I didn't really have the appetite for a meal after the long journey and the flood of emotions, but Nina insisted on having dinner together, saying I needed to keep my strength up. Reluctantly, I joined them at the dinner table, trying to push my apprehension aside.

Nina had prepared a simple yet delicious spread that was nothing short of comforting. There was a fragrant roasted chicken, seasoned to perfection, with a side of buttery mashed potatoes and steamed green beans. The warm, inviting aroma filled the room, mingling with the ever-present scent of freshly baked bread. I found myself eating more than I had intended, the familiar flavours easing some of the tension from my shoulders.

The highlight of the meal, though, was the dessert. Nina had made Leon's favourite: a rich, creamy tiramisu. As soon as she set it on the table, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I could almost see Leon's face lighting up with delight every time Nina made it.

Rayan took a bite and his eyes widened in appreciation. "This is amazing, Nina," he said, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. "I think I could eat this every day."

I smiled softly to myself, noting how Rayan had unknowingly mirrored Leon's love for this dessert. It was a small, comforting connection-one that made the evening feel a bit more like old times.

After dinner, Nina showed us to our bedrooms upstairs. The staircase, with its wooden steps and wrought-iron railing, spiralled gracefully to the second floor. The bedrooms she had prepared were adjacent to each other, their doors just a few steps apart.

The room was quaint and welcoming, with a large, plush bed covered in a handmade quilt. The soft light from the bedside lamp cast a warm glow over the vintage furnishings. There was a small window overlooking the garden, the curtains gently swaying in the evening breeze-a cosy armchair in the corner, a woven rug on the floor.

"I hope this will be comfortable for you, Sara," Nina said, her voice full of genuine concern.

"It's perfect, Nina. Thank you," I replied, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for her thoughtfulness.

"I'll leave you two to get settled," Nina said, peeking into Rayan's room next to mine and giving us a warm smile before heading back downstairs. His room was similar to mine, with its own unique touches-a cozy armchair in the corner, a woven rug on the floor, and a view of the front courtyard.

"You alright?" Rayan asked, his concern evident in his eyes.

"Yeah, just a little tired," I replied, managing a small smile.

"Mm.. I'll see you in the morning then. Sleep tight," Rayan wished before we parted for the night.

I proceeded to unpack my things, placing my clothes neatly into the antique wardrobe and setting my toiletries on the vanity. The room was filled with a sense of nostalgia, every piece of furniture and decoration whispering memories of times long past.

This was the same room I had stayed in the last time I visited Nina with Leon. The memories were almost tangible, like echoes from another life. I lay back on the bed, taking in the familiar surroundings. A tapestry hanging on the wooden wall caught my eyes.

It was the same tapestry that had been there years ago, a beautiful depiction of angels that seemed to watch over the room. Memories of snuggling with Leon under a similar tapestry flooded me. The warmth of his embrace, the sound of his laughter, the way he'd point out different details in the artwork-those moments came rushing back, bittersweet and vivid.

"Do you believe in angels?"

"Well, do they exist?"

"Yes, they do."

"Really? Have you ever met one?"

"Yesss..."

"Wow! When? Where? Tell me everything about it..."

"Well. She's beautiful. The most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life...and...wow, what's with the frown?" He laughed, squeezing my cheek.

"I'm jealous of you."

"Why?"

"Cause you got to see one but I didn't." My frown deepened as I snuggled deeper into the cosy sweater he was wearing. He chuckled, wrapping his arms even tighter around me, his head coming to rest on mine.

"I'm seeing her. Right now. The most beautiful angel I have ever seen in my life..."

He smiled, his starry eyes twinkling as they always did.

I had never believed in divinity before I met him. For me, he was my god, my protector, my guardian angel-simply everything to me. He was my divinity.

The way those hazel eyes would look at me, tracing the contours of my face, the way his fingers caressed my body, the warmth, the shiver down my spine-they never failed to ignite the flame in me. Our lips would meet in a gentle, tender kiss, a soft caress that spoke of love and longing.

He would press me closer, devouring me as if I were some rich delicacy. His fingers would tangle in my hair while my hands found their way to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. Those moments made the world around us fade.

In those moments, everything felt right. The past, the future-none of it mattered. All that mattered was the love we shared, a love that felt eternal and unbreakable.

I could feel a single tear rolling down my cheek, the familiar sting behind my eyelids indicating there were more to come. My heart throbbed as if it were part of a ritual as I panted, trying to catch my breath.

