She kissed him good-bye, knowing he wouldn't remember it in the morning. After all, this was just a dream, right? He'd wake up to the light filtering through the curtains, have his morning coffee before beginning his day, and she'd be nothing more than a faded memory. The same as it's always been since the day she disappeared, so many years ago.Getting dressed, he heads out the door to go to Rimrock Lake. The early morning air is brisk and refreshing, with the sun just cresting the horizon as he pulls onto US-12. The car fills with the soft sounds of some new alternative band he's never heard of before as he losses himself to the scenery. The town itself is nice, but it's nothing compared to the rolling hills and mountain ridges surrounding it. There is a fresh blanket of snow painting everything in glistening white that sparkles like diamonds under the sun's rays. The Tieton River flowing like an icy ribbon through the frozen landscape.The road was quiet, not many people would venture this way this time of year, which is exactly how he liked it. She sat in the passenger seat, admiring the world as it passed them by. With the river to their left, encompassed by mountains, it was as if they were the only two people alive in the world. They come up to her favorite part of the trip, the tunnel through Tieton Dam. Unlike most tunnels that are smooth and streamline, this one had a more natural look to it. The walls jagged and angular, giving the sense of traveling through the earth itself, before exiting back out onto the surface. He headed for the middle of the lake where he pulled off into a small clearing. He liked this spot specifically because it was easiest to get to the water from here. They exited the car, making their way down the snow-covered banks to the rocky outcropping that sat neatly on the water's edge. He found his usual spot, wiped away the snow, and made himself comfortable, noting the dense fog hovering the lake. The wind had picked up since he left and now carried with it loose snow from the mountains and trees around them, creating a scene straight out of a movie.She couldn't help herself; she walked out onto the ice and in the flurry wrapped fog, began to dance. As he stared out at the lake, he thought he saw movement. He focused on the spot and after a moment, saw a young woman spinning with her arms outstretched, face pointed towards the sky, a mask of pure bliss adorning her features. As though sensing his gaze, she looked at him, eyes locking, her smile growing into a golden radiance. Only when she had cupped his face, bringing her lips to his, did he let his eyes close. The sweet smell of cherry blossom clung to the air around them as the world stopped existing. But when he opened his eyes, she was gone. He waited for her to return, but she remained elusive, her image tugging at the corners of his memory.After a while, when he was sure she wouldn't return, he got up and made his journey back home, while she sat quietly in the seat next to him. Once at home, he made a simple breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast as she sat at the island bar watching him. Oh, how she missed the taste of bacon and hot toast slathered in butter! After breakfast, he retreated to his office to begin his shift, spending his day answering emails, sorting through various documents, and deciding whose work his boss would want to publish, and who's hopes he'd have to crush. It was arduous work, but someone had to do it. She took up the chair next to the window and watch absently as people and cars passed by below. She listened as the neighbor's dog barked insistently, smiling when he let out his usual sigh of frustration at the noise. If she were alive, she'd tell him to upgrade his windows. She watched as clouds passed over the sun as it made its way across the sky. Day became night, and he let out a groan as he stretched, clocking out for the day.He went downstairs and heated up some leftover pizza from the night before. Work had been tiring, and he wanted nothing more than to relax, to turn his brain off and not think for a while. He turned on the TV, putting on some random movie for background noise and ate alone. If he watched the movie, he didn't remember it, zoning out until he heard the familiar end credits. He showered after that, pausing momentarily when his hand brushed the silver half heart necklace he always wore. Toying with it idly, he wondered how long he'd had it now. He finished quickly and readied himself for bed, curling up under the thick comforter. His thoughts wondered back to the lake, to the girl dancing in the fog, as sleep claimed him.She was there, on the ice, twirling around without a single care in the world. She noticed him on the banks and reached out her hand, beckoning him to join her, which he did, he always did. Some might think it morbid of her to choose to dance with him on the ice covering her corpse, or what remained of it at least, but she didn't care. Several feet below them lay the remains of a girl long forgotten. Her body settled into the sediment, tattered remains of fabric drifting in the current, her bones long since picked clean of flesh, and a once silver half heart pendent half buried in algae. The sockets of her skull watched the pair dancing above in somber silence. But above the ice, she was whole, she was happy, laughing and spinning with the only man she'd ever loved. But all dreams must come to an end, so when they finally stopped whirling, when he pulled her close in an intimate embrace, she kissed him good-bye, knowing he wouldn't remember it in the morning.

Dance With Me

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Dance With Me

MidnightPumpkin

Savannah Kraus

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Dance With Me

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Savannah Kraus

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