Last night
In the stillness of the night, the future lay bare before them like a stained canvas, its eerie allure revealing an undeniable truth: a certain doom. A graveyard they never wanted to visit, yet one they could no longer avoid, for the day was fast approaching.
Matthew's arms tightened around his wife, a desperate attempt to hold on to what they had, even as the dreary truth haunted them.
Noticing the increase in pressure exerted on her body, Gloria ran her hands around his back to soothe him.
Soon, his raging emotions subsided, and he spoke in a still-hoarse voice, "Do you regret it?"
Gloria's body trembled slightly as she disengaged from him. She looked straight into his eyes, under the moonlight, her eyes shone as charming as the starry skies.
"I've never regretted any decision I've made in my whole life; if I were to have any, it'd never be for the man who brought light to my life."
Matthew, hearing her words, beamed into a charming smile, tinged with a hint of melancholy, a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of time.
As his voice trailed off, Gloria pulled his hands and gently placed them on her waist, her touch reigniting a familiar spark that burned bright for so long.
Her hands found their way to his shoulders as they swayed to an unheard rhythm, their bodies moving in symphony like two harmonious waves.
The world around them slowly melted away, leaving only the gentle caress of the breeze on their skin, the soft rustle of leaves, and the distant serenade of chirping birds.
Their eyes locked, ardently focused on the familiar contours of each other's faces, as if to etch them forever in their memories, to hold on to the moment, and never let it slip away.
In this intimate dance, time stood still. Memories of their first dance resurfaced - the same spark, the same tender touch, the same promise of a lifetime.
Yet, this moment was different, as this might be their last dance, a bittersweet reminder of the passing of time, of the seasons and phases that had come and gone, of the years that had shaped them into the people they are today.
Evolved from naive youths to full-fledged adults, responsible and virtuous parents, tempered by life's experiences.
Matthew's gaze delved deeper into Gloria's eyes, his heart overflowing with love and emotion.
He saw the shimmer of tears, the faint smile, and the deep love that had remained unshaken over the years, through laughter and tears, joy and sorrow. In this moment, she was all that mattered.
He felt the gentle pressure of her hands on his shoulders, the soft rise and fall of her chest, the sweet fragrance of her perfume, and the warmth of her presence enveloping him.
As they danced, their gaze remained locked, their eyes never leaving each other's as they continued to savor the memories that had brought them to this moment.
The past and present blurred and they became intoxicated by the love they shared, the memories created and the ones they were still making.
Time stood still, and all that mattered was the two of them, lost in a world of their own.
The crickets' hoarse serenade and the tree's silent witness faded into the background, adding subtle layers to the scene, leaving only the rhythmic beatings of their hearts as one.
As they slowed their dance, Gloria's gaze lingered on Matthew's face.
A sudden question, muttered in a soft voice, interrupted the intoxicated Matthew: "You must have seen it, right?"
His eyes gleaming with hints of clarity, gently disengaged from Gloria as he dropped his hands from her waist, prompting them to separate.
"The silvery hair strands?...Yes, I have," he responded in a slightly cracked voice, "I've noticed it for quite some time now."
Gloria sighed, "I'm sure his hair would have turned fully silvery if not for the absence of spirit energy here."
A shared sigh escaped their lips as Gloria guided him towards the bench.
Having sat down, she rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Do you hate that we have no choice?"
Matthew's eyes glistened with tenderness as he gazed into the distance, "Life comes with its ups and downs, it's like a cycle – a season for when it's good, a season when it's bad."
"Hating the world would mean hating the memories, the events, and the people it has given us.
Honestly, I hold no grudge against it all. In fact, if anything, all I feel is gratitude for the privilege to spend my last days with the woman of my dreams in my arms and for the gift of children."
"You and I know we wouldn't be alive today if not for certain arrangements made. They gave us another shot at life, an extension of our time, perhaps."
"Are we even alive?" Gloria's voice, barely above a whisper, trembled like a cry.
Gloria's question hung in the air, and Matthew's thoughts drifted to the mysteries of the world that's often been a subject of bewilderment and confusion to him.
His brows furrowed in contemplation, his expression a mix of sadness and introspection.
"I wish I could provide the answers to that. I truly wish I could". He paused, his hands laid on his chin as his eyes squinted, as though searching for clues in the distance.
"Of all knowledge passed down and every theory known, there's a 90% possibility that we are all ghosts.
If I were to proceed with this conjecture, maybe, just could be, Wilson is the only living one among us.
Perhaps this world is even a ghost town! A mere spectre of reality!" Matthew said, as his face contorted in exasperation, his voice hued with frustration.
"Everything is just a maze, like a jigsaw puzzle with lost pieces! I have questioned what's real or fake countless times.
A world with no magic, primitive to the earth for most parts, but I have always battled this gut feeling telling me there's much more to this world than meets the eye.
I surely would have satisfied my curiosity if not being held back by the dream's stern warning, clamouring for our most minimal involvement in the world's affairs.
That has left us rooted in this place for 17 years, nothing new learned, no information gained or gathered.
There's nothing such as a school here or library, limited exploration and much more.
It has just felt like a prison for the longest of times. I fear our children might feel the same too.
The villagers and locals of these places seem more like puppets with no core, it's just shitty!
It's an entirely different place compared to our world.
The fabric of reality is so thin that any power above the level of the concealment formation around our compound could cause a deep crevice in the world's natural forces.
How could such a fragile world still exist? Even the spatial walls of the weakest pocket dimensions in our world aren't this weak.
It had often driven me to the brink of madness many times in the past, thinking we were condemned to a state of false security.
We live in a simple yet complex world, a mysterious haven that feels more like an eerie labyrinth than a real safe space".
As he delved deeper into his thoughts, his frustration on the mysteries yet to unravel began to surface, his body trembled steadily until he paused.
Getting himself together, he locked his gaze onto Gloria's, he said "But the sparks in your eyes can never be faked, my love. The warmth in our family can never be replicated, or the taste of your cooking can never be duplicated.
I just hope we'd get answers before our last breaths and hope Wilson makes it out, just like the dream said he would.
I also hope the same for the girls. Likewise, I could be luxurious to say I wish we could all make it also out but…"