The mountain breeze carried the crisp chill of the approaching evening, but Kira felt only warmth. She looked over at Neil, her lips curving into the most radiant, breathtaking smile she had ever worn. It felt utterly surreal—impossible, almost—that he was right here beside her, his fingers intertwined with hers as they ascended toward the summit lookout restaurant.
Below them lay the entire city, a sprawling sea of endless, twinkling lights waking up under the darkening sky. They were at the highest peak in the realm, suspended above the world.
Neil stepped toward the edge of the overlook, his hand slipping from hers. Kira watched him from behind, her chest swelling with quiet contentment as he stared out into the golden twilight. He looked so peaceful, so completely whole.
Then, the world shattered.
A dark figure stepped silently out of the shadows behind him. Before Kira could even gasp, a cruel pair of hands shoved Neil over the precipice.
Time seemed to freeze as he vanished over the edge. Her heart plummeted into a cold, bottomless abyss.
"Neil!"
The scream tore from her throat as she scrambled wildly down the rugged mountain path, her instincts taking over. Desperation fueled her every step. She searched endlessly through the darkening forest and jagged terrain, scrambling through brush and over sharp stone. Hours bled into days, days into what felt like agonizing years. sweat stung her eyes, and streaks of dirt smeared the delicate fabric of her little black dress, but she refused to stop. The search was her entire existence.
Just as the crushing weight of despair threatened to consume her, a familiar face passed her on the path.
"Kira! It’s Neil," the friend urged breathlessly. "He’s back at the mountain top—right where you left him! He’s waiting for you!"
Hope surged through her veins like electricity. She turned and sprinted back up the mountain, her lungs burning, her heart hammering against her ribs.
When she reached the crest, there he sat.
He was perched on a wooden bench outside the restaurant, his back to her. Even from behind, there was no mistaking him—the sharp line of his shoulders beneath his black t-shirt, the familiar, beloved silhouette that was burned into her soul. He sat patiently, unbothered, looking untouched by the nightmare that had just consumed her.
"Neil!" she gasped.
He turned toward her, and a look of pure, unadulterated joy illuminated his face.
"Oh, my darling," Kira cried, tears finally breaking free as relief washed over her. "I'm so glad you're okay! But look at me—I'm an absolute mess. I need to quickly freshen up!"
She rushed to the restaurant door, threw it open, and—
Kira’s eyes snapped open.
She stared directly up at the familiar plaster of her bedroom ceiling. The cool morning light filtered softly through her curtains. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths as the harsh reality set in: she was in her bed. It was all a dream.
She lay motionless, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of conflicting emotions. The terror of losing him still clung to her skin like humidity, yet beneath it was a profound, aching gratitude. The long, agonizing years of their real-life separation were finally over. Neil was back in her life.
It had only been a nightmare, but as she pressed a trembling hand to her heart, she realized her subconscious was simply catching up to the miracle of reality: the love of her life had returned, and this time, he wasn't going anywhere.
