"Where am I?"
I opened my eyes and found myself in a dark or rather black space. Everything was black, my eyes were open, but I couldn't see anything because everything was black— like I was into nothingness.
"Is anyone there?" I asked.
I have no idea where I was, and I don't know what was around me, but I was walking— I wasn't even sure that I was walking on the ground or not.
'What's happening? Is this a dream?' I wondered.
I kept walking and walking. I don't know how much time had passed or how much I had walked. It left like I was walking for years, thousands of years— just like an eternity.
I wasn't even sure whether I was moving forward or not.
I could feel how exhausted my body was. I could feel the undying thirst.
"What is… that?"
I saw the light; it was shining bright— and it was moving far, far away from me.
I tried to chase it, but it kept moving farther and farther away from me.
* * * * * * * * * *
Luka opened his eyes and found himself on the bed of his room. He was panting crazily as if he had run for hours and hours.
"My head hurts," he grunted.
'And why am I out of breath?' He got up and looked at the jug on the table.
'Maybe because of yesterday? Too many things happened yesterday.'
He filled the glass with water and chugged it down.
"I feel a little better now,"
He checked his phone, "Great! I woke up early."
Luka fixed his bed and walked out of his room, then knocked on Lily's door.
"Who is it?" Lily asked in a muffled voice.
"It's me," Luka answered.
"Luka? Come in"
He opened the door and went in, but Lily was still on her bed.
"How are you feeling?" Luka asked
"Feeling good" Her voice was a little dim.
"Are you sure?" Luka asked again.
"Hmm," Lily slightly nodded and blinked once.
Luka smiled as he patted Lily and said in a gentle voice, "Get better soon; tomorrow is my birthday."
"I will."
"Luka," she muttered
"What?"
Lily looked directly into Luka's eyes and asked, "Do you love me?"
"What are you saying?"
"Answer me," she grabbed Luka's hand and asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Yeah, silly. Of course, I love you" Luka patted Lily, then added 'As a sister', to himself.
"I love you too" Lily tried to sat up on the bed, and Luka helped her.
"Luka," she called out in a low voice.
"Hmm?"
"What do you want on your birthday?"
"Anything is fine" Luka was still gripping Lily's hand tightly.
"Then I will be your gift," she grinned
"I don't need you" Luka grinned back.
"Idiot~ You will never find a sister like me."
"I know," he said in a solemn voice.
"Luka"
"Hmm?"
"Kiss me."
"Go back to sleep."
"Luka~."
"I am not kissing you."
'This reminds me of when we were kids. She always used to annoy me by calling my name again and again for no apparent reason.'
"Lu~ka~."
"I won't kiss you no matter what you say."
"Well then, at least give me a hug."
"What?" Luka was surprised she gave up on the kiss too quickly.
"You won't?" She asked as she tilted her head.
"Fine, but only a hug, okay?"
She nodded and spread her arms.
Luka let out a chuckled as he hugged Lily and patted her back.
"I love your smell."
"Stop with the comments."
"Thanks," She sniffed, then said, "Luka."
"No need to thank me and I will give you a longer hug when you get better, okay?"
"I will remember that"
"Now, if you would me go, I could start my day."
"Okay, good night," she laid down on the bed.
"It's morning," Luka remarked as he left the room.
'Does she really not know that I am not her brother? What if she seriously wants to marry me someday?' Luka started wondering but soon gave up because he felt guilty about the possibilities.
'That will happen in the future, but for now, I want to stay as her big brother for… as long as I can.'