"Hephaistion?" A young Alexander called out through the darkness, a sea of grass lapped around him as he stood shivering.
"I'm here, Alexander" Hephaistion replied, and Alexander saw him, but just as golden light.
"Phai… I'm scared…" Alexander said in a whisper, "I think I'm dying…"
"Don't be afraid, Alexander" Hephaistion said warmly, "you'll come to me when you're ready…"
"I'm sorry I doubted you" Alexander sniffed his tears back, "I'm so very…"
"Hush" Hephaistion told him calmly, "I'm always going to be here for you, Alexander."
"I don't want to wake up" Alexander said in a tiny voice to him, "I don't want to struggle anymore… I can't do it any longer"
"All you are doing is letting go…" Hephaistion reminded him, "You must give your physical self time to do so… like I waited for you"
"Hephaistion please…" Alexander begged, "Don't leave me again…"
"I must but I will see you soon" Hephaistion promised, as he watched the young Alexander fade out, "I will be here when you wake up…"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The physical form of Alexander lunged forward in desperation to cling for Hephaistion. His clouded, blood red vision couldn't make wall from vase, as he cried out in frustration. He was fully awake, and feeling the searing hot pain in his chest again.
"Alexander, you wake" Roxane whispered hoarsely, a frightened hand clutched his.
"Roxane! What are you doing here?" Alexander bellowed internally, but he was too weak to tell her to leave.
"What have they done to you?" she sobbed, her shaking hand stroking Alexander's hair from his face, as he shook his head in a surge of anger trying to get her away.
"I'm so scared…. Scared that you'll leave me here with our son… he's so big" she whispered, sobbing as she spoke.
"My son" images suddenly flashed through Alexander's mind of Roxane being pregnant, of her shapely body carrying a precious bundle. He put a hand out to her, and now she was soft but not full. He gasped. … it had happened all ready? Angry he tried to turn himself over, but he wailed in pain. He couldn't do this anymore; he couldn't live like this…
"Hephaistion!" Alexander screamed internally, "Please! Help me!" He cried, and then it all, including Roxane's pleas for him to stay, went black and still.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-