my wallet is crying

Because deleting the app wasn't an option. No, there was some tiny part of your brain that wouldn't let you.

No, that's destroying their bond with you. You can't do that. To yourself. To them.

But as of this moment, what you really could use was a nap. Before you knew it, you found yourself drifting off into the strangest dream you've ever had.

Warmth.

You can't place exactly where it started from, but all you know is that there's a warmth that's rapidly increasing in intensity all throughout your body.

It seems to get stronger as it moves closer to your heart. Its boiling, so painfully hot-

But then it stopped.

It was gone as soon as it came, the sudden lack of heat making you feel oh-so-cold.

You wake with a start- but there's no heat, no smoke or fire, your heart beating as steady as ever.

You took a few labored breaths, your chest heaving. But there was only silence surrounding you.

Of course. Of course it was a dream.

Your feet hit the cool tile of your kitchen, bringing you back down to earth. You threw back the cup of water, letting it soothe your dry throat.

It tasted like reality. Cold, flavorless, bland. Like a pill you refused to swallow.

Your eyes focused on nothing outside the window above your sink as you washed the glass and the dishes you forgot to clean from last night's dinner.

What were you thinking? You weren't some anime protagonist or fanfiction character. How naive. You were an adult- with responsibilities, a guilty pleasure, a job, a boring, uneventful life-

CCcRRAAAccck.

Your pity party was interrupted by an ear-splitting sound- that sounded way too close for comfort. But before your brain could think to tell your legs otherwise, you were running towards it.

You spun all around, expecting the source to be a tree that lost a fight with a bear or the like, but no.

You didn't need to look far. The thing was huge. Deer-like, as tall as a house, with antlers like jagged icicles made of crystal.

Recognition made your face grow pale.

You knew this creature. Oh, you knew it quite well.

Elysian Cervus. A wanderer.

And on top of the beast, wrangling it to the ground, was a man. Even through his mask you'd know him anywhere.

Lumiére.