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Mind cannot see in this abyss of forest, of sharp weeds and rough trunks.
He is as blind as Heart is, the moonlight barely lighting up his surroundings. He stumbles forward carelessly, crashing through the shrubbery and deeper into this lush maze, in an attempt to search for █████ . Sounds engulf his ears: the hushing of swaying leaves, the screaming crickets, the distant rumble of thunder inching closer. The damp forest floor beneath him squelches with every step; the stifling air choking him. Feet find slippery stones; he slips and falls onto the wet leaves and grass.
Mind sighs, shaking off the mud and leaves sticking to his skin. Standing up, he hears something, just then, the
CRACK
of a twig echoing in the thick, humid woods. There is someone here.
His eyes dart around the yawning, gloomy trees. He is sure that he is not alone, yet he cannot see them; he cannot find them. Mind is as alone as the stars in the sky.
And yet he cannot see the sky. From down here, he can only see the crowns of the trees and slivers of the night. Is he even certain stars exist for him to view? Sometimes Mind’s will falters, and doubt plants itself in his head.
Another cracking of the branches, and Heart stumbles into view. But he is not truly near him – Heart is so far away, he might as well not be there. The mop of black curls greet him, and Mind lights up immediately.
“[Heart,]” he says–starting off curt yet dissolving into frantic relief– “[I was so worried. Where did you go? Why did you run?]” He brushes off a stray twig off his arm.
“[Why did you leave me alone?]”
Heart doesn’t answer, or maybe he is unable to answer; maybe he cannot hear Mind, for he stays just outside his reach. He stands silently, unfocused, unseeing eyes staring blankly. The world stills: the crickets silence themselves, and the leaves stop with the absence of wind. Only their breathing, and the thump-thump-thump of Mind’s heart remain, ringing loud in his ears.
“[Heart?]” he tries again to no avail. Mind steps closer, splitting a branch in two.
Heart steps back.
There is clarity in the once seemingly blind, dull, eyes. He is certain that Heart has seen something, felt something, for nothing can explain his unusual behaviour. What does he know, that Mind does not?
“(I’m sorry,)” Heart utters, finality in his tone. “(I wish things were different.)”
“[Different how? Different when?]” Mind cannot understand these nonsensical words. “[What happened, Heart? Tell me.]”
He doesn’t answer. Not immediately. Slow shuffles away from Mind. Befuddled, he starts following, but Heart seems to have decided the conversation was over.
“(Mind,)” he snaps, silencing any other objections. Heart stands where moonlight peaks through the canopy, and for the first time, he can see the light in Heart’s eyes, and see his own blindness all along. Mind looks into the pale white pupils that no longer stare past him.
“(Don’t you know?)” Heart continues. “(Did you forget? This could not last forever. I must go. Despite my utmost regret, I must go.)”
“[Go?]”
“(We both knew this would happen one day. Eventually, I would leave . I would be forced to leave. Don’t you understand?)”
Mind, even with all his logical thinking, cannot understand Heart’s rambling. He simply cannot comprehend the idea of being forced to leave when there is no higher being able to control their decisions. Yet Heart is so adamant that he almost believes it too.
“[If you really must… then go.]” he begrudgingly concedes, stepping back, watching Heart begin to walk away, deeper into the forest. And Mind is left alone, in the quiet night, without a whisper from a bug nor tree. The woods do not return to the status quo; only deafening silence remains in the absence of the Moon.
There are no more stars to dream about tonight.