She opened her eyes to see the sun streaming through the windows. It was a bright sunny Thursday morning. She turned to get up but stopped to watch him sleep. He looked peaceful, perhaps dreaming of a faraway island, where the skies were blue and the water crystal clear.

She caressed his cheek softly and kissed him on the base of his neck where the collarbones met.

"Good morning" he said albeit a little groggily.

"Good morning." she said, in return. "It's time to get up."

She smiled as she watched him get out of bed. It was time to take on the world. Together.

.....

When all is said and done, and the day has come to pass, she laid herself down in bed. She turned around to wish him good night, but alas, he was not there. He was never there to begin with, she realized.

All that was left was an empty pillow..

..but if you looked close enough, you'd see the dancing shadows of a dream that could not be realized.

I wish I still had that dream. I wish I had that kind of optimism still. I wish...