Marigold still wonders, how deep does Nina’s vision go?

Did she know? All those years ago, how much she wanted her?

Did she saw her soul calling to her, trapped and twisted between her own ribs?

Did it convince her to wait?

Marigold is cruel. She was taught to be so.

To take what she needs, no matter what others feel.

But she cannot help but regret.

Did Nina saw in her eyes, the day of her wedding?

Did she see her resignation? Her want?

They were never meant to be together, she told herself, her path was not entwined with hers.

Marigold will marry a man. And Nina will find someone that’s actually good.

Someone who’s not blind. Someone who’s not cruel. Someone who can freely love her.

Someone who’s free.

She never felt older than on her wedding day.

“Please don’t wait for me Nina. This is what I was meant for.

Be free, love someone else. Someone who deserves it.

Please, don’t let me hurt you more”

But Nina has never been one to make things easy for herself.

And she waited.

And she helped.

And she restrained herself. Even when Marigold no longer wanted to.

They knew their roles and played them well.

There’s nothing left.

She drifts to sleep with the memory of their private slow dance lessons.

It’s 11 pm.

.

.

.

It’s 3 am

She feels… a strange pressure in her chest.

Sometimes she gets nightmares about being buried in balcony rubble, but this feels more… realistic?

Is she experiencing sleep paralysis? For the first time? Here of all places?

She tries to open her eyes, sleep paralysis lets you do that, right?

She braces herself to see the shape of the demon her brain conjured up.

Oddly enough, she can move her hand. But then what is…?

She fully opens her eyes and sees…!