#Chapter 24: Foreshadows

Aldrich finally came home from battle. He looked gorgeous as ever, his long hair flowing in the autumn breeze, his eyes glowing. I missed those eyes so much—it felt like stepping into a familiar forest each time I lost myself in them. He looked like the princes in old fairytales and folklores returning from battle, and I realized we were living in one. I ran up to him in a field of flowers. The flowers danced and sang around us, cheering on our reunion. My dress was white like my wedding gown, except this time it was more of a silky slip dress. He ran to me, grinning that grin that looked like a schoolboy looking at the love of his life for the first time. My eyes teared with relief as soon as I was in his arms. His scent— the woody lavender–was one I had been desperately clinging to remember in his absence. I pressed my face against his chest, sniffling. “Don’t cry, my Cathy,” Aldrich murmured. He grabbed my chin and lifted it up so that our eyes met. I couldn’t help but smil