"Mmm...?"
Saber stirred awake, the gentle sunlight filtering through the cabin's dusty windows, casting warm patterns on the wooden floor. He blinked a few times and yawned. As he stretched, he felt the empty space beside him.
He scanned the cabin, his heart beginning to race as he called out, "Hey! Are you still here...?"
However, no one answered.
He got out of bed and opened the door. The morning air was cool, but he felt uneasy. He stepped onto the porch, scanning the woods for any sign of her.
"Where could she be?" he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible. Panic began to tighten its grip as he descended the porch steps, scanning the area for any sign of her.
He called her name again, louder this time, his voice echoing in the quiet woods. "Sasha! Where are you?" But only the rustle of leaves in the breeze responded.
As time passed, the cabin felt heavier, filled with silence. He thought of their last moments together—the fun and happy talks. Now, it all felt distant, like a dream fading under the weight of reality.
Determined, Saber decided to go into the woods. He knew he had to find her. Something was not right; she wouldn't just leave... without telling him anything.
As Saber ran deeper into the woods, he looked around, trying to use his ability to find her, but it was useless. It felt like she had vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.
Finally, he reached a clearing and stopped suddenly when he noticed something ahead.
The fog from the day before seemed to have swallowed a large area and was slowly moving toward the cabin.
"No..." he whispered.
Panic shot through Saber as his heart raced. He held his chest tightly, fighting the overwhelming feelings that threatened to consume him when—
...
'𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵...'
...
Out of nowhere, he heard a faint whisper in his ear. The soft voice pulled his attention, calming him just enough to keep going.
Taking a deep breath, Saber turned around and took off.
There was still one place he hadn't check.
It was at the park.
...
..
.
After a few moments of running, Saber arrived at the abandoned park, a place he recognized from the beginning.
The overgrown weeds and rusting playground equipment gave it an eerie charm, but he wasn't here to admire the scenery. He took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs as his heart began to calm.
His eyes darted around, scanning the shadows that stretched across the ground. Just as he was about to call out for her, he caught sight of a faint silhouette ahead.
"...."
There she was, perched on an old swing, her delicate frame swaying slightly despite the stillness of the air.
Her long, crimson hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face like a curtain. She wore a faded blue dress, its hem brushing against the ground, adorned with little flowers that danced in the light. But it was her expression that held Saber's attention; her gaze was cast downward, eyes glistening at her fading figure.
The sight stirred something within him, but he ignored this and stepped forward.
"Hey..." he called gently, hesitant to break the stillness.
She didn't look up. The swing creaked softly in each movement. Saber took a cautious step forward, bridging the distance between them before finally reaching the swing.
"...."
"...."
None of them spoke right away.
With a heavy sigh, Saber sat on the swing next to the girl, gripping the chains. He looked ahead and noticed the fog creeping closer in their direction, causing a faint smile to appear on his lips.
"Mister, can you hold me?"
He reached out and took her hand, and she held it tightly.
"Mister, I don't wanna die."
"I know."
"But I don't wanna die alone either."
"Yes."
"Can you stay with me till the end?"
"I will. I promise to stay with you until the end."
"Hehehe..."
The girl giggled, not wanting to cry or shed tears in her final moments. Even if they had to part again, she wanted to keep smiling.
Just like HIM.
"Mister...?"
"What is it?"
"Can you call me by name again?"
"Sure... Sasha."
"Call my name and say I love you more than the world!"
Sasha spoke exaggeratingly, grinning ear to ear happily as she looked at him.
He slowly opened his mouth to speak,
"Sa—"
But for some reason,
Those words remained stuck on his throat.
"Sa... Sash.... Sash—"
Sasha stood up from her seat and went in front of him.
It was just like what he did to her the other day.
And just like him, Sasha smiled kindly as she comforted him.
"Sasha... I can't..."
He was confused at himself as to why. His chest was in pain. Though his heart beat at a normal pace, each thud felt heavy and painful.
It felt like something was gripping his heart from the inside.
"I can't... I can't say it... I don't want to say it...!"
Tears began flooding his own eyes as he looked down.
"Please don't make me say it... I... I don't want you to disappear..."
...Why am I saying this?
This isn't right.
This isn't me... So why am,—
Sasha placed her hands over his shoulder, making him look up. Their eyes interlocked with each other, his cries stopping and mouth opening slowly.
"Please..."
Sasha hugged him, burying her face in his neck.
"Sasha..."
His chest began to feel lighter.
"I love you..."
Sasha pulled away from her hug and looked at him again in the eyes with a smile.
With that said, he too smiled back.
"Sasha, I love you more than the world."
Sasha giggled and leaned forward, planting a kiss on his lips. She smiled and responded, "And I love you too more than the universe..."
Fuuuu~!
As soon as those words left her mouth, the hand that was holding his neck began to fade into light.
Sasha took a few steps back as she grinned happily at him.
"If I ever had a chance to reincarnate, even without my memories, my heart will find you... somehow. Again and again. I'll meet you and fall in love with you again. We'll dance under the moonlight, watch the fireworks together and you will propose to me. This will be our fate... Yes! My next wish that will surely come true!"
Sasha lightly shakes her head.
"K̦̖̙̱̮̐̌ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞r̶̷̲͍̭͐̾̀͟m̶̷͔ͪ̽͡ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞... Loki... No, Saber!"
She didn't want him to feel sad.
She didn't want him to burden his feelings.
And so,
She never said, 'I'm sorry...' in her goodbye.
But instead,
"Thank you..."
***
(Sasha POV)
It's so hard to forget the past, if it was the best thing happened in your life.
The memories I had with him may be short, but it was worth sacrificing my existence for.
In the past, I had lost everything, including my sense of self.
I have died too many times that weren't mine.
After what happened to him since that day, I found myself asking this question multiple times.
What if I had the ability to turn back into time? Would I be able to change something?
...I hate my mistakes.
Who wouldn't? Everyone always had that one mistake that made them regret doing, so much that they wished to disappear.
However,
'If you were to go back in time and fixed your mistakes, you would erase yourself.'
That was probably why I never prevented it from happening in the end.
...
Maybe in another life.
...
Just maybe.
...
We could be together again.