In the quiet of the night, when I close my eyes, the words I angrily hurled at Mélodie echo in my head. I clutch the photo of my love against my chest, but instead of comfort, it only intensifies my pain.

My heart tightens with every glance at her smiling face, reminding me of how deeply I hurt the one I cherish so much. Regret consumes me as I rue every word, every shout.

I pick up Mélodie's photo from my bedside table, letting my fingers gently caress the glossy paper. As soon as my eyes meet her radiant face frozen in a moment, a stabbing pain clenches my heart in a vise. I feel guilty, every fiber of my being resonating with this deep regret, as if the echoes of my hurtful words still linger in the air.

I throw the photo violently onto my bed, her smiling face casting silent reproaches at me. Grabbing a cigar, I slip out onto the balcony, the darkness of the night enveloping my tumultuous thoughts.

I hope she will join me, like yesterday, so I can apologize and rekindle her beautiful smile. But deep down, I know it's futile, that the words I spoke left scars too deep to be easily erased.

After waiting a long time, no one comes. The silence of the night envelops the balcony, and I'm alone with my swirling thoughts. Yet, I remain there, even after finishing my cigar, as if simply standing there, hoping in the darkness, could change something.

I wait, my head resting on the railing, my gaze desperately searching for a familiar silhouette in the darkness. "Please... join me... Mélodie," I murmur softly, almost like a desperate prayer.

At that moment, a thought emerges, a reminiscence of Husker's words telling me that I'm in love with her. An uncontrollable smile breaks out on my face. Me, in love? Is that possible? I...

Suddenly, moans coming from her room jolt me back to reality, dissipating the fleeting brightness of my thoughts. My heart races, overwhelmed by a confusing mix of desire and guilt. What's happening in there? I'm torn between wanting to intervene and the fear of causing more pain.

My heart leaps in my chest upon hearing Mélodie's heart-wrenching words.

Mélodie: "Leave me... No... let go of me... please, leave her alone... No!"

She is in danger, certainly. Without thinking, I teleport to her balcony, trying to be as discreet as possible. But the door is locked. Damn. My mind whirls in panic. What's happening in there? Who is with her? Fear and urgency grip me as I frantically search for a way to enter and come to her aid.

I feel intense relief washing over me upon realizing that Mélodie is not in danger, just a victim of her own nightmares. Yet, despite this realization, an unpleasant feeling persists in the pit of my stomach.

I decide to act, even if it means risking her wrath. Carefully, I materialize my shadow in her room, avoiding leaving a bad impression of my intrusion. There, I see her tossing in her bed, her face tormented by invisible demons.

This frightened expression on her face fills me with a strange aversion. I can't bear to see her like this, even if it's unintentional on her part. I must wake her, even if she scolds me for disturbing her sleep. I gently knock on her door, praying that my intervention will bring her back to reality.

Me: "Mélodie? Are you okay?"

Mélodie screams violently, her cry piercing the quiet night, then she starts running frantically. My heart aches seeing her distress, realizing it must have been a horrible nightmare haunting her. I approach the door, speaking to her with words full of concern.

Me: "Mélodie, my dear, are you alright? I heard noise and... Are you okay?"

I feel a mix of anxiety and hope as I wait for her response, but no sound comes through the closed door. She must still be angry with me for our earlier argument. Part of me wants to return to my room, leaving her to deal with her own demons, but another part of me refuses to leave.

My heart tightens at the thought. I fight against this urge to retreat and decide to knock on the door again, harder this time.

Me: "Mélodie... I... I'm sorry for earlier... I didn't mean it, my dear."

Mélodie: "Alastor... It's forgotten... You... can you let go?"

Me: "Just a little longer... Just a bit more..."

I surrender to this embrace, craving her comforting warmth, as if the whole world has stopped for this precious moment. My hand on her cheek, I gently wipe away her tears, each caress an echo of tenderness.

Yet, an inner voice whispers that I should let her go, but my fingers seem sealed to her skin, captivated by the fragile bond between us. My heart races as our gazes meet, and I brush away the tears in her eyes.

Me: "Are you feeling better, darling?"

Mélodie: "Uh... yes."

Mélodie has finally regained her vibrant hues and dazzling smile... 'vibrant'... 'dazzling'... These words escape my lips, igniting a new warmth in my cheeks. I feel that it's time for me to leave.

Me: "It's... it's a good thing... I suppose I should return to my room..."

But suddenly, an absurd idea surfaces, like a wave of unexpected emotion. My heart races, and without even thinking, I place a tender kiss on her forehead. A wave of tenderness washes over me, a blend of softness and vulnerability. This action, spontaneous and unpredictable, reveals a part of me that I didn't know. It's as if an invisible bond was forming between us, transcending the silence of the night.

Me: "Good night, Mélodie."

I gently release Romane's face, feeling my heart tighten, my emotions in turmoil. A veil of anxiety seems to cloud my mind as I avert my gaze, seeking to escape something intangible. With difficulty, I struggle against this heavy feeling, an inner battle where each step towards my room feels like a challenge.

Mélodie: "Thank you, Alastor. Good night," Mélodie whispers with a softness that embraces me even more.

Before leaving, I turn to look at her one last time. Her features are etched in my memory, an image I want to hold onto despite everything. Our gazes meet, exchanging indescribable emotions, unspoken words. Then, with a resigned sigh, I finally turn away and walk off, carrying with me this suspended moment, these feelings left hanging in the darkness of the night.

Once back in my room, a question haunts me, swirling relentlessly in my mind: what drove me to act this way?

The memory of the kiss on her forehead haunts me with a disconcerting intensity. Collapsing on my pillow, I feel the weight of that earlier impulse. My hand instinctively seeks to calm the frantic beating of my heart as I grab her photo, searching for answers in her frozen features.

Is this true love? Do I love her? These questions torment me as I try to untangle the complex threads of my emotions. Gradually, a certainty emerges: yes, I think I...

With care, I place her photo on my bedside table, in a gesture full of tenderness. Lying down, I gaze at it, diving into her eyes like an ocean of memories and emotions. In this moment of newfound serenity, I surrender to a deep and peaceful sleep, where the night's turmoil is soothed by the softness of her memories, wrapping me in unexpected comfort.