𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓...

His eyes fixate on her fading silhouette, a dying vista he yearns to salvage, a memory akin to a wilting flower destined to perish. Desperation claws at him to break free from his constraints, to sprint into her embrace, to immerse her once more in one of his enchantments. Yet his punishment, which had ominously loomed over him, has arrived to exact the payment foretold. He, of all beings, remains trapped within the confines of the mirror, watching helplessly as the reel of his fears unfurls before him. He is condemned to be a mere bystander, witnessing his dreams and sole source of happiness crumble while he remains immobilized, unable to amend his mistakes. Her sorrowful visage, submerged in her own despair, will forever be etched into his mind, a haunting memory he will carry as her presence fades completely from his sight.

Silence.

His form, imprisoned within the mirror, dissolved into golden dust, drifting away like fireflies in the deepening night. Slowly, agonizingly, he fragmented, becoming a hollow mirage of his former self. A solitary light in the darkness, where no reflection could be cast nor company found.

With a burden weighing heavily upon his heart, pulling at his very essence, he whispered fervent pleas of longing, yearning for something beyond his wildest dreams, something beyond his mere desires.

"I beg your attention to me..." he murmured into the darkness that enveloped him, a realm devoid of any presence, his prison where coldness reigned supreme.

"O heavens above, I beseech thee, let my wishes be heard..." His voice reverberated, enveloping him in the echo of his desperate plea.

"A selfish request, in exchange for my eternal devotion to you...

"Your humble servant begs for your mercy."

"With every fiber of my being, I offer repentance and seek redemption."

"I will follow your heed; I will not disobey."

As he felt himself fading away completely, he implored, "I know my actions have led to an outcome with grave consequences."

"I will willingly endure any punishment, if only for the wish that only you can grant..."

"Please, grant me another chance..."

"There you go again," a voice huffed behind her, belonging to a friend walking beside her. "You're in your own distant place again."

Hearing the voice break her brief isolation, she turned her head to gaze behind her.

With a gentle nudge, her friend paced beside her. The backdrop of the boisterous city had now turned a deep hue of orange as they waited to cross the street, surrounded by throngs of vehicles. Their forms stood in the looming shadow of towering buildings, enveloped in the bustling atmosphere.

"What's so beautiful in that mind of yours?" her friend said with a smile, one eyebrow raised questioningly, eliciting a huff and an irresistible smile in return.

"You'd be surprised if ever you see," she replied, her lips curling softly as she spoke.

"Oh?" her friend exclaimed. "Then it's about time you tell me!"

As a car honked nearby, she chuckled. "Come on, I live for that kind of thing," her friend urged.

"Tell! Tell! Tell!" her friend continued, excitedly.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, a lighthearted expression painting her face. They watched as the street light changed color, indicating their passage to cross the road.

She inhaled.

"There was this dream..." she began, stepping onto the road with her friend following closely behind. "Two people who were really close... I'm not sure..."

She hesitated, feeling the weight of her friend's curiosity hanging in the air between them.

"What happened in that dream?" her friend asked, prompting her to continue. "Did you see their faces?"

Honk!

"No."

"But..."

"They were talking about something..." she recalled, pausing as they reached the other side of the road, delving deeper into her mind for the memory that lay dormant. "...about something..."

Her friend gazed at her; confusion evident on her face.

"In another life... I heard him say... we will meet again..." she muttered, seemingly lost in conversation with herself.

"Near the pond," she continued, her voice soft as memories flooded her mind. "Evening sky."

Tears welled up in her eyes, emotions swirling within her. "Do I know him?"

Her friend remained silent, watching her closely.

"Listening to the sounds of crickets," she whispered, lost in the recollection.

"Ripples of the water..."

"Under the moonlight," she trailed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll hum our tune."

Her breathing hitched, tears now uncontrollably flooding her reddened cheeks. The bustling tune of her surroundings disappeared as she stood frozen among the crowd of people.

"And then the mirror in front of her..." she trailed off, her voice filled with longing and confusion. "Broke..."

"...but not before saying..."

A realization surged through her veins, her eyes widening as her heart seemed to momentarily stop its beat, drowning her in a brief silence of realization.

The words echoed in her mind, resonating deeply within her soul.

"I'll wait for you."

Thud.

And then, as if consumed by an unseen force, her feet propelled her forward, heedless of her surroundings. She traversed a path she didn't even know she was compelled to follow, abandoning her belongings in her wake. The cold air brushed against her skin as she ran, the current of the crowds pushing against her towards her destination, yet she persists. In her desperation, in the agonizing longing within her heart, tears continued to swell.

At that moment, she cared for nothing else, consumed only by the words relayed to her in her dreams. She knew him, deep within her soul. Despite his face being unknown and the mystery surrounding him still untold, her heart recognized the emotions all too well.

Traversing the bustling streets of the city, the night sky deepened as she ran tirelessly, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. But she never stopped. She persisted, driven by an anticipation that fueled her soul. It felt as though she could run forever, her determination unyielding.

He was there. She knew it with every fiber of her being.

That man, who granted all her wishes. The one to whom she had offered her heart without reservation.

And then, she came to an abrupt halt as she stepped into the unfamiliar realm. It was a place far removed from the cacophony of the bustling city, shielded from the prying eyes of the crowd by a veil of secrecy.

Surrounded by towering trees adorned with fireflies, she caught her breath as she ventured further into this mysterious haven, a place she didn't recognize yet somehow knew in her bones.

And then, she heard it—the hauntingly beautiful hums of a familiar lullaby that once lulled her to sleep. It was the song he wove, a melody that stirred memories and emotions within her like a tempestuous storm.

Stepping into the wide expanse of the tranquil clearing, a pond lay ahead, its surface shimmering in the ethereal light cast by the myriad fireflies that floated above. Amidst this enchanting scene, there he stood, a solitary figure bathed in the gentle glow, his presence commanding yet enigmatic. His blonde locks glimmered like strands of gold against the backdrop of darkness that threatened to engulf his form.

The soft, haunting melody continued to reverberate through the air, infusing the atmosphere with an otherworldly charm as she approached him with measured steps. Each footfall stirred the grass beneath her, the rustling sound harmonizing with the symphony of nature. As she drew nearer, the man's ears perked at the subtle intrusion, causing him to halt his tune and slowly pivot to face her, his expression a curious mixture of anticipation and recognition.

She came to a sudden halt, her breath catching in her throat as she noticed his reaction. Her brows furrowed in confusion, her heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and hope. And then, her gaze met his—those familiar eyes she knew all too well, the ones that had comforted her in her darkest moments, the ones she had adored with all her being. Intense emotions flooded her senses, overwhelming her with a torrent of memories and feelings she had long suppressed.

Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably, cascading down her cheeks in shimmering streams as she struggled to contain the flood of emotions within her trembling form.

"L-Lucifer?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, the name mingling with the air like a whispered prayer.

He smiled, a gentle curve of his lips softening the intensity of his gaze as he looked upon her trembling form with a tenderness that stirred her soul.

"You finally came," he whispered, his arms spread wide open in a welcoming embrace as he watched her approach. Without hesitation, she ran into his embrace, feeling the warmth and familiarity of his presence enveloping her. His lips pressed gently against her forehead, his arm encircling her protectively, as a smile filled with sentiment graced his expression. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, mirroring the emotions coursing through her own heart.

The world around them seemed to fade away as they held each other, reunited at last after what felt like an eternity apart. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the overwhelming love and connection they shared.

"Took you long enough to arrive."

"...to be with her...in all of the lifetime..."