"… ren!! Darren!!". I woke up gasping that morning, it's the same nightmare that haunted me for more than 3 years. The dream was about Olivia who ran and cried after our fight, and I didn't pursue her. I felt so devastated every time the dream came to visit.
"Darren, it's now 8 o'clock already!" My mum yelled from downstairs. "Alright mum, I'm awake!" I went to the bathroom and washed myself. She was waiting for me downstairs and we ate breakfast after I tidy up myself.
"So, are you going to the lake again?" My mother took a deep breath and looked at my eyes. She knew I still couldn't forget her. "Yeah." I nodded briefly and finished my breakfast. "I'm going now, mum." I kissed her forehead and hug her. "Don't be too long. And don't forget to go to your work!" She waved at me when I opened the door.
It's been countless times that I visited the lake near her house. Every day, I walked down the riverbank while tossing a stone on my hand before I go to work, wishing that she'll one day came back and see me again. 'If only she's here with me' the feeling of loneliness suddenly appeared, and my heart felt so empty without her.
I saw a beautiful lake with some swans swimming on that lake. I sat on a plank, which was our favorite place whenever we visited the place. If only we didn't have arguments and yelled to each other that day. If only I didn't ignore her request to come and see her on this lake. If only I put off my mother request to buy her some medicine back then, Olivia would probably still here with me. But everything happened and she has gone without a trace. Every time I asked her family, they always told me to let her go.
I sat there and reminiscing my memory with her, when suddenly someone patted my shoulder gently. "What are you doing here alone, Darren?" A sweet voice that I knew greeted me from behind. I turned around and saw the beautiful girl that I always dreamt of, my fiancée, Olivia. I rubbed my eyes once, twice, and then I widened my eyes.
"Olivia! My darling!" I stood up quickly and embraced her without wasting any time. I felt her warmth once again in my arms, my tears was overflowing on my cheeks. "Hush, darling. Why are you crying?" She chuckled a bit and I felt her hands embraced me back. I always believed that she will be back for me! I felt so happy at that moment as if I'm on cloud nine.
I held her hands and kissed them over and over again. I couldn't believe that I can see that blue eyes once again. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Where have you been all these time, darling?! I thought I lost you! I missed you! I missed you so very much" I held her hands tightly and gave her the biggest smile that I can make.
She looked at me with sad eyes which made me puzzled, but then she smiled and stroked my hairs. "I missed you too" She took my hand and invited me to sit in front of the lake. We chatted for more than an hour. Strangely, every time I questioned her about her whereabouts all these years, she always avoided the topic.
"Hey, Darren. I'm so thirsty. Can you please buy me a drink?" Olivia raised her head from my shoulder and smiled when she made the request. "Ofcourse. How about we buy it together? Hmm?" I hugged her and kissed her cheek. She turned away from me and looked at the lake "I still wanna enjoy the scenery. It's been a long time since the last time we're here."
I was a little disappointed but then I agreed to go alone. "Okay, I'll be back soon. Wait for me here" I kissed her hand once again and stood up. Just when I turned my back and walked near the road, I heard her voice whispering so close in my ears "Darren, Please find your own happiness. Please forgive yourself and find someone else, because I can't be together with you anymore."
I was startled when I heard it and turned around. She was standing there and smiling at me, but her body fading into the thin air. A second later, she wasn't there anymore. "NO!!" I ran there and dived myself into the lake, but I couldn't find her anywhere. I swam back to the surface and she was nowhere to be seen. There was only her engagement ring lying on the side of the planks. I was trembling when I picked up her ring. "D-don't tell me…" The memories of her lying on the hospital bed after the accident came into my mind. The tears flooded from my eyes and I cried while held the ring.
After I cried all my tears out, her voice rang in my ears once again "Please be happy." The fresh memory of her smiles replayed in my head again and again. Her gentle embrace felt warm in my body just an hour ago. I looked at her ring and gripped it as hard as I could. I closed my eyes and kissed it. 'I will be happy. I promised you.' I put her ring in my pocket and looked up to the sky. It was the strangest event in my life, but ever since that day I've never had the nightmare anymore.
-End-