She looked over the rolling hillside, long grass rippling back and forth in the wind. Motionless, she stared out toward the hints of forest in the distance, a smudge against the sapphire blue horizon in every direction. The wind picked up, flinging her hair back behind her, carrying with it the scent of fall. She drank it in: the warmth of summer with just the sharpest tang of winter, just at the back of her throat. She knew he was there, somewhere.
Arms wrapped around her, holding her close. A warmth surrounding her, more welcome than sunlight. "Back here again, Ana?" he whispered into her ear. "Tired of my company so soon, my love?"
She pressed herself back into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his own, holding him to her. "No," she sighed. "Never that." She felt his chin come down to rest on her shoulder, his breathing a counterpoint to the wind around them. "I just came here for some peace and quiet. To be ready for the next day."
His breath stopped for a moment. "You'll forget me again, you know." His voice was weary, as if arguing a point over for the thousandth time.
"I never forget you!" she exclaimed, the return for the thousandth time. But unconsciously, she pulled him closer, the bass of his voice resonating through her.
The warmth of his hand on her cheek was delicious. "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do together. Moonlit walks, hiking through the woods, masquerade balls, cuddling in front of the fireplace. You will leave and forget about me until you come again." A script, playing out yet again, though the actor is unwilling.
"How can I forget all of this?" she said as she waved at their world. The hand on her cheek left, brought the waving hand back, a puppet in charge of the strings. Reversing their grip, she brought his hand to her lips. "How can I forget you?" she whispered to him. "Forget us? The happiness? It's impossible..."
"Didn't you tell me when first we met that the impossible can happen, if only in dreams?" His arms were tighter around her now, wanting to deny the rest of the play, the act which came ever more swiftly.
"But I am _happy_ now!" she exclaimed. "You are _mine_!" Her voice echoed across the hillside. As the echoes returned, she crossed their arms across her, both shield and shielded. Hot tears ran down her face and she could feel more falling on her neck as he buried his face in her hair.
"You are mine... forever" she whispered and finally turned her head toward him for a kiss....
{All rest in italics, for change of scene}
_*BRAAZT* *radio playing loudly: "-lover, so I don't have to dream alo-"
Ana turned off her alarm clock and yawned. ~Five more minutes, is that too much to ask?~ Her mind was fuzzy as she dug her head harder into her pillow, desperately trying to save the last bits of warmth still in the covers. That warmth lost, she got out of bed.
She stopped in the hallway. ~That's funny... I know I was having a really good dream... but I can't remember anything but feeling good.~ She shrugged. ~Oh well, that always happens.~ Yawning again, she shuffled once more down the hallway, unconsciously wiping away the single tear still left on her cheek._
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