I met him in a field, in the middle of the night. Soft green grass illuminated by the moon waving in rhythm with the wind, blowing south. He lied there as he gazed up to the starry night sky, littered with stars.

Peaceful.

I don't know what he was doing there, neither do I know the stranger. He was alluring, and my curious self immediately became attracted. I walked over and laid down next to him.

"Who are you?"

I broke the silence between us. "Someone dear", he replied, softly.

Someone dear?

As far as I know, the only 'someone' who is dear to me, is nobody.
My parents passed away at a young age. I never lived a good life. I got bullied, PTSD. Multiple things to put it simply.

I have no room for happiness and I only strive to be successful.

"You'll understand once I'm gone. Someone dear, could mean many things, whether you've known them for a short or long time", he spoke, as if he read my mind.

"Understand once you're gone..", I repeated his words, trailing off.

"You don't know me and I don't have much time", he stated and paused. "Fair warning, please don't touch me and don't look at me closely. Always face the sky".

I nodded, signaling I understood. I shifted away from him slightly, and forced myself to stare straight up at the sky blinking back at me.

But why? Maybe I'll get answers later. For now, I'll listen.

"I can't say where I'm from, but I know you", he started. "I know this may sound creepy, but I love you".

Love? I snorted.

"Bullshit", I muttered.

I heard his warm chuckle from beside me, the breeze dancing around around us as the sound spilled warmly from his mouth.

"Past lives are a complex thing. But I'll let you know that we were very much in love", he continued. "You may not remember, but I do. Every single detail and that's why I'm here".

Recounting stories now? Interesting. "I'll try my best to see if I can remember anything".
It's worth a shot.

"We met in this very same field. You love it here."

He paused to smile a little.

"I'd bring you here all the time, with our little brats. We'd dance around with the flowers as they ate the wonderful meals I always prepared"

Little brats... I smile a little to myself as a image of me dancing around the flowers flashed through my mind.  I used to call this place... "Home", I said out loud.

He nodded. "You were a hero. A man of justice and I loved how you can be so gentle yet hold such confidence and ferocity".

The sounds of gun fire and screams rang in my ears. I gasp.

He looked at my incredulous expression knowingly.

The glisten of a tear shines for a moment in the moonlight before sliding down his cheek.

At the same time, one slid down my face too. I gasp softly once more as I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

The screaming of people and innocent children. Specifically, the wailing of my children calling out to me.

Everything in my mind shattered like glass and everything came flooding in like a tsunami.

I was back into the past.

I watched as my past self sprinted towards my children and the unconscious man, who were being manhandled by broad men, ignoring the probably painful burn from his severe injuries.

I screamed at him, trying to get him to move faster, to reach them in time.

It was too late. He dropped to the ground as he watched them burn wailing and clawing at the floor.

The image of the house I lived happily in with my parents being set on fire appeared in mind.

I gasped for air as I opened my eyes, tears rolling down my face like a river. I sat up and took big gulps of air in.

I wanted to turn around and look at my past lover, to hug him in joy.

But I can't.

"Do you understand now?", he asked, quieting down as he waited for my reply.

I nodded as I fought the temptation. Don't turn around, don't touch him.

"Yes", I said, voice shaky but clear.

The first hints of early morning begun to show. I blinked multiple times still fighting.

We both remained quiet as dawn begun to arrive. I hugged my knees together tightly.

"You promised you would find me again. I heard it", he said. "And you did. I'm proud", he continued softly.

I choked as the waterworks started again. "I'm sure they would be proud too", he said voice getting softer, as if he's fading away.

Don't look at him, don't touch him.

I felt pressure on my shoulder as he squeezed it snd pressed his lips on top of my head.

Don't look at him, don't touch him.

"You can't touch and you can't look at me but I can. It's just the rules of communicating between the living and the dead. If you break them, I won't get my chance and you'll forever roam the earth once you passed", he explained, voice becoming softer by the second.

I nodded silently, tears still slipping down my face.

"I love you, Eijiro", he whispered as his final words before it became dead silent.

And I broke. I screamed and wailed into the silence. I love him, we had a beautiful family and it was gone just like that.

Tiring myself out, I laid down onto the soft grass as the dull sun shone down,  remembering the words he said:

Someone dear. 

✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕

For penguin, but I switched up a few things :) (and whoopz it angsty. And I can't write angst. W h o o p z)