Chapter 20: Memory of us

The forest is quiet, too quiet. I sit on a jagged rock, the cool breeze brushing past me, carrying the faint scent of pine and wildflowers. This place used to be alive with memories, with her laughter, with us. Now it feels hollow, as if the world itself mourns what we once had.

I lean back, my head resting against the bark of an old tree, and close my eyes. The ache in my chest grows heavier, pulling me into a memory I can’t escape.

The sun filtered through the canopy, painting golden patterns on the ground. Lyra danced ahead of me, her white dress swirling as she moved. Her laugh rang through the forest, light and carefree, a sound I never grew tired of. She was always so serious at court, the weight of the crown pressing on her shoulders, but here, she was free.

“Kaelen, catch me if you can!” she teased, looking back over her shoulder, her dark hair flying behind her.

“Lyra, you know I’m faster than you,” I called out, grinning as I started to chase her.

She darted between the trees, her movements graceful, like she belonged to the forest itself. I let her think she had the upper hand, enjoying the way her eyes sparkled when she thought she was winning. But in a burst of speed, I caught her, my arms wrapping around her waist.

“I win,” I whispered into her ear, my voice low.

Her laughter softened, and she turned in my arms to face me. “You always do,” she said, her voice quieter now, her hands resting on my chest.

At that moment, everything else disappeared. It was just us, standing in the heart of the forest, with nothing but the sound of the wind and the rustling leaves around us.

The memory sharpens, pulling me deeper. I can still feel her, warm and real in my arms.

We sat by the edge of a crystal-clear stream, the water sparkling in the sunlight. Lyra dipped her fingers into the cool water, drawing lazy patterns.

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m strong enough for all of this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“For what?” I asked, even though I already knew.

“To rule. To carry the weight of a kingdom. To be what everyone expects me to be.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with doubt.

“You don’t have to be perfect, Lyra. You just have to be you. That’s enough,” I said, taking her hand in mine.

She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “And what about us, Kaelen? How do we fit into this world of expectations?”

I didn’t have an answer, not then. Instead, I leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “We’ll find a way. I promise.”

Her lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but I silenced her with a kiss. It was soft at first, hesitant, as if we were both afraid of breaking the fragile moment. But then it deepened, and everything I felt for her poured into that kiss, my love, my longing, my promise to stand by her no matter what.

I open my eyes, the memory slipping away like smoke through my fingers. The pain of losing her hits me like a wave, sharp and restless.

In the memory, the forest seemed alive with color and sound, but here in the present, it feels dull, muted. I try to hold on to the warmth of her touch, the taste of her lips, but it’s fleeting.

Another memory pushes forward, unbidden.We lay on the soft moss, the world forgotten as we held each other. Lyra rested her head on my chest, her fingers tracing circles on my skin.

“I wish we could stay here forever,” she said softly.

“Then let’s,” I replied, half-joking but wishing it were possible.

She lifted her head, her eyes searching mine. “You’d give up everything for me?”

“Everything,” I said without hesitation.

Her lips curved into a smile, and she kissed me again, slow and tender. I wanted nothing more than to lose myself in her, to show her how much she meant to me. My hands slid down her back, pulling her closer, and for a moment, the rest of the world ceased to exist.

But I stopped myself before we went too far. “Lyra, we can’t…”

She placed a finger on my lips. “I trust you, Kaelen.”

Those three words broke me and healed me all at once. I wanted her, yes, but more than that, I wanted her to feel safe, loved, cherished.

Back in the present, I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. She doesn’t remember any of it. Not the stolen kisses, not the promises we made, not the love we shared.

And yet, I feel her, even now. The bond we once had is faint but still there, like an ember refusing to die.

We had stolen hours in that enchanted forest, hidden from the world. Lyra always said it was the only place she could truly breathe, away from the suffocating expectations of the crown. I had agreed, though my reason was different. For me, it was the only place where I had her entirely to myself.

I remember the way her fingers brushed over the rough bark of a tree as she walked beside me, her gaze thoughtful. “Kaelen, do you ever wish you were just... ordinary?” she asked suddenly, breaking the peaceful silence.

