Chapter 17 - Sunset
I slowly make my way to what seems to be one of the facility’s living quarters, and Ell1s floats beside me as I walk inside. Nothing special, just a room with a decent looking bed, a wooden table collecting dust, and a flickering lightbulb above. The same metal flooring from the rest of the facility still makes up the same old, cold and unfeeling walls.
“Well, here you go! This is it! I hope it’s enough…” He says, in that same prideful tone of voice again. I take off my dirty jacket and set my worn bag down next to the bed and hesitantly lay my aching body down onto the bed. It’s surprisingly soft…
“I’ll leave you be for now. We can talk later, just rest up for now, alright?” And with that, his hologram suddenly disappears, and the quiet returns. All I can hear is the shuffling of the covers as I try to get comfortable as the wound on my chest throbs painfully. I can’t believe he’d just injure me like that and act like it’s nothing, all out of desperation.
…I should just get some rest, like he said. Once I find a comfortable position to lay in, I close my eyes and drift off into my dreams, a place often haunted by traumatic memories and nightmares that plague my sleep, arising panic within me and leaving me with restless nights.
But tonight is different. This time, I sit in a grassy field, the wind gently swaying my hair from side to side as the sun gently beams onto my skin. It’s peaceful. The sun is setting, glowing a faint orange-reddish hue. The air smells crisp and lively, the faint scent of freshly cut grass and nature surrounding me. I feel calm. Carefree. I haven’t felt so… free in so long.
A familiar voice sparks to life next to me. “I told you this was a great little spot to sit! You get a beautiful view of the sun from here!” Calista grins, the orange pansy in her hair rustling gently with the tender wind gently fluttering around our surroundings. I look at her in surprise. “Calista… you…”
“Yes, I know, I know. I always pick the best spots. I even made sure this one didn’t have a huge wasp nest nearby! I know bugs freak you out…” Giving me a playful smile, she ruffles my hair and pulls me in close next to her. I hug her tight, not wanting to let go as the sun began to glow a redder hue as it appears to slowly float away, as nightfall arrives. Calista seems to notice, and leans into me closer. “Oh- You alright there? Usually I’m the one hugging you so tightly…”
“...Hey, Calista?”
“What’s up?”
“Can we stay like this forever?”
“Oof, tough question…” She pretends to act worried before laughing and patting me on the back, holding me tighter as we sit together. “Oh, I would give anything in the world to do so. You know I love you, no matter what. Don’t forget that, ‘kay? I’m yours.”
We watch the sun’s light grow fainter and fainter, and I feel the sensation of her body close to me fade away, and as soon as the sky became a pitch black, she was gone. The stars shine bright up above, twinkling occasionally, as a sign she’s still here, somewhere, admiring me from afar.