"Roxas."

I can't believe it. Finally, I've found Roxas. He's standing only a couple of feet from me. There is something strange about him though. He's transparent. I can see right through him. But still, he's here. He's really here. My sword falls out of my hand and lands on the sand.

"What are you doing, Dexlin?"

"I've come to get you."

"But you can't destroy Sora and the others to do that." He walks over to me. I feel tears welling up in my eyes. I've waiting so long to be standing this close to him again. "These people risked their lives to save all the worlds. Xemnas is a liar. You can't believe what he told you."

For the first time in as long as I can remember, a smile spread across my face. "That doesn't matter anymore. You're here." Tears started falling from my eyes, but this time they were out of happiness. "We can go home now."

"Dexlin, I can't go anywhere. I'm part of Sora. I was never supposed to be born. This was all a mistake because of Xemnas and the Heartless. This is where I belong."

My smile fades. My tears aren't happy anymore. "You belong with me, Roxas." I reach out to take his hand, but I move right through him. This can't be happening. Not again. "Come home with me."

"My place is here."

"No." I clench my fist. If I could just reach my sword, I can make it to where Roxas doesn't go back into Sora. I have to do something. I am not willing to lose him a second time. Once was hard enough.

"Stop. Don't let your anger control you. This is not who you are. You are that person who found me in the Tram Common when I was scared and had no one else. Don't let your anger turn you into something else. That's why I never came back for you. I let Xemnas control my anger and turn me against everyone. I don't want that to happen to you."

"But everyone is telling me you don't have a heart. That you couldn't love me."

"Oh, Dexlin." He raises his hand to the side of my face. I try as hard as I can, but I cannot feel his touch. "Don't ever doubt that I love you. No matter what anyone says, you can trust that. I loved you the first time I saw you. And I will always love you. Even if I'm not here."

"Don't go."

"I have to." He takes a step back. I move to follow him, but he holds a hand up to stop me. "Don't stay in this darkness for too long, Dexlin. It will eat away at you until there is nothing left. And try not to be sad for too long about me. You have so much left to do." Slowly he began to fade away. "I love you." And then he was gone. The space where he was just standing is completely empty.

A wave of uncontrollable pain washes over me. "NO!" My knees buckle and my hands land on the sand. A flood of tears come with my sobbing. I can't catch my breath. I have never felt pain like this. "No!" I want to scream, but I can't. All I can do is cry. I pound my fist into the sand.

He's gone. How could I have lost him again? After everything I did, I still don't have him. It's not fair. This is not how it's supposed to turn out. He was the only good thing in my life. Now I have nothing.

I feel a hand touch my shoulder. I can't see who it is because the tears are stinging my eyes. "It's okay, Dexlin." Kairi's voice fills my ears.

"No, it's not." My voice barely makes it over my sobs. "Don't you understand? I can't go back without him. I have no one else. I am completely alone. I can't live like that anymore."

The truth of my words hit me like a Struggle bat to the stomach. The only time that I can ever remember being happy is when Roxas was there. He made me feel like it was okay that I had no past, no friends, and no family. It didn't matter that all I did was sit behind the counter of an accessory shop. With him, my life wasn't so bad. Fresh pain surged through me.

It can't end this way.

"You could stay here with us."

Sora's voice shocks me. "What?" He crouches down in front of me. Our faces are only inches apart. His blue eyes have tears in them. "You would let me stay here? Even after what I've done?"

"We don't blame you. Xemnas used your feelings against you."

"But…"

Sora smiles. He holds out his hand. "If you don't have anyone, you could make a home here, Dexlin. This way you could be near Roxas in some way."

Could I really stay here? I've done such a horrible thing by attacking them and accusing them of being evil. How can they just forgive me, even if I had been lied to by Xemnas? Can they really be that good?

I'm so tired. Every muscle in my body is on fire. I can barely keep my head up to look at Sora. I reach out to take his hand, but I can't make it. My hand falls back to the sand, followed by the rest of my body.

"So…tired." Everything turns black.