Sleep, I longed for it to find me. I thought this as I stared out the window at the dull school grounds; my teacher's monotone voice droning on about something I'd never need in life while I begged for the Friday to hurry up and end.
I caught my reflection in the aged and slightly dirty window when I focused on it, noticing my long brown hair hanging down by my pale cheeks. My eyes looked tired, the unusual red colour not even brightening them up which was due to my lack of sleep thanks to the horrors I never seemed to escape after that trip to the gallery.
It'd been seven gruelling years, constant thoughts, reminders, nightmares never allowing me the comfort of a peaceful sleep and all because of that goddamn gallery. Not only that but Garry, our promise of reunion never fulfilled causing great pain, not a day passing without my mind wandering to him at least once.
I missed him, his protection, and his kindness, the feelings he gave me- My thoughts were abruptly cut off with a snap from my teacher. "Ib, please pay attention to the video." He hissed with annoyance as I rolled my eyes and began to watch, ignoring the other students snickers as the 'outcast' had been yelled at.
Watching out of boredom with my head lay to rest on my hand I took note of the pictures and the animation that the video contained. I watched as the camera focused on the woman who was most likely to talk about whatever our teacher was yet I didn't take anything of what she said in, my eyes training on her features that reminded me too much of a familiar dangerous painting.
At that moment she looked towards the camera, her eyes seemingly training on me too. It was obvious that she wasn't who she reminded me off but still, in discomfort, I went to move my chair back slightly. My movements hadn't been so calm in the time so when I felt one of the legs of my chair get caught only tried to move back with more force which meant when it eventually did get free I found myself falling back.
Falling back and thumping my head against the sharp edge of a wall in the process. Upon hitting the floor I already found myself feeling dizzy, vision blurring as I raised a shaky hand to my head as the distraught gasps from the teacher and students began to quieten and eventually fade. The last thing I saw before blacking out was my hand covered in what I was sure my own blood.
When I next awoke it was with a jolt making my head throb slightly from the quick movements, making me groan and rub where a new bandage appeared to have been wrapped.
"Be careful.." I heard a soft and comforting voice tell me, sounding very familiar making me look over slowly and that's when I saw him. The comforting dark eyes, perfectly styled lavender hair along with the very subtle smell of cologne; just as I remembered him.
"G-Garry..?" His name escaped my lips involuntarily which caused him to smile while I just stared at him in amazement almost "How.. How are you here I.." I trailed off, not sure how to word whatever I wanted to say or how even to properly talk to him.
So much emotion was building up and everything I wanted to say now caught in my throat while he looked at me with a sad smile. "Ib…" He mumbled softly, hearing my name said by his voice making my heart flutter.
"I didn't know why I walked here, but when I saw you it hit me. We were bound to meet again, be it years late here we are; here you are, in the flesh and looking as beautiful as ever. You've grown so much." He chuckled warmly, placing a tender hand on my cheek as heat began to reach my face.
"Garry.." I breathed out a sigh, so very tempted to almost punish him for being gone for so long, so tempted to not allow him to touch me but the minute his hand had gently rested upon my cheek I craved all of him, to be in his arms engulfed by warmth, comfort and safety "I wish I could say the same about you but… You're exactly the same as I remember you." I managed a weak laugh, still in astonishment.
"I suppose that's good, I don't want to look old or anything." He wore a playful smirk now before quickly replacing it with his more caring smile as he caressed me cheek "So, what happened to you hm?"
I explained it all quickly and he took me into his arms lovingly, allowing me to express all of my worries. Once I was finished we sat in a comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying each other's presence when eventually he slowly laid me back onto the bed.
"You need your rest Ib.." He whispered softly, his voice instantly calming me.
Closing my eyes I took his hand in mine "You won't leave will you?" I asked timidly, annoyed at myself over how worried and desperate I sounded.
"Of course not Ib.." He chuckled softly and I had to smile to myself when I felt movement on the bed, the added weight meaning he had joined and I could feel him lying next to me "I'll stay right here for you." I could tell he was smiling which made me mirror him despite not seeing it.
Just as I was falling asleep however, his warm breath tickled my ear "And if I'm gone and you need me…" He paused for a moment as if considering what he was about to say "I'll come running." He said, barely audible making my eyes shoot open.
They opened only to be met with the dark and cold hospital room. It didn't take me long to realise it was nothing but a dream and when I did I'd never felt such loneliness that pained me like this.
He felt so real and it made my heart sting, I was desperate to see him again and I was so worried I'd become deeply infatuated with him by now despite my trying to convince myself that that'd be impossible due to my great desensitised personality after escaping the fabricated world as well as losing contact with Garry.
Although I'd lost myself in thought of him and when I was next pulled into reality it was at the feel of my mother's hand around my arm, helping me up. "Come on silly girl, time to go home." She said with a teasing smile only mothers' could bear.
During the drive home I sat with my chin rested lazily upon my hand, staring out of the window absently when we passed the old art museum. A billboard was outside and it caught my eye.
'Guertena Weiss makes a comeback to the Gallery!
Come see the late Guertena's work in anniversary of his death. Relive the beautiful work he created and admire the passionate aura.
One could not possibly regret a visit!'
'Poorly worded and hardly convincing.' I couldn't help but laugh to myself 'Like anyone would be compelled to go.' But as I thought about it I began to think about it, to think about visiting.
It was a stupid idea, yes but part of me couldn't help wonder if Garry would go and if me going could give me opportunity to see him again.
At first I tried to shrug the idea off, wondering if he'd even want to see me after all these years but the dream had given me such high hopes of him reacting in such a way. The more I tried to convince myself that I shouldn't, that it would be a waste of time and that I probably wouldn't even see him, the more appealing that message got and by the time I got home I was already picking out an outfit.
It was Monday after school now and I'd just left the gallery into a storm. Today was the last day they'd be showing Guertena's work. Another day he wasn't there, another day where I seemed to curse at myself for even bothering in the first place.
It'd been about a minute or two and I was already soaked to the bone, clothes uncomfortably clinging to my skin as I felt the strongest urge to just cry.
I missed him, what else was there to it? It was all so tormenting with the almost constant thoughts and all the dreams. Was it just too much to ask that we'd see each other again, at least once?
My thoughts however had been cut off like usual as I was bumped by someone making me stumble back slightly. I must've been out of it for a little while, not noticing someone walk along the once empty streets.
"Oh- I'm sorry." They held a hand out to me, to help me steady myself and I gratefully accepted.
"It's okay, I was in my own world anyways so it's partially my fault." I sighed, still half in thought as a soft male's voice chuckled.
"Funnily enough I was exactly the same." I felt his eyes examine my while I kept my embarrassed gaze steady on the ground "Oh dear, you'll catch a cold miss." He held his umbrella over me stopping the rainfall from further drenching me "Would you like to borrow my coat? I could walk you to the nearest café where you could dry yourself up." He said in a kind voice, comforting me in a way.
"I couldn't…" I began quietly as he already began draping the coat with one hand over my shoulders carefully "Oh no, I insist. I was actually on my way over to one anyway, I planned to get myself some macarons."
Macarons, I couldn't help but think of Garry as I snuggled into the coat which felt so familiar. My head snapped up and there he was. "G-Garry.." I whispered as our eyes met. "Ib..?"