THE closing EMBRASE.

In the wake of innumerable, oppressive days, Laura's eyes fell upon the parchment with a chilling realization and it came to be a moment that plunged her into the profound abyss of what humanity knew love, for it was not the passionate inferno of affection, nor the euphoric cooing of the dove. Instead, it was an unyielding will to another's welfare, a commitment unshaken by the lurking horrors of the world.

A torrent of emotions overwhelmed her as she deciphered her mother's script, tears carving paths down her cheeks. Guilt gnawed at her for abandoning her lover, yet a glimmer of hope for his recovery ignited within her, still fear for his condition sent shivers down her spine, but the courage to confront it surged through her veins. Love for him swelled in her heart, solidifying her resolve to express it.

A moment of hesitation gripped her as memories of his betrayal surfaced, a part of her yearned to make him suffer. Yet she couldn't forsake him. She hastily packed and departed from the familiarity of home. Boarding the first available coach, she was indifferent to the cost or distance, the dust or discomfort, the gossip or scandal. Her sole focus: to reunite with him.

She journeyed relentlessly, traversing hills and valleys, rivers and forests. Braving storms and bandits, sickness and hunger. Enduring hardship and danger, fatigue, and pain. Overcoming obstacles and delays, fear and despair. After what seemed like an eternity, she arrived at her destination.

Beneath a moonless sky where oppressive clouds loomed ominously, she found herself standing outside Tomas' residence. Doubt crept in as she questioned her decision to return; his whispers from that fateful night still echoed in her mind like a haunting melody. An unseen force seemed to hold her back - perhaps it was the ghastly countenance of his mother or the mournful catcalls piercing the silence outside or the eerie wind that began to encircle the house. Or perhaps it was the grim visage of death worn by the doctor whom she brushed past on the staircase.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a staccato rhythm that echoed the uncertainty of her thoughts. She took a deep breath, the cold air filling her lungs and providing a momentary respite from the turmoil within. The house, once a symbol of warmth and love, now stood as a grim reminder of the past. The windows, once filled with light, were now dark and foreboding. The garden, once vibrant with life, was now a barren wasteland.

She remembered Chris's laughter, his gentle touch, and the way his eyes lit up when he spoke about his dreams. But those memories were now tainted by the harsh reality of his absence. The whispers of that night were not just echoes; they were specters of a past that refused to die.

The wind howled around her, its mournful cry echoing the desolation she felt inside. She looked up at the sky, its vast emptiness mirroring the void in her heart. The moonless night seemed to reflect her despair, its darkness swallowing any glimmer of hope.

Yet, she knew she had to face it. She had to confront the ghosts of her past and lay them to rest. She had to return to Tomas' residence, not for him, but for herself. For only then could she truly move on and find peace.

She took one last look at the house before stepping forward. The journey ahead was daunting, but she was ready. After all, it was in the darkest nights that one could see the stars shine brightest.

When she finally laid eyes on him, her heart stuttered. His appearance was a ghostly shadow of his former self - pale and gaunt with vitality replaced by scars and wounds. Upon seeing her, he opened his eyes and a faint smile graced his lips as he whispered her name. He reached out weakly and she took his hand in hers. He pulled her closer and she leaned over him.

She leaned over him, capturing his muffled breath in her ear, and kissed him fervently.

He responded to her kiss, his lips trembling in the dark night.

"I'm so sorry, Laura. Please forgive me for everything that happened," he whispered, his voice filled with emotions.

She silenced him abruptly, placing her smooth finger on his lips.

"There's nothing to forgive, Chris. You simply did what you had to do. I understand..."

A twisted smile formed on her face, a glimmer of comfort in the depths of her despair.

"You came back for me, Laura, my demon."

She nodded, tears streaming down her face, mixing joy and sadness.

"I came back for you, Chris. And I'll always be here, no matter what happens."

They held each other in silence, a moment of horror in the inferno of war. perhaps for she knew it was his last. His condition was fatal, and the war was not over. They had no idea what fate had in store for them, or if they even had a fate. But they didn't care. All that mattered was that they were together and that they were by each other again.

They closed their eyes and drifted into a restless sleep, but his heart a discord of beats in the requiem of death. He dreamed of terrible times, stormy days and bloody nights, screams and curses,  torture and murder. but she, she dreamed of a life that had been, a life that still was.

But she couldn't sleep for his words kept sweeping her mind