Dreaming of Rain

Kohra woke with a gasp, yet he remained still, looking up at the ceiling in the darkness, and listening. His skin tingled with the phantom touch he had felt in his dream. He turned over on his side, reaching out beside him, hoping, yet knowing what he would find. Empty sheets, empty pillows, empty house... and now an empty soul. His thoughts came forth out of the dream, ringing clear in his mind: "If you could just understand how I feel--if I could just understand how you feel--"

But it was too late for that, he had ruined any chance he might have had. There would be no dancing in the rain, no Kre'oss watching him, ready to take him into his arms. He tucked his long legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and the empty pillow. His throat seemed to close off and his breaths came in irregular gasping gulps of air.

"Altana!" he cried out, his voice reverberating off the walls of a silent, empty home. "When will this pain stop? I feel I am dying every moment I'm awake!"

The only answer that came to him were his own choking sobs and the memory of Kre'oss' final words with him: "I do not belong to anyone. I will not allow it."