Chapter Text
Taehyun keeps on running. And running. And panting. Breathless from rushing out as soon as his eyes peered out the window and caught a glimpse of the extraordinary sight.
His feet come to a halt reaching the edge of the world. There is only a sea of nothingness beyond.
He bends over for two quick seconds with hands on his knees, inhaling deeply to compensate for the loss of breath. But something crosses his vision through a distant corner of his eyes. His gaze instantly flicks up to the sky – a handful of colors dance around, blending together to form a breathtaking view. No less than an illusion. Smeared with several fascinating shades of blue, streaks of gold rays making their way out from behind the trail of white clouds, and an enchanting pink painting strokes across the horizon – the beauty of a staggering sunset unravels. But that isn’t the only thing which causes his breath to hitch and his already wide eyes to go even wider.
The stars hung up high in the sky, half hidden by the swaying clouds, and half hidden by the mystic play of light and colors, slowly starts to emerge from behind the haze. Unveiling themselves, with each star shining brighter than the other one.
And in the blink of an eye, it happens. The flickering stars fall from the sky. Taehyun holds his breath. He counts - one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... He stops. But the stars don't. They go on, falling, until he can't count anymore, setting the sky ablaze and leaving not a single trace of the temporary darkness of dusk.
His mouth hangs agape in disbelief as the scenery unfolds. It's surreal. Magical. A dream. A phenomenon he’s never thought of witnessing before. His gaze wanders around frantically, his head tries to grasp the situation, and a gentle breeze brushes against his face, taking away with it every hint of amazement from his eyes. But as soon as it does, more astonishment fills his irises. The shooting stars create fireworks across the stunning canvas painted by the heavens.
Except he doesn’t get to dwell on it for long. The euphoria is long past over. Because there are strings being pulled in his heart and a sense of panic overwhelming him. Not because of the marvelous sky or the unbelievable show of stars. No. It is the lone figure standing in front of him. Tall, heavenly, angelic. And lonely.
And when the figure turns around to look at him, Taehyun can see the shining reflection of the stars in his dark brown eyes. Endless, they seemed, the first time he met him. Twinkling. But as Taehyun peers deeper into those gleaming orbs, all he sees is the devastation. The melancholy. The sorrow seeping out from those eyes through a thin trail of a river that even flows down his pale cheeks.
The falling stars are no miracle. They are no dreams. They are simply a sign. A sign that it is the last time he can see him. Hold him. Say goodbye to him.
As time ticks, Taehyun only helplessly finds himself suffocated by the fear of losing him forever. Like a ticking bomb about to blast. Taehyun wants to scream at the heavens until his throat goes sore, recklessly blame them for their ruthlessness just to provoke them, cracking open the cold, unmovable hearts set in stone, cry angry tears that flood his vision, will them to show mercy, kneel down hours after hours, days after days til his knees scar and form calluses, and beg them to spare the angel over and over again, until they heed. But he knows better than anyone - no prayer of his is going be heard. Or answered, even. Because if anything, it's his fault.
All of it is his fault. And none of it is okay. None of it is fair.
The angel's face, though marred with tears, remains void of any sadness that is otherwise engraved in every inch of Taehyun's body. The end of the angel's lips curve upwards, offering him a smile, which would on any other day effortlessly manage to ease the younger one. But, now it doesn't even do so much as wiping away the look of apprehension plastered on his face. And despite the divinity in front of him not uttering a single word, his crystal-like glassy eyes are enough to give away the last remaining statement he bore in his heart.
Farewell.
Two syllables. One word. One last breath, one last glance. And Taehyun knows it's a word he's going to hold on to forever, but, a soul he's not going to be able to touch, ever again.