Work Text:
Don't try to bring back what is inevitably gone.
Norman had always been told about that, ever since he had been a young boy he had lived in the most luxurious conditions, unfortunately, he had to learn on the hard way that money doesn't always grant you your happiness.
Having lost his parents quite young, he had never expected to have been in Death's plans for another time so briefly yet, destiny proved him wrong with the tragic accident on his honeymoon.
He had never expected to spend what should be the happiest night of his life staring down at the body of his deceased wife, lying on the hospital's bed as the machines gave it one last beep of any sources of life.
Despite not providing any warmth, Norman could only grip the cold hand of his wife, who looked like an angel with her eyes closed in her eternal sleep, her wild ginger hair loosely spread on the pillow and his hand softly moved the hair away from her forehead.
He had finally beweded Emma, his childhood friend and crush, never having known what was life without her and there they were: in their early twenties, with a ring in their fingers that promised each other's devotions until death broke then apart. Yet, a ring was only a ring and Norman wouldn't let death win once more.
Either maniac or blind by love, or both even, Norman managed to think of a way to not leave his wife behind and before he had noticed, twenty years had passed since he had locked himself away from the world but he had succeeded, oh boy if he had succeeded.
Sleepless nights, the craziest of the experiments, Everything that his money and intelligence could allow and even further but there it was. Twenty years later, emerald eyes opened up again to meet his aquamarine and his heart skipped a beat when she coughed, her body getting used to working once again.
He had won against death. Norman thought at that moment.
Or had he? He started questioning it more and more as time passed, noticing how different things had become.
The once happy sunshine that illuminated his days and nights could no longer keep her natural warmth when Norman held her close.
Her smile was never again showed to him, her stoic expression never breaking into her usual cheerful grin, always so full of emotion.
The green eyes that always transmitted to Norman a feeling of inner peace whenever he locked his gaze with those dazzling emeralds were now dull and lifeless.
She had no personality. No more the fierce spirit he had fell for yet he still needed her.
None of the scars present on her olive-colored skin caused by the innumerous surgeries minded him. She was there breathing next to him and that was all it mattered.
Because that was Emma, his sweet, precious wife that he loved so dearly.
"Norman?" Her voice called him from his thoughts, no warmth or concern on her voice, just a stoic tone as the expression she carried "Why are you crying?"
Bringing his hand to his face, he was shocked to see tears falling down his eyes, only then seeing a blurry silhouette of his beloved as she stared at him soullessly.
And then the realization hit him, those words that cursed him coming back to haunt him once more:
Don't try to bring back what is inevitably gone.
He had managed to bring back to life the woman he loved, death having taken her away from him and him, being so out of character and being naive as he teased his wife to be, allowed himself to think that he had fooled death.
He didn't. He lost. Big time.
As now he could only watch in pain as the love of his life- no, the body of the love of his life- followed him wherever he went, as a neverending nightmare that he would have to live on, being constantly tortured by her lifeless, cold, loveless glance on him.