We were here. Together.

We were here. Together. The snow begins to sparkle with a crimson sheen, as if fresh blood is spilling over it as the signal flare soars high into the sky. The full moon glares brighter than the torches and lanterns seen from the windows of the castle on the other side of the bridge. But awakened among many constellations the red flare overshadows the midnight roof of heaven. This is for you. After you. We were here. Another gamble of yours, thrown us to the other end of the world… or to its beginning? I don’t even know where to find this place on the globe. Everything seems so alien. Snowflakes that painted a strange white tracery on my down jacket feel more freezing than we’ve touched before. The terrain here is deadlier than Courchevel, where it was easy to get lost, deviating twenty paces from the red flag. Drifting off course never scared you. And after all, I wonder if you ever actually wished to get lost? We were not only here. When did this occur for the first time? In twenty seventeen? That passage which changed both of us. Creating the “We” — me and you — together. We were just acquaintances but after this all — not anymore. Locked inside back then I panicked, my mind — engulfed by madness. And your rational head, on the contrary, was fresh and cold, unshakeable. I do not remember exactly how it all ended, but the dark stone walls of the castle were imprinted in my head for life. And the ugly paintings. And the symbols of an unknown language. And the echoes from the deep. And the dance of the marionette. No, it just could not take place in the real world. Did we really escape that first time? It seemed the road led us to a dead end… My sick imagination has probably left a mark on me after that. I didn’t want to tempt my fate again anymore, anyhow. However, at your enthusiastic suggestion, we hit the road again. And again. Together. … But not anymore. I can still hear the eerie singing of the king’s jester, and the trembling chords of the ancient organ. She promised to help us, but she lied. I should’ve stopped you when the idea first came to your mind. We both knew from the very beginning that it wouldn't end well. Yes, I remember, you never liked the trivial side of “being well”. But I liked everything. I didn’t want to let you go, not even for a moment. The ease with which our spontaneous duo always threw themselves into the fray made me doubt there was anything in this entire universe that could take a wind out of our sails. Any barrier we stumbled upon was just a cunning challenge, having dealt with which, we — you and I — just kept moving onward. We were unstoppable. We were. And only I remain. That blade… I will never forget its ghost-blue light. It felt wrong just when I saw it in your hands for the first time. But the light which your presence in the throne hall filled my soul when you appeared after our separation was brighter, blinding. They should’ve taken me instead. Your radiance was so bright you could replace the sun and shine all over the world. This little flare in the sky, hopelessly burning out, whispering something for one last time, while the warm clot of light dissolves into the chilling starry azure, is the last thing I have left of you. Were. I hear the sounds of cargo freighters humming in afar, I’d better hurry up to the shore to signal for help so they could send a boat after me so I could leave but… I just can’t tear myself away from this wonderful twinkle that has taken its place among the distant stars. I cannot say goodbye to you… because we were here. Together. For real. And while the light lasts, in this moment frozen in time, we last. We are here together.