“Some good fortune!” she yells over the rising storm.
“I never said goodweather!” My laughs are muddled through the rain and thunder. Dark clouds roll in, blocking any light from beyond the pines. A gall of wind splits between us, breaking our hands apart.
“Where are you!” she screams.
I stumble, tripping over an exposed root, losing sight of her. I try to straighten myself but I’m pulled down by another root. They encompass me, holding me tightly to the ground
“My love—” A vine snakes its way around my mouth, muffling my voice.
“Help me!” she screams again and again and no matter how hard I try, I can’t reach her.
The dream startles me awake, a cold sheen of sweat coating my forehead. Rolling onto my side, I watch Elora’s back rise and fall, the steady sound of her breathing relaxing the tension in my shoulders. I run a hand through my hair, gripping it at the roots. The dream, while not necessarily a nightmare, felt so real that I need something tangible to hold on to. It also isn’t the first time I’ve had it.
Me, Elora, and a rising storm. It always ends the same as well. Her needing me. Me unable to reach her.
Elora stretches next to me, so I roll closer to her. “Good morning,” I whisper against her hair.
The sun is still tucked away, only fragments of moonlight slipping through the small, round window.
“Is it morning?” She rolls over, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I have no idea.”
“Have you slept?” she asks, threading her fingers through my hair.
I shrug, pushing her hair from her face. I don’t tell her that no, I’ve barely slept. Too many racing thoughts. Too many scenarios playing in my head for me to relax. Too many dreams that feel like memories.
“How about you? Did you sleep well?” She does the same, shrugging at my question instead of answering, but there’s a hopeful glint in her eye that settles my stomach. “Do you want to talk about Calix?”
“I don’t know what there is to say.” She looks away from me, chewing her bottom lip. “I suppose it doesn’t change much, does it?”
“Maybe it will,” I say.
She slides her hands from the back of my neck and places them on my chest instead.
“You get to decide what kind of relationship you want, and if you choose none, then that’s all it will be.”
She frowns, but nods.
“The twins want to have a party today.”
This makes her smile, which steadies the erratic rhythm of my heart. “For what exactly?”
“Sam,” I say. “But knowing them, they’d throw a party just to celebrate waking up.” I laugh, leaning forward to kiss her. Thesoft moan she lets out shoots through me, so I roll on top of her, bracing my elbows on either side of her face. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that sound.” I kiss her again, cupping her chin and holding her close to me.
Her teeth graze my bottom lip as she pulls away, but I pull her right back and kiss her deeper.
Then, the vision hits me again.
Elora and myself in the thick of a storm.
Three old women, their skin wrinkled and worn. Their eyes, glossy and white.
Elora breaks our kiss away, gasping as she does. Her eyes are blown wide, and when she parts from me, the memories stop.
“Kiss me again.” I grip her chin and she does as I say. She kisses me harder than before. tangling her fingers in my hair, raking her nails against my scalp and neck.
And just as I suspected, the dream comes rushing back.