I chuckled, reaching out to take her hand, her soft palm fitting perfectly in mine. “Ordinary? I think I’d go mad. Imagine a life without you, Lyra.”

She stopped walking and turned to me, her expression unreadable. “You wouldn’t have to bear the weight of me, though.”

I frowned, stepping closer. “You are not a burden. Don’t ever think that.”

Her lips parted to respond, but I silenced her by pulling her into my arms. She stiffened for a moment, then melted against me. “You’re everything to me,” I whispered against her hair. “I wouldn’t trade a single moment with you, not even for a life free of responsibilities.”

She tilted her head back to look at me, her deep eyes glistening. “Kaelen, you always know what to say.”

“Because I mean it,” I said, my voice steady.

The memory shifts, pulling me deeper into the past. I see her now as she was then radiant and carefree, her hair shimmering in the dappled sunlight. We found a small grass soft beneath our feet, and she sank down onto it, patting the space beside her.

“Come on,” she said with a playful smile.

I lowered myself beside her, lying back and folding my arms behind my head. She mirrored me, her face turned toward mine, her smile softening into something more vulnerable.

“I wish this could last forever,” she murmured, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on my arm.

“Maybe it can,” I teased, though my chest ached with the knowledge that it couldn’t.

She propped herself up on one elbow, her hair falling like a curtain around her face. “Kaelen,” she began, her voice trembling slightly, “do you ever think about the future? About us?”

“All the time,” I said without hesitation.

“And?” she prompted, her brow furrowing.

“And I know one thing for sure,” I said, sitting up so I could face her fully. I cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing her soft skin. “Whatever the future holds, I’ll be by your side. Always.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into my touch. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Because it is,” I said, pulling her closer.

The memory sharpens again, bringing back the warmth of her breath against my skin.

That evening, as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with shades of gold and crimson, Lyra leaned against me, her head resting on my shoulder. “Kaelen, promise me something,” she said softly.

“Anything.”

“Promise me you’ll never let me forget how this feels,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I turned to her, my heart clenching at the vulnerability in her expression. “I promise,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “But you won’t forget. Not this. Not us.”

She smiled faintly, her hand slipping up to cradle my cheek. “I hope you’re right.”

Her touch sent a wave of warmth through me, and before I could think twice, I leaned in, capturing her lips with mine. It wasn’t the first time we’d kissed, but this one was different, slower, deeper, filled with the unspoken promise of forever.

She responded eagerly, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. My hands slid to her waist, holding her firmly as I shifted to lay her back against the soft grass. Her lips parted beneath mine, and I deepened the kiss, savoring every second.

When I pulled back to catch my breath, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes half-lidded and filled with trust. “Kaelen,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

I kissed her again, softer this time, my lips trailing to her jaw and down the delicate curve of her neck. She shivered beneath me, her hands clutching at my shirt as if afraid I might pull away.

Even now, I can feel the ghost of her touch, the way she trembled in my arms, the way her lips shaped my name like a prayer. I open my eyes, and the emptiness of the present crashes over me.

Another memory surfaces, one of laughter and teasing.Lyra had pushed me into the stream, her laughter echoing through the forest as I splashed in the shallow water. “You’re a cute little kiddo,” I said, though I couldn’t help but smile.

“You love it,” she shot back, sticking out her tongue.

I surged forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into the water with me. She squealed, landing with a splash, her dress clinging to her as she struggled to sit up.

“Kaelen!” she scolded, though her grin betrayed her.

I laughed, brushing her wet hair from her face. “I do love it. I love you.”

Her laughter faded, and she stared at me, her expression serious. “I love you too,” she said, the words soft but firm, as if she needed me to know she meant them.

I stand abruptly, my chest tightening. Something’s wrong. A wave of emotion crashes over me fear, anger, and pain all at once. It’s not mine.

“Lyra,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

The connection sparks to life, stronger than it’s been in years. It’s as if her soul is calling out to me, desperate and raw. I stagger, gripping the tree for support, my heart pounding in my chest.

She’s in danger.I don’t know how ,but i know one thing for sure thatI’ll stop at nothing to get to her.