The lump in my throat doesn't go down. My voice cracks, ”Stop. Noel.”

“During that fateful winter, there was this light that guided me to you. I felt an indescribable pull. So much pain… Wherever you were, it hurt me too. I thought if I could erase the things that made you sad…” He trails off.

There's raging fire needing release from my head. With a pressure that threatens to crack and break open my skull upon the rocks.

“Each day, I took more of your hurt. And each day, you became better. I didn't mean to… I never wanted your light. But yet it filled me and I became whole, I became visible and for the first time in so long... Someone saw me. You saw me.”

I hear his words, but I don't comprehend. His lips are moving, but I don't understand.

“I-- I was alone for so long… I just wanted to… I was always alone ever since I can remember…I don't know where my memories begin or end. When you caught me, I didn't purposely try to impersonate anyone. Please believe me. But a person's heart fills with what they want to see. And you saw me as family.”

Scrunch. Another dull ache assaults my chest. Two familiar pairs of eyes flash through my memories. One hazel, another moss.

Vaniriel speaks almost pityingly. “Do you understand now, Aeriea? Everything about him is a lie. He's taking your power, making you weak. Squandering your potential. You will be great one day, I can sense it. But you won't if you allow yourself to be purposely blinded.”

How many of my memories are lies and how many are real?

“Noel.”

He visibly flinches.

“Look at me.”

When we lock gazes, I examine his. I know their true color now. They're a sincere silver.

“You don't need to carry my burdens anymore. Please give me my memories back.”

“But…! If I do- You'll revert to those days when you were so lifeless.”

“It's okay.” I muster conviction in my voice. “I want to remember. All of it. The pain, the hurt, the sadness, I feel the gaping hole in me. But there's also something else that's missing with it. I'm sure… there was also happiness.”

I take both his hands into mine. They really are as soft as flower petals.

“I'm ready for it now.”

Pausing a second, he looks away from my gaze. His eyelashes flicker, irises becoming iridescent snow. Where our hands touch, my skin grows cold.

So very cold.