I have illustrations that go along with this one and you can see them on my IG handsforhim or my webtoon "His and Our Love".
The vines of thorns had slowly grown around her as she lay asleep but only He saw them. She did not see or even notice them for she did not see or notice Him.
He had not left her since she fell asleep. He had promised He never would. She had gone to live her dream, and she had not since woken. She had never been asleep this long, but when the vines appeared, it was confirmed.
She was lost in her dream, and a dream of her own making.
He lay next to her watching, waiting. But waiting hurt her as much as it did Him. She held tightly to one vine in her hand, and the thorns pierced her skin causing her to bleed. He saw her flinch with pain, and He flinched. The vines held her fast, wrapped around her waist, legs, and neck. Every so often they would tighten, and her face would contort in pain. He longed to pull them off of her, but this had been her own choice.
She wanted to stay in her dream.
He leaned in, whispering in her ear to try and coax her awake. For a moment or two, it seemed she would, but she would fall back further into her dream, and the vines grew tighter. Bruises began to appear on her body, but He could do nothing to remove them. When she cried out in pain or sobbed with heartbreak, He felt His own heart break.
"Please wake up," He whispered, His eyes shut in His own pain. "Come back to Me." He took her hand in His, lifting it to His lips and kissing the injury, in hope she would notice.
"Wake up."
oOo
Her eyes slowly blinked open, crusty and almost dried shut from tears. She wiped them away, whispering, "No more tears for him. He was never mine to begin with." She sat up sighing. "It was a dream. Only a dream."
A quiet Voice spoke. "You're awake."
Her eyes widened as she turned toward the Source of the Voice. A Voice she felt she had not heard in an eternity. She gasped, as she looked down to see Him lying next to her, gazing up at her with absolute rapture.
Tears began to fall, but she did not wipe them away, because this time they were for Him. She watched and felt as every bruise she had inflicted upon herself disappeared and reappeared on Him, and then completely disappeared almost the moment they appeared on Him.
He lifted His hand to her cheek, and with an almost sad smile, yet with eyes full of joy, He added, "You came back."
"You - You've been here this whole time?" she whispered in shock. "I - I thought You were far away. I could barely hear You."
He stroked her cheek and spoke gently. "A dream will make it seem so."
She glanced around noticing the vines that were now slowly receding. Her sobs began to grow, as a terrible realization came over her. If He had been here this whole time, then He had continued to watch her choose a dream over Him. The person who was hurt the most wasn't her.
It was Him.
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I couldn't bear His expression. He looked so overjoyed to see me; it made my heart ache. I couldn't simply sit there. I had to do something to convey my anguish.
I fell into His chest, burying my face in His robe. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I bawled like a baby.
He stroked my hair then coaxed me to sit back. His left hand came up to my cheek, making me look into His eyes, as I struggled to meet them.
"Kiss Me," He said softly, and His passionate eyes gazed at me.
I was too overcome to think not to. I would do anything He asked of me now. Without hesitation, I met my lips to His.
Using His hand on my cheek, He turned toward me and met the kiss fully.
My love, I will never leave you. I will always be here.
And my tears flowed.
