[Amelia takes a deep breath. In this instance, not being alone feels like a double-edged sword. She thinks that if she had asked him to leave her be and to face this memory alone, Gale would listen to her and let her deal with it in her own way.
However, the Emerald Witch tries to think of this as an equal exchange. In return for witnessing his pain, he is allowed to bear witness to whatever comes next as she reaches out to touch the rose fragment with her fingers.
The light bursts. A voice fills the rose garden.
And all that hesitation could not have prepared her for hearing him again.]
"Amelia...? It's okay if you cry in front of me. It's okay if you get angry, or frustrated, and if you want to give up. You can even hide again if you want. I'll be with you. I'll even hide with you for as long as you need to.
Why?"
[Her heart quickens. It twists with heavy and overwhelming yearning. His voice was so sweet, like a comforting ray of afternoon sunlight that enveloped her every day after school.
The youthful and gentle voice chuckles with warmth.]
"Because it's so beautiful. Your heart isn't ugly at all. You're so beautiful and shine so brightly it's blinding."
[Who would ever look at her that way again? Who would ever see every imperfection and crack and treasure it the way he did?]
"Living might be painful but it isn't impossible. I don't know much either but... I'll learn with you. I want to be by your side and see it all instead of just waiting and dreaming like before. You don't have to be alone anymore."
[Her mouth opens to respond but just like back then, he said it before she could retort.]
"After all... I love you. I really do.
I love you more than I could ever promise."
[The voice fades and the fragment is no more. Amelia is standing as still as a statue with her hands clasped together, knuckles tight with tension, trying to hold back the waves that were crashing against her defenses.
She tries to speak, but all she feels is a tear slide down her cheek and onto her wrist. And then another. And then another. Amelia keeps her back turned to Gale and she silently takes off her glasses and takes another shuddery breath.]
no subject
However, the Emerald Witch tries to think of this as an equal exchange. In return for witnessing his pain, he is allowed to bear witness to whatever comes next as she reaches out to touch the rose fragment with her fingers.
The light bursts. A voice fills the rose garden.
And all that hesitation could not have prepared her for hearing him again.]
[Her heart quickens. It twists with heavy and overwhelming yearning. His voice was so sweet, like a comforting ray of afternoon sunlight that enveloped her every day after school.
The youthful and gentle voice chuckles with warmth.]
[Who would ever look at her that way again? Who would ever see every imperfection and crack and treasure it the way he did?]
[Her mouth opens to respond but just like back then, he said it before she could retort.]
[The voice fades and the fragment is no more. Amelia is standing as still as a statue with her hands clasped together, knuckles tight with tension, trying to hold back the waves that were crashing against her defenses.
She tries to speak, but all she feels is a tear slide down her cheek and onto her wrist. And then another. And then another. Amelia keeps her back turned to Gale and she silently takes off her glasses and takes another shuddery breath.]