Chapter39: A Life for a Life

Maxiana I’m on the beach again–the beach of gems and starlight. I’m not sure where I go when I’m not here, but I think I might be… dying, to be totally, completely honest. I can’t find my way out of this place. The beach is endless. The water remains shallow and still with no current driving it. I must be on an island, trapped on all sides, and the sun doesn’t rise or fall. I am just languishing in the dark, slowly forgetting who I am. I can’t even remember my own name. Isn’t that insane? I roll a polished sapphire between my fingers, curling my digits around it, letting it warm in my hand before throwing it as hard as I can into the water. It silently skips across the glassy surface then disappears without a sound. I close my eyes, wondering if another vision will find me. Praying the man returns to at least keep me company… but I haven’t seen him in a long time, I think. I’m not sure if he’s real or if he’s a figment of whatever dreamscape I’m trapped in. I’m not sure if he exists ou