Nick, come back, Chloe thought desperately. Why do you keep on going? Come back. Chloe tried to catch up with Nick but her legs wouldn't work. Nick was facing her, his face expressionless as he drifted backwards away from Chloe. Nick! she tried to call out, but her mouth wasn't functioning. Just then, before Nick disappeared completely, he turned into a cloud of bright light. A ring flung itself from the cloud and landed in Chloe's outstretched hand. It was hot Chloe realised, as she flinched her hand back in pain. The ring flew downwards in slow motion and disappeared into the great big darkness that surrounded Chloe. Chloe looked back to her hand, and her mouth gaped in horror. There the words, "Promise me..." were burnt into the palm of her hand. Promise me... the words echoed all around her. And then, she felt herself falling... falling through the darkness that stretched on downwards forever.
* * * * * * *
Chloe screamed. Screamed and screamed till her throat hurt. "Honey wake up... wake up!" Chloe felt 2 strong hands shaking her fiercely. Still she continued to scream. Her eyes were shut tight, afraid of what she might see if she opened them. Then she felt a pair of gentle lips caressing her own, so gentle, so sweet... Chloe stopped screaming. The kiss ended, and Chloe was left alone, blindly figuring out what had happened. Nick? she cried out to her brain. Nick? Opening her eyes she expected Nick's warm smile to greet her. Chloe almost felt shock as she looked instead into Jesse's serious face. Chloe felt a wave of disappointment as it swept throughout her entire body as she realised that it had been her imagination. "Clo? It's me Jesse, are you ok?" Jesse's calm voice wafted through her ears. Chloe sat there dumbfounded and shocked. It had been a dream... Chloe thought. "Honey, you were having a nightmare" Jesse spoke calmly. "Oh Jesse..." Chloe spluttered out. She started sobbing. Jesse embraced her, his warm body covering her own. "There there..." he whispered, patting Chloe gently on the back. "It's over now." They sat there for a while, Jesse comforting Chloe... Chloe clutching Jesse with all the energy she had within her. Oh Nick... she cried out to her brain. Why after all these years of finally letting go, do you have to come back when everything was just going perfectly?
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