Radiance

Chapitre Deux

As I lay in bed that night, the events of the day replayed in my mind like a vivid dream. Kianti's presence lingered in the air, her laughter echoing in the corners of my thoughts. Despite my best efforts to push her out of my mind, I found myself eagerly anticipating our meeting the next day.

It was a strange sensation, one I hadn't felt in a long time. I had grown accustomed to the solitude of my own company, building walls around my heart to protect myself from the pain of disappointment. But Kianti had effortlessly shattered those barriers with her warmth and charm, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable in her wake.

I knew I shouldn't let myself fall for her. It was a dangerous game, one that I had sworn never to play again. But there was something about Kianti that drew me in, something I couldn't quite explain. Perhaps it was the way she looked at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes, as if she could see straight into my soul and accept me for who I truly was.

Despite my reservations, I couldn't deny the excitement that bubbled up inside me at the thought of seeing her again. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in far too long—a flicker of hope amidst the darkness that had consumed me for so many years.

With a sigh, I finally closed my eyes and let the soothing embrace of sleep wash over me. But even as I drifted off into dreams, my mind remained fixed on the image of Kianti, her smile etched into my heart like a beacon of light in the night.

It was strange - I hadn't felt anything like this in a long time, and I was beginning to fear what it meant. Yet, at the same time, it was exhilarating - like freefall. She was slowly bringing to light a part of me I had forgotten. A part I had closed off a long time ago.

Accepting that sleep wasn't going to come that night, I rolled out of my sheets and took a seat at my desk, lighting a candle and beginning to write.

At the time, I was employed by a local theater as a performer. I wasn't very well known, but it paid for my hobbies, and, combined with my official profession as a guide through the nearby woods for curious travelers searching for adventure, I was able to comfortably provide for myself.

I was working on a new song, but for some reason, I was stuck. It followed the path of most of my lyrics. The chords were simple enough, just a G, D, Em, and C - a rather sad tone that matched my lyrics - but for some reason, I couldn't find the right finish to it. There were no lyrics to match what I felt when I thought of my inspiration perfectly, and so I was beginning to think of scrapping it.

As the candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows across the room, I couldn't shake the image of Kianti from my mind. Her presence lingered like a phantom, haunting my thoughts and stirring a whirlwind of emotions within me.

I stared at the blank sheet of paper before me, the words of my unfinished song echoing in my mind. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't seem to find the right lyrics to capture the essence of what I was feeling. It was frustrating, to say the least, but I couldn't deny the inspiration that Kianti had sparked within me.

With a heavy sigh, I set aside my pen and leaned back in my chair, allowing my mind to wander. Memories of our short time together flooded my thoughts, each one accompanied by a surge of longing and uncertainty.

I had vowed never to let anyone get close to me again, to keep my heart guarded and protected from the pain of disappointment. But Kianti had slipped past my defenses with ease, leaving me exposed and vulnerable in her wake.

It was a dangerous game, this dance we were playing—a delicate balance between desire and fear, hope and despair. And yet, despite the risks, I couldn't deny the pull she had on me, the magnetic force that drew me to her no matter how hard I fought against it, like swimming against a riptide.

As the candle burned low and exhaustion threatened to overtake me, I finally surrendered to the embrace of sleep. But even as I drifted off into dreams, Kianti's face lingered in the darkness, her presence a comforting and foreboding beacon in the night.