Another Page

Two beings stood in the middle of an empty field. A man and a woman, the woman’s long brunette hair blowing behind her, the boys short black hair askew from the powerful wind. He looked down at the shorter woman and gazed into her ocean blue eyes, she gazed back into his brown ones. 

This was the end, the end of their story. They both knew it. She could feel the magic of the portal behind her trying to drag her in, she couldn’t hold on for much longer. This was the only way to save everything and everyone, if she went to whole other universe this one would be safe without her. She had to leave him here, it was the only way. He looked into her eyes and teared up, finally realising he would never see her again. He would never see his love’s face, never feel her touch and never kiss her again. 

“I can’t let you go.” She whispered as tears streamed down her pale face. 

“I’ll never…” She took in a deep breath and let more tears fall before she continued. 

“I’ll never see you again.” She sobbed out as he held onto her hands. The powerful magic creating a strong wind around them. 

“This is the end my love, our story had to end at some point. You knew this day would come. Please, you need to be strong. You need to let go.” He whispered barely getting his words out. She realised that this moment was all they had, she realised how quickly it would end and how soon it would just become a distant memory. The last chapter, the last word of the story. 

“I love you.” She whispered as he wiped away her tears. 

“I love you too, forever.” He replied making her cry even more. She knew she had to let go, she didn’t want to, with all her heart and soul she didn’t want to. But she had to. It was time, time to close the book and end their story. 

“You have to let go now.” He muttered, she nodded and looked into his eyes for the last time. 

“Goodbye, my love.” She managed to whisper the last words as their hands began to let go. Everything they had gone through, the love they had shared, the battles fought and the darkness they had conquered. It was over, it was in the past, those times were chapters away lost in words and pages. Soon this moment would be the same, just a distant heartache. 

She cast one last glance at her love and let go of his hands. 

And that was it, the moment was over, the story had ended. She drifted away from him to another land where a new story would begin, a story without him. 

Looking back on it, she wishes she could pause that moment. Just be with him for eternity in that last page. But like any story, you read it, finish it, think about it for some time and then it slowly fades from your mind. This story would to fade from her mind, the character she loved so dearly would fade along with it in time. 

So many years since she was in that last moment, as much as she hated it even his face was starting to fade. She used to be able to map out every freckle, every scar on his face. But now, she could barely remember his eyes or his voice. She convinced herself for so long that it wasn’t forever, that one day she would see him again, hold him again. He warned her of this, warned her not to torture herself with memories of someone that didn’t even exist anymore. Someone that has been written out of the story so long ago. 

It’s ok to let go now, it’s ok to move on. He may fade from her mind, but that feeling in her heart would never falter. Their story may have ended and their book burnt to ash. But part of that girl still remained in this new character, that love he gave her remained and would forever remain. 

It’s time to close the book, let the words fade with time, let the pages turn to dust and let those characters you loved so much, let them fade from your mind. 

It had been so long since that time. The girl didn’t remember any of it now, just small flashbacks and nightmares of that past life. She looked a lot different now, more scars on her body and her hair now black. She thought she was just a simple human living her life, working and living in the city. Just another cog in the machine of life, but behind that she was so much more; an ancient warrior from another universe, a slave, a princess, an angel, a demon and so much more than just a human. But still she awoke everyday, dressed and went to work like any other human. Because she simply didn’t remember that past, perhaps it was a positive thing. That life brought a lot of pain and heartache for her, in this life she isn’t tortured or afraid, she can just live without those painful memories. 

“Morning Emma.” Her coworker greeted her as she smiled. Such a simple human name, Emma. A lot different then her real name, Astraea. Such beauty and power contained within one word, I suppose Emma suited her now. Astraea was a warrior name, definitely not suited to the simple human she was now. 

She worked in a cafe in the middle of the city, she enjoyed the atmosphere, her regulars and watching the people go off to their own lives. 

She was attending to her usual duties when she heard the ding of the bell over the door. 

"Oh sorry, we’re not open just yet.” She muttered as she looked up to see a young man entering. She paused for a moment when she saw him, something in her heart ached. His eyes drew her in. His dark hair and brown eyes stirred something within her. 

“Oh I’m so sorry.” He apologised as she snapped back to reality. 

“I feel like we’ve met before, but it seems to have slipped from my mind.” Emma whispered as she chuckled lightly. He just smiled at her kindly. 

“Perhaps we met in a dream once, I’m afraid I live miles from this city so I’ve never been here.” He replied making her blush lightly. There was something about him. 

“Anyway, I best be going. Maybe we will meet again another time.” The young man said before making his leave. Suddenly an imaged flashed through her mind, it was her, she was covered in blood and wounds, screaming and crying. She gasped and brought herself back to reality as her coworker Kate looked at her with worry. 

