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I’m in a strange place. I didn’t wake up, But I don't remember my existence before this. Checking my surroundings I noticed a hallway in an elaborate manor, dimly lit as the sunless sky gave no light, Only candles illuminating the hallways now. I can hear echoes of bustling hallways, stomping footsteps as children ran, their shrill laughter once music to my ears, haunting as it dawns on me that they’ve been dead for a long time. I can see the once life filled rooms, empty and dark. I feel a longing for what once was, wishing I had been better when I had the chance. I feel a yearning for the family I once had that I had failed, and I paid for that mistake, the years of mistakes, the days before she passed. Who was she, I think as I look at the photos on the walls. Self explanatory, I suppose, A wife who’s name slips my mind.
I can feel The Dragon circling over head
I enter the room nearest to the staircase, not daring to face what memories may be up there. The teal themed canopy bed already tipped me off to who this room once belonged to. I remember her excited squeals once I had finished setting up the room. She had been waiting for the day she could move into a new room. I remember how disconnected I had been when she was younger After… After my… Best friend had died. I remember now how she had told me about the Sailor boy she loved, and how that sailor boy ended up being a murderer who couldve killed me any day but instead used me for my riches. How she ended up leaving with him and dying at sea, at 30 years old, young for an elf, young for a half elf, average age for the humans of the time. How my grief consumed me because I didn’t know how hooked I was on the ego boosts he kept giving me whenever I was going to kick him to the curb.
I ignore the beating of the dragon’s wings outside.
I leave the room and head to the next, A Gold and Violet color palette contrasting. I look at the long forgotten journals, and I can remember how he stopped by in a panic asking me to hold onto them for him. He said he didn’t want them at his house anymore. I never saw him again after that day. There were missing fliers for him around town. I read one of them, and I understand. The pages have stories of things nobody would’ve thought of, and in the last volume… It says they were all real. He requested that they get published, but the last one was bloodstained. I couldn’t in good conscience try to recreate what had been destroyed by the blood. I put all the money into keeping up his abandoned houses and creating his memorial in the garden. Whatever was left is left in a chest for him in his section of the garden. I wonder if there will be anyone left to bury me when I die. I wonder if anyone would find my body. I wonder if there’ll be a body left
I ignore as the dragon lands on the roof
I head to the last room in the hallway, Black and red aesthetics much like mine. He always wanted to be like me. He didn't know any better. He lived longer than his brother and sister though, 173. At that age I wasn’t even thinking about settling down yet. Didn’t know I wanted to until 20 years later. He never got married, Spent his whole life serving others like myself, Not knowing I did that to compensate for my horrible parents. Maybe he did know. Maybe he wanted to compensate for the five years of nothing from us.
The dragon looms. Best to wait a little longer.
I walk into the kitchen. I can feel the hurt, the rage, the headache, and the drunk. It was a bad time, the last I truly took in the feelings and look of the room. It's all just hollow now. A dull ache and a feeling of longing.
I can hear footsteps down the hallway and I know lady death has had enough time to consider her decision. She has taken care of the dragon, and as the moments pass I can feel the chill of her approach.
I’ll make some tea and await her arrival, I suppose.