How did this happen?

I widened my eyes and stared at him intently.

His black hair, soft and disheveled like waves, and his jet-black eyes, so clear they seemed more transparent than glass.

With such striking features that anyone would fall for at first glance, my vision sharpened, as if my eyesight had suddenly improved tenfold.

The man looked exactly like my husband, Alec.

I gasped in shock, quickly flailing my arms as I straightened myself up.

I blinked, forgetting even to breathe.

He, too, was looking at me with a stunned expression.

“…Alec?”

At the sound of my cautious voice, he flinched.

“Lo-Louise?”

“….”

“How… how are you here?”

“…!”

Really?

Is that really Alec?

Even his voice and the way he stammered were just like the Alec I knew.

The gaze that recognized me also seemed to be his.

I inhaled deeply and slowly looked him over.

He was wearing a black jacket with gear attached, along with pants of the same color.

His appearance was so unfamiliar and modern that I couldn’t believe it was him.

“What on earth is going on…?”

I met his gaze again.

Could I be dreaming?

Instead of dying from an overdose of sleeping pills, could I be having an absurdly vivid dream?

Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in my head, I staggered slightly and pressed my fingers to my temple.

He rushed toward me in concern, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“It’s okay. Oh my, what is this? To dream something like this…”

I had wished to see him, but I never thought it would happen in such an unbelievable form.

Isn’t this dream a bit too cruel?

I shook my head a couple of times.

“I think I’m dreaming. I haven’t been able to sleep well lately, so I took some medication I don’t usually take.”

“…!”

He looked startled, his eyes widening.

I forced myself to pull it together, straightening up and taking a deep breath as I faced him.

Even though it was a dream, seeing Alec again made my chest tighten with emotion.

I could feel tears welling up as I opened my mouth to speak.

“It’s been a long time, Alec. I thought I’d never see you again. You probably don’t understand what I’m saying, but since this is my dream, it doesn’t matter if you don’t.”

“…W-what? W-we should go s-somewhere else first.”

“Huh?”

Before I could question him, he grabbed my arm.

The chaotic surroundings quickly blurred past, and soon I found myself standing in a lush, green forest.

What is this? Teleportation?

Wasn’t that an ability even the fake Alec had?

Could my memories be jumbled up, creating this dream?

As I stared at him in confusion, he let go of me.

Taking a step back with a worried expression, he spoke.

“Louise.”

“…”

I swallowed dryly for no reason.

Maybe it was the sudden reunion, but my heart was pounding.

Even though this was an illusion, the thought of seeing him again made me want to cry.

With a look of certainty in his eyes, he began to speak.

“T-this isn’t your d-dream, Louise.”

“What?”

It’s not my dream?

“Then what is it?”

“This is….”

He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again with a complex sigh.

I watched him for a moment, then spoke as if resigning to the situation.

“How could a place this ridiculous not be my dream? The truth is, I was trying to die. You already died several months ago.”

“What?”

“…”

“L-Louise, you… tried to kill yourself?”

“And do you know what happened? You wouldn’t believe it if you heard. Another person’s soul entered your body.”

“…!”

His face turned pale as if he’d heard something unbelievable. I let out a bitter laugh and continued.

“It seems that person entered right after you died. How could such a thing happen? Isn’t it absurd?”

“…”

He stood there frozen, his lips slightly parted, and I smiled weakly.

“I almost believed it. I thought you had barely survived, and I even believed the part about you losing your memory.”

“…”

“For months, I thought that person was you. It was surprising how much your speech changed and the strange abilities you gained, but I thought it was just because you had suddenly awakened some magic. But no, it wasn’t.”

“…”

“That person wasn’t you. Why did you die and leave me behind?”

“…”

His eyes trembled pitifully.

I stared at him without moving.

It was the question I had wanted to ask if I ever saw him again.

But what had already happened couldn’t be undone.

I lowered my head slightly and sighed.

“I trusted you… and you left me. I felt like I was the only one left in the world… it was unbearable.”

“…”

I never wanted to feel that loneliness again.

Just the thought of being alone made my eyes fill with tears.

I wanted to brush it off as something trivial, but in the end, my heart was weak.

So weak that I couldn’t bear the loneliness and tried to end my own life.

“Louise.”

Suddenly, he called out to me.

At the sound of his voice, I lifted my head and looked up at him again.

He was still pale, as if in shock.

“D-Did I… really have no memories?”

“…What?”

“This can’t be…”

“……”

He anxiously ran his hand over his face.

I stared at him blankly, as if time had stopped.

What is he saying right now?

Suddenly, he seemed to make a decision, taking a deep breath as his eyes sharpened.

“Louise.”

“……”

He firmly grabbed both of my arms.

“P-Please, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. I-I don’t have much time.”

“…What is it?”

“That, that person…”

“……”

“The person you saw… was me.”

“……”

He said this with unwavering certainty, without blinking.

Suddenly, a ringing started in my ears, like they were malfunctioning.

What did he just say?

Is this a dream, or should I believe him?

“Alec.”

Just as I felt dizzy and opened my mouth, his voice became even firmer.

“This, this isn’t your dream. I, I died and came here… as I promised, I tried to return as the perfect husband.”

“……”

Chirp, chirp.

Somewhere, the clear sound of birds flying echoed in the sky.

It occurred to me that the sunlight pouring down and the surrounding noises were too vivid for this to be a dream.

“…Is that true? That person is really you?”

“…Yes.”

He nodded once, answering, then spoke again.

“That, that is… me, from the future.”

“……”

How should I even begin to process this?

I blinked, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

In that moment, his voice came again.

“I, I must have lost my memory after an accident in the future.”

“……”

Could this really be reality?

Or is this a dream trying to fulfill my wish?

That he was really him. So I don’t need to feel guilty anymore.

Screech!

Suddenly, a scream was heard from afar.

Along with the strange cry of some unknown creature.

If this isn’t a dream, then what kind of world is this? I couldn’t make sense of anything.

Alec glanced toward the sound and quickly spoke, as if in a rush.

“L-Louise. I… I have to go.”

“…!”

What?

Go?

Reality hit me, and tears began to well up.

I couldn’t believe it. We had just reunited, only to part so soon.

Without thinking, I grabbed his arm.

“Don’t go. I’ve missed you so much. Can’t we stay together a little longer? There’s something I really need to say to you.”

You’ve already been such a great comfort to me, just by existing.

Just being alive by my side was enough—it was perfect.

Why did I only realize that now?

No matter how handsome, more competent, or completely in love with me someone else might be, the one I truly wanted was the person I first married.

But now, as if this were the last time, he looked at me earnestly, as if taking me in with his eyes.

“Louise. You’re not dead yet. You need to wake up.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories