The light I yearn

"Cor?!"

"Florian? Wha-you-you're here?"

"I could say the same to you!" Florian says as he smirks, letting his golden-brown curls hang loose, radiating a dreamy hue.

I don't know where I am, but I feel a cold wisp of air skim my neck. I can hear a distant hum of what seems like a discordant melody slightly brush my ears. I feel as if an abyss had consumed my soul, only to be nourished by the gleam of Florian's smile and his translucent gray eyes, speckled with amber stars.

"Florian, where are we?"

"It doesn't matter where we are Cor, it just matters that you are with me here," he says slowly brushing his mellow hand down my slender olive-skinned neck onto my shoulder, bringing an aura of warmth down my spine.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you. I was getting kinda worried when we were actually going to have that first date you promised," he continues.

"It's been that long? Sorry, my mind feels like a blur ever since I got here," I noted. But, it's true, I mean I don't know where I am but my mind reeks of a sinister echo, slowing prodding around the edges of my skull.

"Hey don't worry dear, that happens to all of us," he says as he looks deep into my verdant green eyes, feeling a sense of relief and cordiality emulated through me.

I was confused with why Florian was acting so strange, but I trusted him, I always do. I've known Florian since we were little kids. We were neighbors, he lived on 1075 Casper Lane in his classic brick-red home with the firetruck red door, and I lived right there on 1077, in my parent's rather quirky sage green home wrapped in forest green vines. I vividly recall climbing into the rickety cyan treehouse we shared in our joint backyard during the weekends, spinning some vinyl, and chewing the 5-cent gum sold at his mom's candy shop. We were inseparable, and we still are. He even got into the same college as me, rocking the Corlette sweatshirt that we always wore together until it tore.

I've always known that he loved me, and as much as I feared admitting it, I think I love him too. Last Tuesday, or was it Wednesday...I'm not completely sure, but I remember not too long ago agreeing to go out with him. As much as I thought I knew he had feelings for me, I guess I just never expected him to actually commit to them and ask me out. Honestly, I'm scared. I've never been more scared and confused than I am at this moment because frankly, I don't know what to expect or where this relationship will go. I've cherished our friendship for years and—

"Here! This is perfect! Come on, sit down," Florian says as he rolls out the plaid picnic blanket on the dull terrain. It was like a candle in the dark, a glimmer of delight in a land of dismay.

"Oh um, okay. Thank you."

This isn't exactly what I pictured for our first date. I feel like the rotten smells are choking me, the foggy air blinding my eyes, the bitter wind flapping my hair— oh to have high expectations.

"So, Cor, how are you? Sorry, I'm just so nervous, I've been preparing this conversation for years."

"Wow, years? That's certainly a number. Well, to your question, I'm doing just fine," I lie. I mean, what do I say? Do I say, oh hey Florian I'm just extremely confused and honestly kinda pissed that this is that "big date" that you've been planning for years? I feel terrible that that's what going on in my head. I take a deep breath through the putrid air and close my eyes. I try to imagine last summer, in Hawaii. I remember Florian, I, and a couple of our friends renting a camper van right on the sandy white beach on Maui. I remember Florian handing me a coconut with a salmon-pink umbrella straw gesturing me to try. I never really like coconut water, but at that moment, it felt like I was sipping liquid gold. He then wrapped me with a Lei made of scarlet red Kika blossoms and tuning his ukelele right beside me, playing Aloha Oe to accompany the ethereal sunset wrapping us in warmth. I then closed my eyes to embrace the tranquility and affection I felt at that moment.

"Cor? You there?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. How are you?"

"Well, I've never felt better ever since I saw your face here."

I let out a gracious smile. I saw Florian almost every day at school and walking home, but knowing that he actually appreciated me only blossomed my heart.

"So, Cor, uh, what's your story?"

"My story? Um...what do you mean?"

"You know, the story of how you got here? Come on, please don't tell me something boring, I know that's not you. Heh, remember that time in 8th grade when you said—"

"Florian, I have no idea what you're talking about. Heck, I don't even know where we are right now. I feel like this is a dream or something."

"Cor, come on, you know you can trust me."

"Florian, I'm not lying! Where are we! I'm being dead serious right now!"

The frigid air just got colder, embalming me in spikes of keen ice.

"Oh my god. You really don't know?"

"Yeah, I have no clue! Florian, just tell me, you know I wouldn't lie to you!"

I feel the ground starting to shake. The wind starts to intensify and pierce my skin with the acute bits and pieces scattered from the ground.

"OH MY GOD! FLORIAN WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME!"

I'm trying to shout as the winds start to mute my shrieks and suck my body away. My gray fleece beanie loosens itself from my jet black hair and joins the vile vacuum trying to pull me despite my efforts to stay grounded.

"COR, YOU'RE NOT DEAD!?"

"DEAD!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN DEAD?"

"IT'S TOO LATE, YOU'RE GOING BACK TO EARTH. JUST REMEMBER, I LOVE YOU CORDELIA."

I feel the wind picking up and lifting me from the ground. I reach for Florian's hands but to my surprise, I can't seem to feel them, embrace them, touch them. My hands slip right through his, falling down in despair. I shriek louder and start to cry as my life begins to flash before my eyes.

"NO, WAIT—"

BEEP BEEP.

I open my eyes to a white light that blinds me. I sit up and stretch my back out, hearing an array of cracks fill the room.

"Where's Florian, where am I," I say as I rub my eyes in confusion.

"Hello, Cordelia, my name's Doctor Maya Lewis. I know this may seem confusing right now but right now I need you to rest because what I'm about to tell you may seem surreal and even painful. I need to tell you that, you've been in a coma for the last ten years and you actually had a death scare right now, but fortunately, you've just woken up and we were able to stabilize you. I've just alerted your family and they will be arriving here any minute."

"Wha—what do you mean? I was just here driving with—where's Florian?"

"Ma'am, listen, I understand that you're confused and I will explain everything to you in detail later. Right now I need you to—"

"Where is he!?"

The silence slid into an eerie pain of hope.

"Cordelia, I'm so sorry, but, ten years ago, you were in a car crash with your friend Florian and unfortunately, Florian couldn't make it. I am so sorry."