The clock chimes midnight, and he's still not here.
You almost believe that he isn't coming. Maybe your mother is right, he didfind someone else. Maybe he's gone and you're just awaiting death on your own. But of course that can't be true. You know that can't be true, because he sent the letter, he sent the pendant. He sent you a promise that he would be here, on this night, to be with you as the world burned around you. But still the inn is silent. There are no frantic footsteps on the stairs, no creak of a door swinging open. You are alone, and one minute has passed since midnight.
Naturally, you can conjure up a myriad of plausible excuses: he's just been held up; he's been evacuated against his wishes; he's on his way now; he doesn't love you. Anything is possible in a place like this. Once the moon has started falling out of the sky, nothing is impossible. Even the kiss by the Laundry Pool could have been a lie. The evening hike through Ikana Canyon to the Stone Tower could have been a trick. The look in his eyes when he held you...
No. It was real. It had to be, or there was nothing worth living for in this world. Of course, that isn't so much of an option now, because the moon is falling and two minutes have passed since midnight.
Even if you doubted him, or entertained the thought that he might choose not to come, you still have hope in the form of that strange green-clothed boy. You're sure he must be new in town, but then again you've never had the best memory for faces, and he does seem to know the streets better than anyone. Whoever he is, you know he's on your side, because he is your link. He delivered your letter, brought the pendant, promised to reunite you with your lost love. You saw him last night and he flashed you a confident smile. His face told you that he was on the case and he would make things right. His smile told you that you didn't have to worry. His eyes told you that you didn't have a hope. But still you wait. You have nothing else to live for, and three minutes have passed since midnight.
Outside your window, you can see the moon hurtling toward the town. You can't imagine why it began to fall, although it's an eerie reminder of your childhood fears.
"But what if it comes and gets me when I'm sleeping?"
"It's just the moon, sweetie. It can't get you down here. The moon stays in the sky and watches us as we sleep."
"But what if it doesn't stay in the sky?"
"Then I'll be here to protect you."
He isn't here now. He hasn't been here for two years, and now your mother is gone as well, fled to the countryside to escape the moon's impact.
Your parents have left you, and four minutes have passed since midnight.
You know it must be time now. The moon is so close that you can feel the heat burning around it. The whole room is heating up around you, and yet still he isn't here. Your eyes drift to the mask gripped tightly in your hands. The silver face looks blankly back at you, a mocking reminder of your intimate fate. You grip tighter, pressing the mask until you feel it cutting into your flesh, just to prove to yourself that you can still feel pain.
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Not that it matters now.
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He's not here.
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You're going to die
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All you can do is hope.
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Any moment now, he could be here.
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You can see the smile on his face
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as he embraces you
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and tells you that no matter what
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he will always
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