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</div>Soft melodious laughter echoed; the sun glittered through her dark brown hair while they danced effortlessly with the light breeze. Her smile was infectious as it shone deeply in her eyes while looking at the person—the culprit of her happiness. Twirling around the hilltop, the fallen petals joined her; enjoying the morning’s warmth as it seeped into her flawless skin. She stumbled a bit before stopping—the dizzy spells grabbed hold of her mind but her smile never wavered. Their eyes met and a surge of emotion flowed through her as they spoke without uttering a word. <i>Emil</i>.<br/>
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A sudden rush pulled her away from him as Celine inhaled sharply through her mouth and her eyes fluttered open in confusion. Abruptly sitting upright in bed, she gripped at her shirt, feeling her heart pounding at an alarming rate. Searching her room for answers, her eyes finally settled on a family photo until her heart rate calmed down and she remembered to breathe. Her chest rose and fell with every breath as she slowly recognized the faces in the picture. She was surrounded by her parents and younger brother; it was when everything used to make sense. It reminded her that once upon a time happiness truly existed. She had wondered out of the many dreams she remembered upon awakening; it was never memories of what used to be when her brother was still alive.<br/>
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Lifting her gaze up to her window, she listened to the faint wind brushing through the trees as the silhouette of shadows flickered in-between the illuminating streetlights. With a soft sigh, she reclined back as her muscles relaxed; her body easing into her mattress as she pulled the covers closer to her body for warmth. Thoughts emerged from the back of her mind as a name from her dream echoed softly. His eyes looking back at her with such adoration—as though he was able to evoke peace within her soul. Despite feeling drawn to him, she had never seen or heard of him before. Ever since she was in possession of her sleeping remedy—a magical golden dust that lulls the mind into a deep slumber—she had been frequently having the same dream. It was always about Emil. The more she looked into his eyes, the more she could feel a hidden pang of regret. In that silence, it was a mix of sweet tenderness and bitter heartbreak; the shadows on the ceiling blurred as a sudden tear escaped. An overwhelming sense of longing filled her heart.<br/>
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Celine couldn’t bear it. The feelings washed over her in waves, one after the other as more tears slipped past her eyes. Wiping them away, she slowed her breathing as she tried to maintain her composure. Lips quivered as she closed her eyes momentarily; wiping stray tears as she cleared her mind. The silence in the room kept her company as she could hear her heart grieve through her soft whimpers and cries. A part of her yearned to feel home again; to feel safe in his embrace once more. Shifting her weight on her bed, she turned to her side as she slowly opened her eyes to watch her digital clock tick by. Pursing her lips forward, a soft exhale left her lips as the remaining tears were quickly wiped away.<br/>
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<b>“You’re okay,”</b> she tried her best to comfort herself, <b>“It was just a dream… nothing more.”</b> Convincing herself to release the emotions that dwelled inside her soul, she continued staring at the clock until her eyelids grew heavy and the golden dust on her pillow began to lull her back to sleep.<br/>
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</div>As her body sank deeper into the cushions of her bed, her mind wandered. A haze of pink and blue clouded her surroundings and lifted her body easily. Her soul was slowly carried away as her mind found its way back home. Floating through the vast sky, a pathway appeared beneath her; stepping onto it, she looked around and watched as spurts of electric sparks lit up her surroundings. She stood there in awe; reality gradually faded from her mind as a bright white light pushed through the misty air. Shielding her eyes with her arms, she tried her best to keep her attention forward—but the light was too bright. Turning her gaze away for a second, the world opened up to her.<br/>
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Peeking through her fingers, she brought her arms down as she was greeted by majestic scenery; mountains lined up against the horizon, birds and other wildlife joyously sang the song of spring, and the sweet aroma of flowers filled the air. Celine lowered her gaze as her bare feet were tickled by the long blades of grass; the cool ground supporting her weight as the breeze combed through her hair. Lips curved into a smile as she lifted her head to bask in the warmth of her home. Raising her arms with her palms facing toward the heavens, she couldn’t help but laugh and feel at peace. Twirling around, her floral dress clung to her petite frame while the bottom hem lifted slightly against the wind. Falling petals softly fluttered through the air and was caught in her happy dance. Stopping for a moment, her fingers managed to catch a falling flower as it triggered her to reminisce. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes searched for the man in her dreams—he was nowhere to be found.<br/>
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She narrowed her eyes upon her surroundings as she searched for him. The corners of her lips kept her smile in place as she had fondly remembered of his shenanigans. Still holding the flower in her hand, she called out, <b>“Playing hide and seek, are we?”</b> Laughing softly, she moved closer to the tall trees which towered over her as their village was nearby. The day was quiet and peaceful; spring was in full blossom and it was one of the fondest memories she had with him. Slowly creeping up toward a bush, she tried to look for him. <b>“Come out, come out wherever you are,”</b> she teased him as she wanted to beat him at his own game. With a quick turn of her head, she heard shuffling footsteps against the grass before a hand grazed along her lower back. She squealed in surprise as she turned around, hoping to catch him. Again, she was met with the mountainside view. <b>“Mm, you’re quick today!”</b> Gauging to where she might find him next, she walked closer to the edge of the misty fog until she could see his figure in the distance.<br/>
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Her face brightened as her she offered him a warm smile, <b>“There you are,”</b> pausing, she looked straight into his eyes as hers gleamed with delight. She stood there silently for a moment; his eyes would forever be one of the things she’d remember him by. She loved how he looked at her and what he saw in her. Standing closer to him, her smile faded for a moment as her features took on a more serious tone. Searching his eyes for answers, she softly whispered, <b>“Don’t ever leave me…”</b> as her voice trailed, the smile on her lips gradually reappeared as she brought both arms to wrap around his broad shoulders. In her dream, the man stepped through the real Emil and embraced her, tugging her torso into his before lifting her up into a spin. Laughter echoed through the open skies as she kept him close to her and hung on tight. There was a second in time where she thought she’d managed to see him again—<i>the real him</i>—but she dismissed the thought. She blamed her strong emotions for these dreams as they were nostalgic; a forgotten memory of the past.<br/>
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He was everything to her; he was her protector and a place she could call home.<br/>
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<fieldset class="ctaBbcodeFieldset"><legend class="ctaBbcodeLegend">‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎· •  ⋄ ‎‏‏‎°  ⋆‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎</legend>‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎for <a class="username" data-user-id="2570" data-username="Nocturne" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/2570/">Nocturne</a> ; 1314 words</fieldset></div>