I rolled over on the bed so I wouldn't see that artwork anymore; another night sobbing into a pillow until it became stained with the pain I withheld in me.

***

I must have drifted off somehow. The toll of midnight echoed through the room, gently pulling me back from the depths of slumber.

The empty expanse of the white ceiling greeted me, and I lay there, disoriented, my thoughts still hazy as I tried to grasp a wisp of reality.

The moon had ascended, bringing an end to the day's lingering summer warmth. Its silvery beams filtered through the curtains, casting ethereal patterns upon the worn-out rug beneath my feet. Despite the late hour, the room felt unusually warm.

Compelled to cool down, I pushed myself up and walked towards the window. With a gentle tug, I drew back the curtains. The full moon greeted my tired eyes like a silver coin in the sky, casting its majestic presence over the otherwise empty heavens.

With a soft click, I unlatched the window and welcomed the cool night breeze that danced through the room, teasing my loose curls.

The garden below, bathed in the moon's brilliance, looked like a slice of heaven on earth. From the small pond to the beds of roses and lavender, Nina had meticulously tended to every detail.

Among the beds of roses and lavender, which exuded a fragrant embrace, were other blooms whose names eluded me. I had heard she inherited this love for gardening from her late husband, who had been a florist before his military service.

He had created this garden for her, and after his passing, she cared for it like a cherished memory.

My gaze wandered from flower bed to flower bed, and I spotted a small furry creature darting out from a bush-likely a rabbit-its movements playful on the moonlit lawn.

Following its path, I noticed a bench nestled under an ancient willow tree in the garden's far corner. Nina had once mentioned it was her late mother-in-law's cherished reading spot.

It was then that I glimpsed someone seated on that very bench. A figure, cloaked in shadows, yet oddly familiar despite the dim light.

Had Nina mentioned another guest? And if so, why would they be out here alone at this hour? Straining my eyes, I tried to discern his features from afar.

As if sensing my scrutiny, the figure turned his head towards me. A shiver raced down my spine as our eyes briefly met across the distance, an unspoken tension hanging in the air. A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, gently rustling the curtains and adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Why are you here?" A voice suddenly breathed next to my left ear.

Startled, I spun around, expecting to find someone in the room behind me. Yet, there was no one—only an empty space, silent and still. Bewilderment and unease gripped me as I turned back to the garden. The man was still sitting on the bench, and I could swear he was looking at me.

"You shouldn't have come. I asked you not to leave Mrs. Monika's place under any circumstance." The voice breathed again, this time much closer, so close I could feel the breath on my neck.

My heart raced, and a sudden chill gripped me. I could feel a pair of cold hands wrapping around me, and someone leaned along the length of my body. I didn't dare turn around, not again. There was someone behind me, someone I couldn't see— it felt like the voice of the man on the bench was a separate entity, solid enough to hold me but not so much so my eyes could catch. 

"I—I—" I stammered, but no words would come out, no matter how hard I tried. I was sweating profusely despite feeling chilly.

"You should be gone by sunrise," the voice commanded, human but unyielding. There was no uncertainty. Whoever—or whatever—this was, it didn't want me here. I didn't know Nina was housing a spirit.

I wasn't certain if it was my troubled mind playing tricks on me, or if it was the aftermath of the serious concussion that had bedridden me for over half a year. I wasn't even sure if the figure down in the garden, whose eyes —red eyes, deep red, bloody eyes—were now clear as crystal despite the distance and stinging tears, just a product of my sick mind and body. Maybe I had been too confident in my recovery. Maybe I wasn't ready yet. Maybe I should have stayed in my beloved cage of bricks and not left the friendly sunset behind.

I could feel my consciousness slowly fading and my feet giving way. Anticipating the pull of gravity, I let my body go, surrendering to whatever force it was fighting against. But the expected crash never came. It was as if the thin air around me solidified to hold my falling weight. Looking up, I realised the bloodied pair of eyes I had seen in the garden had materialised in front of me.  They were accompanied by a face I couldn't quite discern. As in my doubts they matched the voice, the touch. I shut my eyes tightly, tears running down my cheeks.

"I'll hold you. I'll hold you whenever you're falling. I made a promise to." The voice whispered again. 

"Just keep the promise you made to me, Sara. Just keep that promise." And that was the last thing I heard before everything went black.