#aka4

. . . The dim glow of the fairy lights flickered softly as you lay back on the floor, staring at the makeshift fort you and Kimi had built together months ago.

It felt like a lifetime, though it was still so fresh in your heart. You'd stayed in here countless nights, talking about everything and nothing, all while the lights above twinkled like stars you could never quite reach.

Do you think about me every night before you go to sleep?

The thought came to you without warning, and it sent a quiet ache through your chest. You hadn’t talked in weeks, months, maybe.

Time blurred when you thought of him.

But now, in this space, the memories of those late nights, those quiet moments, filled the silence. You could almost hear his voice again, feel the warmth of his hand beside yours as you lay beneath those twinkling lights.

I know you must be terrified of what you might see in your dreams, but I’m here for you still.

Tears blurred your vision as you blinked, your heart aching at the thought. You missed him more than you ever wanted to admit. But what did it matter now? It wasn’t like you could just pick up where you left off. Not after everything.

And even if you don’t think that I’m near, I’ll still be right next to you, my dear.

The words echoed in your head, though they felt more like a promise you both couldn’t keep anymore. The distance had grown between you, both physical and emotional.

Work, life, whatever it was, they had both drifted further apart. But in the quiet of the fort, in the soft light that made everything feel safe again, you couldn’t help but wonder if that distance had ever mattered to him as much as it mattered to you.

The faint hum of the world outside seemed to still as you closed your eyes, remembering how it had all felt. The way he made you laugh, the way he held you when you didn’t even ask for it. The way he made you feel like everything was going to be okay, even when you were falling apart.

And the way you make me feel has the power to make the whole world stand still.

You exhaled slowly, the memory of his touch lingering on your skin, even though he wasn’t there. Even though so much had changed. The world around you moved on, but inside this little space, it felt like time was frozen, just like it had been when you two were together.

Who’s to say that our love ain’t real?

A quiet sob escaped you before you could stop it, the truth of those words settling deep in your heart. You had always wondered if it had been real. If the connection you shared was enough to hold you both together.

But what if it was? What if it still was? What if the love you shared wasn’t lost after all?

And I know I’m not the perfect guy, but I think I’m doing just alright.

You smiled bitterly at the thought. Kimi had always been hard on himself, always pushing himself to be more than what he was, but you never saw him as anything less than perfect in your eyes. But it didn’t matter now.

It doesn’t matter what you thought of me then, but what you think of me now.

That thought weighed heavily on your heart. Did he think of you still? Did he regret how things had ended, or had he truly moved on? You couldn’t help but wonder. You had told yourself it didn’t matter, but it did. You missed him. You always had.

We haven’t always seen eye to eye, but right now, won’t you look at mine?

You imagined him looking at you then, the way his gaze always made you feel like you were the only person in the room.

Even when you fought, even when things weren’t perfect, you knew he cared, and that was something you could hold onto. But that was before everything started to slip away.

Don’t be scared, there’s no such thing as fear.

You shook your head, blinking away the tears that had gathered again. You were afraid. You were terrified of what calling him might mean.

But even so, you couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth facing that fear. Was it possible that there was still something left between you two? Or had everything really faded with time?

When you sleep, just know that I’m here for you still. And even if you don’t think that I’m near, I’ll still be right next to you, my dear.

You wiped your tears, your chest tightening with every word. You couldn’t help but wish that Kimi could be there, that he could show up just like he always used to, making you feel safe. But that wasn’t the reality anymore.

Still, that quiet ache didn’t fade. It was there, always there, reminding you of him, reminding you of everything you’d once shared.

And the way you make me feel has the power to make the whole world stand still.

You reached for your phone, feeling the weight of the decision in your hands. Could you do it? Could you really call him? The thought of hearing his voice again, of knowing if he still cared, made your heart race.

Who’s to say that our love ain’t real?

You pressed the button to dial his number, taking a deep breath, your hands trembling slightly as the phone rang.

You stared at the phone as it rang, every second feeling like an eternity. You’d never imagined it would come to this. You thought you’d be stronger, that you’d be able to move on without looking back.

But here you were, in the same space where you had shared so many memories, wondering if things could be different now.

You thought about how things used to be, when your days were filled with laughter, quiet moments, and the occasional argument that never lasted long.

It was hard to believe that something so simple could have slipped through your fingers.

Maybe you both had been too busy to notice how far apart you were drifting. Maybe, deep down, you both knew this was inevitable.

But maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t too late.

You had always been the one to hold on. To believe that there was always a chance to fix things. But now, as you sat in the quiet of your room, you wondered if it was too much to ask for.

Was it too much to hope for him to want to fix it too?

The phone rang again, and you quickly swiped the screen, your heart beating faster with every second.

"Please pick up," you whispered to yourself, not knowing why you were even saying it. There was no guarantee that he would.

You could almost hear his voice in your mind, the way he would always answer your calls with a mix of surprise and warmth.

That voice you used to rely on, the one that had become a comforting lullaby to your soul.

I’m here for you still.

The words echoed in your mind again, and you felt a familiar ache. It felt so real, as though he were actually sitting next to you, holding you close, telling you everything would be okay.

The phone rang a few more times before it clicked. His voicemail.

"Hey, you’ve reached Kimi, I’m not around right now. Leave a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can." His voice was warm, but it felt distant, like it belonged to someone else now.

You stared at the screen, hesitating for a moment. A part of you wanted to leave a message, tell him everything you had bottled up, but another part of you was terrified.

What if it was too much? What if this was your last chance, and you ruined it with words that didn’t even matter anymore?

You took a shaky breath and pressed the redial button, deciding that this time, you’d leave something. Something real.

As the phone rang, your thoughts scattered, but one thing remained clear.

You had to know. You needed to know if there was a chance.

It rang once, then twice, then on the third ring, he picked up. For a few seconds, there was silence on the other line.

"Hello?" Kimi's voice came out the other end, sounding like it did when he told you 'I love you.'

And maybe then, your heart shattered to pieces.