The Awakening,

" Hey, Chris," said Laura, his angel. She wore a blue dress that matched her eyes, and her golden hair fluttered in the wind as she smiled at him. But a commodity strange stirred within him, a commodity he'd hoped to forget. Those passions for Amelia were back, haunting him again.

Laura came up to him and hugged him tight. He buried his face in her hair but couldn't clinch her back- the guilt of his sin counted him down. " I am sorry, Chris," she said vocally." I am so sorry."

" It's okay, Laura," he said through gashes." It's not your fault."

They held each other for a while, and when they let go and looked into each other's eyes.

" I know how important you miss him," she said gently." I know how important you loved him."

" He was my idol," Chris lamented." He was everything I wanted to be."

" He was proud of you," Laura said.

" I wish I could have sailed with him," Chris said.

" You still can," Laura whispered, taking his hand and leading him to the water's edge.

" Look at the water, Chris. Look at how beautiful it is."

He looked at the water again but this time saw it else- its colors and shapes, its movements and sounds, its life and riddle.

" It's amazing," he said. " It is,"

Laura agreed, kissing him vocally on the lips. " They were buried by the water," she continued," They loved it there." As he kissed her back.

" Perhaps they did," he commented.

A change came over him also- a spark of stopgap lit up his heart.

" Perhaps they did."

It was a night of gloom and horror when Laura led him into the house of Tomas. The darkness seemed to envelop the ancient and dismal mansion as if it were a shroud of death. He shuddered as if he had crossed the threshold and felt a chill run through his veins.

To his utter astonishment, he beheld in the dim light of the fireplace, two figures that he had not expected to see. They were Ann and Kimmel, they were sitting by the hearth, conversing with his mother, who looked pale and ghostly.

A sudden wave of wrath and dread swept over him, as he perceived their return to claim him back.

Then Chris, with a solemn and grave countenance, seated himself by the fire and clasped the hands of Laura, who trembled in his embrace. And he spoke in a low and solemn voice as if uttering his last words on earth. And he fixed his eyes on the faces of Kimmel and Ann, who stared back at him with a malignant and sinister glare. And he said: "Behold, Laura, my only love, whom I cherish more than life itself.

But the night's air was cold and damp as Ann lingered on the bench, her face focused on the celestial orbs that shone in the dark sky. As if she was waiting for someone when Laura stole up to her and sat down, silent and stealthy as a cat. An oppressive silence hung over them, only pierced by their faint breaths.

Now Chris stood in the shadows of the window, his guitar looking up to him. But his mind felt less like playing it that night, though it seemed to beg him. All he could think of was Laura and he wanted to be with her. Perhaps he wanted more than just a stay for that night.

As the long night swept through and the time pace ticked every second away, Ann and Laura chatted and laughed through the dismal night, but Chris grew impatient and walked to them, winking at Laura. But perhaps she knew his demand, so she said to him, "Wait a little, I'm coming."

Chris nodded and returned to his window, picking up his guitar. He strummed a few chords, trying to calm his nerves. He wondered what Laura was talking to Ann about. Did she like him as much as he liked her? Did she want to spend the night with him? He hoped so.

He looked out the window and saw the stars twinkling in the sky. He felt a surge of inspiration and started to sing a song perhaps which he had written for Laura. For it was a love song, full of passion and longing. He poured his heart out into the lyrics, hoping that she would hear him and come to him.

Meanwhile, Ann and Laura listened to his song from the bench. They smiled at each other, knowing that Chris was smitten with Laura. Ann was happy for Laura though she only came to know of her when Chris elected to stay with them. She hoped that Chris would treat her well and make her happy.

Laura felt a warm feeling in her chest as she heard Chris sing. She liked him too, ever since they came to love each other. To her, he was handsome, charming, and talented. He made her laugh and feel special. She wanted to be with him, but she also wanted to be sure that he was serious about her. She didn't want to rush into anything and regret it later.

Perhaps a test of time would make her see how much he cared for her. She turned to Ann and whispered, "Let's play a prank on him."

Ann raised her eyebrows and asked, "What do you have in mind?"

Laura grinned and said, "Follow me."

They got up from the bench and walked towards the window where Chris was singing. They pretended not to notice him and walked past him, heading towards the door of his room.

And when Chris came to see them walk away, he stopped singing. He felt a pang of disappointment and confusion. He wondered if they had heard him at all. And he thought he had called out to them, "Hey, where are you going?" for those words still felt dry upon his lips

Laura turned around and smiled sweetly at him. She said, "Oh, hi Chris. We were just leaving."

Chris felt a surge of panic and said, "Leaving? Why? Where are you going?"

Laura shrugged and said, "We have somewhere else to be. Sorry, we can't stay."

Chris felt his heart sink and said, "But...but I thought you wanted to be with me."

Laura looked at him with a sportful expression and said," Did you? What made you suppose that?"

Chris felt his face flush and said, "Well. I mean. you know, I sang you a song."

Laura pretended to be surprised and said," You did? I did not hear it."

Chris felt his mouth go dry and said," You didn't? But. but it was for you. It was a love song."

Laura acted as if she was touched and said," A love song? Really? How sweet of you. What did it say?"

Chris tried to flash back the lyrics of his song, but he couldn't. He felt too nervous and embarrassed. He stammered, "It. said. I loved her."

Laura smiled and said," You do? That is nice of you to say."

Chris felt a hint of a stopgap and said, "So you still love him ?"

Laura looked at him with a teasing smile and said," Perhaps do. maybe I don't."

Chris felt frustrated and said," Come on, Laura. Do not play games with me. Tell me how you feel."

Laura leaned near to him and rumored in his observance," If you want to know how I feel. you'll have to catch me first."

She also kissed him smoothly on the impertinence and ran down with Ann, laughing.

Chris was stunned for a moment, smiled, and chased after her.

He caught up with her at the door of his apartment structure. He seized Laura by the midriff and pulled her close to him.

He looked into her eyes and said," I caught you."

She looked back at him and said," You did."

He kissed her passionately on the lips.

She kissed him back.

Ann watched them with a smile on her face.

She allowed to herself,

They're perfect for each other.

Now Ann turned and walked down to her room leaving them to the moon as their lips blandished and bodies crossed, for he wanted her, to make love to her and he'd endured to feel of her soft flesh against his.

And maybe she too wanted him that she came to morn for further of him, Now he lifted her off the ground to the bedside table and she came to rustle when she felt his lips upon her neck.

Now zips unbolted and buttons scattered open as she pushed him to lay upon the bed and let him take her to the moon and now they were in their world a world made by them alone and no bone differently abided upon it.

Chris pressed his lips gently on Laura's nape as he embraced her from before. He felt her warm breath on his observance and muttered her name.

''Amelia"

Laura recoiled a tempest of emotions brewing within her - bewilderment, treachery, and anguish. She withdrew from Chris, her orbs seeking an elucidation in his.

"Amelia?" she queried her utterance barely more than a breath. "Who is this Amelia, Chris?"

Chris was rendered mute for a moment, his countenance ashen. He had not perceived his verbal slip. His gaze met Laura's, remorse flickering in his eyes.

"Laura, I...I had no intention," he faltered, grappling with the appropriate lexicon. "Amelia is...was a specter from my history."

The chamber was heavy with suspense. Laura was endeavoring to decipher the recent events while Chris was wrestling with the blunder he had committed.

" Answer me, Chris. Who's Amelia?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He could not bear to relive it again. He loved her further than anything but could not make her understand.

He watched helplessly as Laura stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

He buried his face in his hands and wept.

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