped and stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor, let out a loud noise. Kael and the kids looked up at her, they were startled.
"Mom?" her son said. "What is it?"
Leira's heart pounded, she blinked and Cassian was gone once again. She forced a small smile. "Nothing," she whispered. "I'm fine." She turned quickly and walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She could barely catch her breath, she began pacing back and forth, whispering to herself. "This isn't right. We were in a boat… there was mist… and then… something stabbed me…"
She stopped. Her hand slowly moved to the left side of her stomach, she walked to the bathroom and faced the mirror, her reflection looked more pale than before, she lifted her shirt, and stared at the skin where she'd been stabbed. The wound wasn't there but black veins spread from that spot, they were faint but they were visible, and they crawled up her side and toward her chest. Her fingers trembled as she traced the pulsing, dark lines.
She stared at her reflection, and then horror spreading through her chest as the realization hit her.
Her voice came out in a whisper. "I'm dying."
The light in the bathroom flickered…