"Listen closely, little one, for not all who vanish are gone, and not all who linger are lost. There exists a place between worlds, where shadows breathe and whispers gather. They call it the *****."

"Do not look for me, little one"

"I can no longer be by your side… but listen carefully. Nothing truly ends. shadows may follow, voices may call, but courage will carry you farther than fear ever could."

***

Why do I have to remember that now, of all times?

If just I'd understood what it meant back then… none of this would've happened.

She stood in a silent wasteland, memories of everyone she'd failed bleeding into the wind around her.

"How many more times do I have to go through all this again ? 

She exhaled.

"Funny… I thought those early days were hell. Turns out, they were good times."

She looked up at the starless sky.

"Next time… I'll get it right."