Chapter 1914

Celeste dragged Samuel through the amusement park and hopped from ride to ride for the whole day. Even if it was just one fleeting day, Samuel felt like all the burdens he carried had somehow disappeared. Even the deep sense of dissonance lurking in his gut faded into the background. … That evening, as they made their way home, Celeste's fingers laced through his. The setting sun stretched their shadows across the pavement—one tall, one small. Samuel turned and glanced at her. "Mom… it'll be great if only this day were real." If only it were real, he could look her in the eyes and finally say he loved her. But reality and dreams were never meant to coexist. Samuel couldn't bring himself to believe in this illusion—not because it was too perfect, but because reality was too cruel. He couldn't forget. He couldn't forget how Celeste had left this world. He couldn't forget how The Lucent had taken her from him. He was still alive—for his sister, Sabrina, and for his father, Leo