He Never Said It Back
He never said it back. While he was my epiphany, my new reason for life…I was the one who kept him safe inside a dream. I told him all of my secrets and he absorbed them like a sponge. He delighted in them, preying on them as if they were his basis for existence. He told me love was complicated, a fact I know so well now. For the longest time I never even knew his name, was never even my friend until I begged him to be. He was simply the one who would always be there when I called for him.
For that, I loved him. I told him so but is that real love? Maybe that is why he never said it back. He did not wish to hurt me for I was experiencing my first crush. He promised he would never forget but I know he did. I was the one who saved him and the only thanks I got was some sappy and false sentiments. I'm not his precious one. I won't be his little maiden and I won't be needing his prayers any longer. I will become a lady all by myself. And when he sees me he will wish he took me more seriously.
When he sees me he will know that I am the princess he sought. I am the one with the strength to guide the light of dreamers and when I take my rightful throne, the very same which was destined to be given to me when I was born by the Queen, I shall make him see what the true worth of a beautiful dream is. Yes, he never said it back but I know it was there. He loved me as much as I loved him, if not more. He was a noble priest and put his life in danger countless times for me. His only fault was that he did not believe…did not have the faith that I was the keeper of the power of the Golden Crystal. I am not a dreamer, I am the dream and he could not see. Flabbergasted, he left me alone.
And so I went back to the future where I came from, hoping in this time we could meet again. But year after year went by and still no word from him. I gave up hope. I would become the queen of a new era with no man beside her. I wanted to sleep, to fall into an eternity of nothingness when a voice called to me.
"Maiden…" It was more of a rasp.
It sounded pitiful and horrible but nevertheless I cried out coldly, "No, I am not your Maiden. I never was. You never believed in me."
Invisible arms wrapped around me and I shuddered within them. "Why do you hide from me?"
"Because I do not want you to see the tears in my eyes and my withering spirit. I am in pain, my dear. I no longer have access to your beautiful dream. Why have you hidden it from me?"
"Because it is my dream, not yours."
"But I know what it is, dear queen. You must despise me for my abrupt departure but I only left so suddenly because I was fearful. Fearful because I knew you were the one in my dreams. You were the one who unlocked the power of the Golden Crystal. You saved this Earth and that startles me to know. I was too weak and I have nothing to offer you."
"Your life, I want your life. Nothing else. Do you remember when I gave up my dream of being a lady so I could be with you?"
"Yes…I understand. I will give up my dream of protecting the dreams of innocent dreamers. I will give it up to be with you. To be your King. I-I love you, Rini."
He appeared to me and he looked radiant. He gently kissed my lips and smiled. I smiled back lovingly at him.
"Helios…" He never said it back. He never said it back all those years ago out of fear of love.