-I'm sorry Alice...
Everything around us was pitch black and I couldn't see Marisa's face. Only the white ribbon on her hat and her apron were visible. And even those were fading away.
-Humans change with time. You didn't expect me to love you forever did you?
-(Wait Marisa!)
My voice wouldn't come out. I was unable to speak, unable to move.
-Goodbye Alice
I couldn't understand what was happening. Why was Marisa saying this? I tried to reach out to her, but couldn't and the only little visible white spots in the darkness faded away and nothing else was there.
I cried and cried and cried and still there wasn't any sound. The hot tears kept rolling on my cheeks without end.
I didn't want things to be like this. I wanted to see Marisa again, it couldn't be happening. I want to trust Marisa.
-Alice... Alice...
I could hear her voice again...
-Marisa!
I sat up and right beside me was Marisa with a painfully worried look upon her face. I understood everything was just a dream. A wave of relief washed down the stress and sorrow in my heart. I hugged Marisa tightly.
-Alice... Are you okay? You were crying in your sleep...
-Everything is fine now. I just had a scary dream.
Marisa lied down with me and kept hugging me. She gently caressed my face. I felt warm and safe.
-So tell me about your nightmare...
-I dreamt you had stopped loving me and you were leaving me.
Marisa didn't say a thing for a few minutes and I just kept my head lying on her chest listening to her comforting heartbeat.
-I will always and forever love you Alice... So don't worry about a thing, I'll always be with you, until the end of this life and in the next and in the one after that, I'll always want to be with you.
-Marisa... I love you.
-I love you too Alice...
-Will you stay with me like this until morning?
-I'll stay with you for as long as you wish.