Christian Hughes sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window of the small cabin nestled deep in the heart of Sweden. The events of the past few weeks were a blur, a confusing mix of emotions, rituals, and horror that had left him disoriented. The once serene landscape outside—lush green fields, towering trees, and the ever-present midnight sun—now felt unsettling. Everything here seemed different, warped by the strange energy that filled the village of Hårga. But nothing had unsettled him more than Dani.

His gaze drifted to the open door, where Dani had just walked out, her laughter floating in from the communal celebration outside. She had changed—no, they had changed. The distance between them, once a subtle gap that had slowly widened over the course of their relationship, now felt like an unbridgeable chasm. And yet, there was something else there too, something simmering beneath the surface that neither of them had dared to acknowledge for far too long.

The lyrics of Taylor Swift's "Dress" echoed in his mind: "Even in my worst lies, you saw the truth in me…" Christian had always hidden parts of himself—his guilt, his resentment, his confusion about their relationship. But now, in the strange, intoxicating world of Hårga, he felt like Dani could see right through him. Every glance, every word she spoke, carried a weight that made him feel exposed, vulnerable.

The door creaked open again, and Dani stepped back inside, her flower crown tilted slightly on her head. She looked ethereal in her white dress, a symbol of the midsummer rituals, but to Christian, it was more than that. It was a reminder of how much she had been embraced by this place, by these people, while he remained an outsider. The tension between them had been building since they'd arrived, and it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down.

"You're not coming back out?" Dani asked softly, her eyes searching his.

Christian shook his head, his voice low. "No, I'm good. Just needed some space."

Dani lingered in the doorway, her fingers brushing against the frame as she studied him. "You've been distant lately. More than usual."

He swallowed hard, avoiding her gaze. "I'm just… processing everything."

Dani stepped closer, her voice quieter now. "You've been processing for months, Christian. This isn't about Hårga or what's been happening here. It's about us, isn't it?"

Christian felt his chest tighten. He had known this conversation was coming, but he wasn't ready for it. He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready. "I don't know, Dani. Maybe it is. Things have been off for a while, but this place… It's making everything feel so much heavier."

Dani sat on the bed next to him, her hands folded in her lap. The room was small, and the closeness between them felt suffocating. "I don't know what to think anymore. I've been trying to hold on to us, but sometimes, it feels like I'm holding on to something that's already gone."

Her words pierced through him, and for the first time in a long time, Christian felt a surge of guilt. He had let things fall apart between them, avoided difficult conversations, made her feel like she was the problem when the truth was, he was the one who had drifted away. The lyrics of "Dress" came back to him: "Our secret moments in a crowded room…" Their relationship had been full of secrets—things unsaid, feelings buried deep beneath the surface. And now, it was all unraveling.

"I didn't mean for things to get like this," Christian said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to hurt you."

Dani turned to him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Then why does it feel like you've been doing exactly that? Every time I needed you, you weren't there. Not really."

He didn't have an answer for her, not one that would make sense or make things right. So instead, he reached for her hand, his fingers brushing against hers. It was the first time in days that he'd made any attempt at physical contact, and the gesture felt fragile, like it could shatter at any moment.

Dani didn't pull away, but she didn't relax into his touch either. "Do you even want to be with me anymore, Christian? Or are we just pretending?"

The question hung in the air, and Christian felt the weight of it pressing down on him. The truth was, he didn't know. He had loved Dani once, deeply, but now everything felt different. They had been through too much—her grief, his selfishness, the way they had drifted apart. And yet, despite everything, he didn't want to let her go.

"I don't know," Christian admitted, his voice cracking slightly. "I don't know what I want."

Dani's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. "That's not good enough, Christian. You can't keep me in this limbo, waiting for you to figure out whether you want to be with me or not."

The room felt too small, the air too thick. Christian's heart raced as he struggled to find the right words, but before he could say anything, Dani stood up, her movements sharp and deliberate.

"I'm done waiting for you," she said, her voice steadier now. "I deserve better than this."

Christian stood up too, his emotions spiraling out of control. "Dani, wait. I—"

But she didn't wait. She walked to the door, pausing for just a moment before looking back at him, her expression a mix of anger and hurt. "You can't keep holding on to me just because you're scared of what it means if you let go. That's not love, Christian. That's fear."

With that, she walked out, leaving him standing alone in the cabin, the silence deafening.


Hours later, after the sun had dipped below the horizon and the strange, never-ending twilight of Hårga filled the sky, Christian found himself wandering the village, his mind racing. The festival was in full swing, but he felt detached, like he was watching it all from a distance. People danced around the bonfire, their laughter echoing through the night, but all he could think about was Dani's words.

He hadn't realized how much he'd been hurting her—how much his indecision and avoidance had been tearing them both apart. And now, after everything they'd been through, he didn't even know if there was a way to fix it.

As he wandered through the village, he spotted Dani standing near the edge of the forest, her flower crown still perched on her head. She looked radiant in the soft light, her eyes focused on the flames of the bonfire. For a moment, Christian just watched her, his heart aching with regret. He had let her slip away, and now he didn't know how to bring her back.

Gathering his courage, he walked over to her, his steps hesitant. When he reached her, she glanced up at him, her expression unreadable.

"I don't know how to fix this," Christian said quietly, his voice filled with uncertainty. "But I want to try."

Dani looked at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face for any hint of sincerity. "You've said that before, Christian. But nothing ever changes."

"I know," he admitted, his voice rough. "I've been selfish. I've been scared. But I don't want to lose you, Dani. Not like this."

Dani's gaze softened, but there was still a guardedness there, a wall she had built to protect herself. "I need more than words, Christian. I need actions. I need to know that you're really here for me, not just when it's convenient for you."

Christian nodded, his throat tight. "I'll do whatever it takes. I know I don't deserve another chance, but if you give me one, I'll make it right. I swear."

Dani studied him for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Alright, Christian. But this is your last chance."

Relief washed over him, and without thinking, he reached out to pull her into his arms. For a moment, she tensed, but then she melted into him, resting her head against his chest. They stood there like that, wrapped up in each other as the world continued to spin around them, the music and laughter from the festival fading into the background.

The lyrics of "Dress" echoed in Christian's mind: "I don't want you like a best friend…" It was true. Dani had never been just a friend. She had always been something more—something he couldn't live without. And now, after everything, he was ready to fight for her, to prove that he could be the person she needed him to be.

As they stood there in the twilight, Christian knew one thing for certain: he wasn't going to let her slip away again.

Not this time.