The sound of the tide was a soothing balm to my battered soul. I am tired yet I know I must push on for a little while more. The beach is quiet at night after everyone has gone home and the cool breeze stops my fevered thoughts in its tracks. I am at peace at least for the moment, the coming sunrise a distant dream even though it is only an hour away now. I had no more regrets. It was what I tell myself to make things seem simpler than they are. Did it work? No. Truth was that I couldn't let go even though it's been years. Life continued on for the common folk, unaware of the battle following the dragon's defeat. And she has also moved on. I do not know if she still remembers but she came back. Quina came home. She's happily married and with child now and even though she's not as young as she used to be, she is still beautiful in my eyes. It was enough that Quina is happy. My only regret was it wasn't me who she comes home to every day and not me who she shares her bed with every night. But it won't matter anymore in a few minutes. Nothing would. As the deep purple of the sky lightens to blue, a blade materializes in my hand, the steel glinting off the light of the new dawn. Godsbane, my curse and my salvation. I stand. With one last look at my home, I bring the blade against my heart. It was time to end it all for better or worse. The scent of the ocean coupled with the noises of the waking village was enough for me to almost feel her presence there with me. It was like when we used to wake up early to watch the sunrise. If I tried hard enough, I would probably be able to hear her voice though I wouldn't know what she would say to me if she saw me like this. She would probably scold me for being an idiot. I laughed at the image in my head, feeling free for once in a very long while. A tear rolled down my cheek as I plunged the blade into my heart, ending the cycle and ending my life.
…happy birthday…