Dear Kate,
I have this dream—nightmare might be a better word, honestly. We're in the cemetery like before, but the grass looks so much greener. You look at me and you're so beautiful. It's one of the worst days of my life, but in that moment, I can see the distant hope in your eyes. And for the first time since before the hanger, in my reverie, it feels like we're going to be alright. Then comes that blinding light—it's so bright, Kate. It blinds me for two seconds too long and I'm so sorry. I reach you, and sometimes it's like before, but sometimes I save you. Those are the best nights, where my cruel subconscious creates new, heroic ways to save you. But then there are the nights, where the beautiful green grass is stained in red, I'm stained in red, you're stained in red, and I can see you're in so much pain, Kate. I feel so helpless, and each time I watch my hands try to stop the stream of red, moving from the tear in your shirt, to your face, and back to that small tear, but they're worthless.
Then I wake up and I think you're gone. It sounds pathetic, but the nights where you die and I wake up, each time it gets easier to convince myself it's just a dream. It's getting easier, even though I have nothing tangible in front of me. I just have to believe it's true, because a world without you in it is a world I never want to witness.
And yes, Kate. Yes. I will always stand with you.
- Rick
A/N: Your reviews make me smile, thank you.