Fondly

Tomorrow.

You're leaving tomorrow.

Technically, today is your last day in death, and tomorrow, you come back to life, to both old and new, and you'll be continuing your journey in the world of the living. The flow of life in your veins is too strong now, too ready to come bursting back out to life to stay with me in my kingdom of the dead.

You are destined to go on, to walk on, to move on. To leave me behind. It's not written in fate for me to come with you, and I couldn't even if I tried. I want to, oh, I want to, with every drop of blood in my body I swear I do, but that is not my part in your life. My existence lies with the dead, and anytime you need anything in that realm, you have me. I said it before, and I'll say it again. You have me.

You'll walk the earth again like you once did, at the very top, having dethroned the king with the key. You'll be a conqueror once again with your faithful advisor, the head of your military, and your motherly dowager empress. You'll go up the podium and I shall applaud you with every beat of my heart, every ounce of my strength. I am tremendously proud of you. Not everyone can conquer death without having to cheat their way out, without having to sacrifice another soul in the process, but you've done just that. I'm so proud of you. I'll always be proud of you.

I'll stay here, in the shadows, but please don't feel bad for me. I know my place, and I know my place is here, unseen, watching you and helping you whenever you need me. I am here, love, I am here. Don't forget. You can forget me in your triumph, you can forget me when you don't want to think of your time with the dead. That's fine with me. But please, if ever you find yourself once again needing the kind of help you can't ask for from anyone else, know that I am here, and I will give you nothing short of the world. You have but to ask, you know that.

We have spent some… interesting times together, I'd like to think. I know that you've spent them with me out of a lack of choice, but I treasure them nevertheless. I've always seen, and loved, the human side to your soul, and when you've lived inside my world it had only served to give me more reason why. I hope you've seen me in a better light, I hope you've realized that you don't just have a resource in me, but a friend as well.

I will forever think back to these past few years and long for it in a bittersweet way. I don't expect you to see those moments in your mind palace and feel tenderly towards them. I don't even expect you to deem them worthy of a place in your mind palace. There are no hard feelings here. I promise you, the privilege you've given is enough for me.

However… if you're bored, if you have nothing better to think of, nothing to solve… If you could spare a thought for me, that would be higher than any honor I could even dream of. If my face passes in your mind, even just for a flash, it would make my spirit happy, even if my body were unaware. If you could remember just what you mean to me, then, I will forever have a contented smile on my face, up until the day when my soul leaves my body and I can smile no more.

If, someday, years into the future you find a moment, I hope somehow you find a moment to think of me.

-Molly Hooper

Note: Apparently, the author had been in quite the musical mood these past few days. This particular song is definitely one of her favorites.

In this wave, the author would like to dedicate every note to thanking the people who have started the challenges too, and also to those who are planning to join, and also to those who are still thinking about it. The more the merrier, as they say, and it definitely inspires her to see people express desire to participate.