“Are you ok?” Kate muttered, Emma nodded and took in a deep breath.

“Yeah, sorry.” She mumbled before going back to her tasks. 

After a while they opened up the small cafe as a few people made their way inside. 

“She was a warrior, look at her now. Pathetic.” The lady in front her said as she looked at her in shock. 

“What did you just say?” Emma asked, the old lady just smiled. 

“I said one coffee with no cream.” The lady replied as Emma shook off the strange comment. Emma went back to serving customers, she was focus on the orders she needed to make when she suddenly looked up to see a familiar man. Another image flashed through her mind. 

It was the same from before, her bloodied and wounded but now she looked up and that man was there holding a sword in front of her. Emma gasped and quickly excused herself. She hid in the back of the cafe as she took in deep breaths. 

“It’s not real.” She muttered to herself. She couldn’t stop her hands from shaking, she kept convincing herself that it was just her mind playing tricks. Deep down she knew it was more than that. 

“Trying to figure out where you know me from?” She heard a voice say as she looked beside her to see the man, she was about to scream when he covered her mouth. 

“Now, I wouldn’t do that if I were you dear. It took me a long time to find you, he hid you very well.” The man said as Emma shook with fear. She managed to push him off of her and went to run away when suddenly the cafe changed, she looked around to see herself in a dull abandoned warehouse. 

“Please, I don’t think I’m the right person you’re looking for. I don’t understand anything you’re saying.” Emma pleaded as the man chuckled. 

“Arthur made you forget as well, how sweet.” He said while he chuckled a little. 

“You really don’t remember me Astraea? You’re mine, you loved me very much and I loved you very much.” He continued as she looked at him in fear. 

Somehow this trickster had found her, he was lying. She never loved this monster and she never would, but now that she had no memory he saw the opportunity to make her love him. He had fought Arthur for a long time, fought for her love. But his idea of love was a lot different than Arthur’s, it was manipulative and forceful. 

“Ezekiel.” Emma heard another man say as she looked up to see the same young man from the coffee shop. 

“Please you have to help me!” Emma shouted as she tried to run at the man but Ezekiel stopped her and kept her in his strong grip. 

“You shouldn’t be here Ezekiel.” The young man growled making Ezekiel laugh. 

“Neither should you Arthur but here we are.” Ezekiel growled.

“We don’t belong in this universe, leave her and return to your home. She doesn’t remember her past and that’s what she deserves, she deserves to live a normal happy life.” Arthur said as Emma looked at him in confusion, so many questions ran throughout her mind. 

“No! She deserves to remember and belong to me!” Ezekiel shouted, Emma managed to break free and ran for Arthur as he quickly placed her behind him.

“Last chance Ezekiel, leave. If you truly love her you will see that this is what is best.” Arthur replied, Emma looked over at Ezekiel in fear. 

“She won’t ever remember again, she is happy here. Happy without those memories, let her be Ezekiel.” Arthur tried to bargain with the man. Ezekiel seemed to think for a moment, perhaps there was some part of his darkened soul that wanted the best for her. 

“Fine, but we aren’t done Arthur. I’ll leave her be for now.” He growled before disappearing into thin air. Emma was pale and shaking as Arthur looked down at her. 

“It’s ok, you’re safe now. I’m sorry Astraea.” He whispered running his thumb over her cheek. He had missed his love so much since that day, he just came back to make sure she was happy and living a good life. He hadn’t meant for Ezekiel to follow him, but now he had to leave her again. Truly leave for good this time. 

“Is there any part of you that wants to remember again?” He whispered, Emma looked up into his brown eyes and shook her head. 

“No, if it’s anything like my nightmares and visions. I never want to remember that time again, I am free here and happy.” Emma replied making him smile, it made him sad but also happy. He knew their story had ended long ago, and it was time for her to continue her new one. 

“I’ll let you be Emma, I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavours. Goodbye.” Arthur whispered before snapping his fingers, suddenly she was back in the cafe serving another customer. Arthur erased her memory of the day, he made sure she would have no more nightmares or visions of that place. Made sure she would stay happy. And with that he was gone from her universe and she was happy again, happy living a normal human life. 

But that’s the thing about their story, it was never meant to end. Yes, the first book was finished and done with, but now. 

Well now, they were just starting the second book together. Neither had a clue of what was about to happen. 

Her world would soon crumble before her and she would begin a whole new chapter, she would shed the normal human life she had and be a warrior once again. Perhaps Arthur would return to save his love, and once again their fates would be intertwined. 

But that’s for another book isn’t it. 

Another time.

Another page. 

Another story.