20/11/2024
Just one hour
1
My dreams had been vivid and strange. I found myself swimming in a vast, deep blue ocean. Normally, the thought of deep water terrified me, but in this dream, I was brave—fearless even. The water felt cool against my skin, and the sky mirrored the ocean’s endless blue. There was no land in sight, but somehow, that didn’t bother me.
Then I realized I was alone.
Panic hit me like a jolt of electricity. My heart raced as I looked around, and that’s when I saw it—a massive whirlpool forming ahead of me. It churned and grew, pulling at me with an overwhelming force. I tried to swim away, but the water around me darkened, turning as black as tar. My arms thrashed uselessly against the powerful current, my strokes growing weaker.
The whirlpool dragged me closer, spinning me faster and faster. I couldn’t even scream. At its center, I saw jagged teeth waiting for me—razor-sharp and glistening. The maw of some monstrous creature. Just as I was about to be devoured, I woke up, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
Reality was a blur as I tried to ground myself. My chest heaved as I caught my breath, my senses slowly returning. That’s when I noticed—she wasn’t beside me.
I checked the clock on the bedside table. **4:00 AM.** The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the bedside lamps. Everything else was cloaked in shadows. The faint, sweet scent of her ci******es lingered in the air—her go-to escape when she was stressed. Lately, she’d been smoking more often, the weight of some unspoken worry etched into her movements.
The balcony door was slightly ajar, letting in a cool breeze that made the curtains sway lazily, as if they were dancing in slow motion. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and got out of bed.
Padding quietly across the room, I made my way to the balcony, the air carrying a chill that seeped into my skin.
"Charlotte, honey, are you okay?" I asked softly, stepping onto the balcony. The cool breeze on my skin was a welcome contrast to the suffocating nightmare I’d just woken from.
"You know, I haven’t slept the whole night," she replied, her voice distant. She took a long drag from her cigarette, exhaling slowly as if trying to expel more than just smoke. She wore her robe loosely, and I was certain she had nothing on underneath. It had been weeks—months, even—since we’d been intimate. The frustration was building within me. Every glance at her stirred desire, but she remained cold, unreachable.
I pulled a chair next to hers and sat down. The horizon was still dark, though hints of dawn were creeping in. "The sun will be up in an hour. How about we catch one ride before it comes?" I ventured, my hand resting gently on her thigh. I hoped, foolishly, for a spark.
Her body didn’t move, her eyes still fixed on the sky. "Look at the stars, Charles," she said, her voice soft yet firm. It was the first time in ages she’d used my first name. "They’ll be gone soon. The sun will rise, and we won’t see them again until the night comes back. And even then, no matter how many there are, they’re all outshone by the sun."
She didn’t flinch at my touch, didn’t respond to the subtle caress I offered. I leaned in to kiss her. She returned it—barely. Her lips moved against mine, but her eyes remained open, locked onto mine as if searching for something I couldn’t give. Just as I leaned in for another kiss, she gently pushed me away, her touch more a barrier than an embrace.
"What’s going on, honey?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation. "You haven’t been yourself for weeks. Talk to me, please."
The moon hung full and heavy in the sky, its pale glow spilling over her face. Dawn wasn’t far, but the moon still ruled the moment, its fleeting beauty about to be erased by the rising sun. She finally turned her gaze to me, her eyes piercing and unflinching.
"Nature takes its course, Charles. We can’t bargain with it," she said quietly. "The sun, the stars, everything—they follow the rules of nature."
Her words confused me, her tone heavy with something I couldn’t grasp. She took another drag from her cigarette and looked away.
"Nature, Charles," she said again, her voice devoid of emotion. "I’ve fallen out of love with you."
