Chapter 1: Afterstory: The World Does Not Stop Moving Just Because A Single Person's Story Is Now Over (1)

When the sun rose, I only belatedly realised that I had fallen asleep at some point during the restless night.

"..."

Lying in bed, I remained still as a corpse, the entirety of my mind focused only on that dream.

The teasing, mocking illusion that rears its head every night.

Some nights, it shows scenes of foregone, bittersweet days that, forever lost, will never be experienced again.

Others, it presents to us no more than the sad, unattainable visage of a person now long passed.

Today, as I have done on this date for the past five years, I awoke from a slumber showing the latter.

Despite that not making it any less mood-dampening, I glanced at the phone to my side, tapped the button to turn off the alarm, and raised myself up, listlessly.

Then, half-turning my head, I saw my other half staring at me from beneath the covers.

"..."

"..."

We didn't need to say anything to each other.