Sunlight peeked its way into the room by way of the open bedroom door and quietly retreated again. When it came back, the shadows lengthened and played tag with each other on the walls. There was a studied silence throughout the house as its current lone occupant dosed. She slept uncomfortably on her side, grasping the pillow like an anchor.

Suddenly, she tossed restlessly in her sleep as the usual dreams haunted otherwise rejuvenating repose. The ever vigilant shadows paused in their games and watched with an air of sad routine. As always, there was no one to waken her, to save her from the visions.

I never felt alone
I was happy on my own
And who would ever know
There was something missing

One never remains long in the realm of the dark dreams but waking is always such a difficult feat. The will has a hard time believing that the path of torture is non-deserving. Those unfortunate to be graced with recurring dreams typically have a greater burden of regrets to ponder. Sometimes, they have so many missed opportunities in their lives that the death during sleep, like the psychiatrist who dreamt he was falling to his death and actually did, is a welcomed relief.

The shadows breathed sighs of relief as her eyes struggled to open. The healing breeze from the shadows' breaths caressed the subtle lines upon the gentle face. Without a second to spare, the shadows fled for darkened corners as cool, weary eyes opened to regard the now completely dark room.

I guess I didn't see
The possibility it was waiting all the time
But it never crossed my mind 'till you opened up my eyes
Now all I think about is

It was a gaze that had the ability to penetrate and to find killers' deepest and most hidden secrets. Just as easily, it would soften and reflect the love its owner felt for the people and objects in her life. If one looked close enough, past the memories and past events swimming in the depths, one could see the tempered loneliness.

Right now, the gaze settled on the bureau. Like peeling away layers on an onion, it shifted and settled matter aside to find the forever-buried picture. From memory, she could recall the image overlaid beneath the gloss; for many nights, she had retraced the beloved features upon the captured portrait.

You, in my life, in my dreams
In my heart I know it's true
That I belong with you

Sitting up slowly, her gaze still focused on the once forgotten picture, she wondered what he was thinking. Abruptly, she shook her head; already she was forgetting all the vows and promises she had made to herself. All it took was a smile, a smile and she was back to begging for his staggering love.

Exposing her body to the cooler air of the room, she aimed her stride for the bedroom door. Seconds later, she reappeared and headed for the bureau. Cursing slightly, she dug for the picture; she knew exactly where it was, where it had been for the past years, but in these last minutes, it eluded her.

Because of you
In my world, in my arms
I have everything and I
I can't imagine what I'd do
Without you

Finally spying the frayed edges, she returned quickly to the warm comfort of the bed. She switched on a light and traced the memory-engrained planes of his face. She had nearly forgotten how this felt.

It had been easy to revert to friendship in the past; it was always easier to remain at the status quo than to fall in love. In ignoring their feelings, they sought to detain the inevitable because they only saw disaster along that road. So whenever the pull became unbearable, they would separate but not physically, it had to be done emotionally and mentally. Nothing could silence the way their hearts sang to and about each other and nothing needed to be accomplished with taking that final step in physically. It was their emotions and need for the other that would bring their careful world crashing down about them.

I never thought that love would be such a curiosity
What attracted you to me was so unexpected

Their friendship was a soothing summer breeze while the moments their love was acknowledge were bonfires along a beach shore. Sunset and the twilight, that infinite moment between day and night, was their favorite time of day. They could feel the magic vibrating the air around them; invisible hands pulled them closer, and a non-drunken potion worked its course through their bodies.

It felt like infinity in his embrace and that was too short. Then whoever was stronger would turn away. The one remaining was left to watch the night take over and the bonfire consume itself. She did not bother to take a tally, but it felt like he was always left for the night to consume him. She never hated her strength more.

But it was waiting all the time
And it never crossed my mind
'Til you opened up my eyes
Now all I think about is

And so, they would step away from the only thing that mattered in the only way they could. Then their paths would cross and re-cross so many, many times until, haltingly, they would return to the beach shores and wait for twilight. The wait could be excruciating or it could be a sweet respite. Though when the twilight came, that was a completely different story.

Under the painted sky, aglow with the fading sun's light and the bonfire's cast and the moon's sliver, they would rediscover why they stayed away for so long in the first place. The magic of the moment would hide the quivering of their wills as they tried to stay apart.

You, in my life, in my dreams
In my heart I know it's true
That I belong with you

She would dream of those moments when the loss of him became nearly unbearable. They haunted her, plagued her, with reproach on their individual strength. They tortured her with scenarios of what it would be like if they would only yield. This was unsurprisingly always followed by innumerable avenues of a future drizzled with a constant twilight.

The night would shield them; of this she was certain, as she was their constant companion. Day was an obstruction, brought reality to encumber as well as the agony of the dreams. It brought crushed hopes and countless shunned chances to the surface. They were weak when the light went on.

Because of you
In my world, in my arms
I have everything and I
I can't imagine what I'd do
Without you

Exasperated with the power of her memory, she abruptly rose out of the bed but not before gently propping the worn picture in a place of honor on the bedside table. The craving for food and a shower prioritized the habit of readying for work: the job she enjoyed with the man she loved.

Returning to the dimly lit room, she immediately realized her mistake. She had unconsciously made a wish that this time would be different. She wished neither would have the ability to turn away, that this time, they would remain in the perpetual, magic twilight that Night promised.

Ohh you, in my life, in my dreams
In my heart I know it's true
That I belong with you

Uncomfortable with her public display of the hope wallowing in her heart, she stood at the foot of the bed. She knew that she was running out of time. It was time to decide - quickly. She would be late for work soon and that would make her late for their rendezvous at the beach shore.

He would know what she had been thinking and she could not afford to let him. Not this time, not ever if they would continue as the past dictated. He would take the initiative and leave; these were the only times he left first. He would do whatever he could to comfort her first then he would leave to partake in his misery alone.

Because of you
In my world, in my arms
I have everything and I
I can't imagine what I'd do

Still standing there, with her unwavering gaze on the picture, she questioned herself. Would it really be that bad to change the usual routine of the past? Could they survive one more missed opportunity if the past continued to dictate their actions? Would she be able to hide her thoughts this afternoon from the man she never wanted to hide anything from?

Did either have enough strength left to walk away? What if neither did? Were they strong enough to accept their weakness would hurdle them into unknown situations? Could they try to combine their strengths and embrace the future? Even if the future was one of potential disaster?

Without you in my life, in my dreams
In my heart I know it's true
That I belong with you

Would they be able to keep the friendship both needed so much? Needed much more than the love neither thought to ever deny. Or would they, after all was said and done, make the most dire mistake of their lives? A friendship would shatter and their personalities along with it.

Or was the worst mistake going to be trying, yet again, to repress? Maybe the question was: what did she truly want? She admitted it was difficult to say that she wanted and needed him, would more and more as time went on, since his needs and wants should also be anticipated. She refused to make a choice since it would affect him just as much. Yet one had to be made.

Because of you
In my world, in my arms
I have everything and I
I can't imagine what I'd do

Decision made, she crossed the room and flipped the picture face down. Her heart ached as she did but the choice was one she was not ready to make. Turning off the light, she stayed for one precious second and traced the outline picture's worn edge as she tried to accept her thoughts.

When she turned to leave, nothing of the afternoon's contemplation showed on her face. It took only a minute amount of time longer for her eyes to reach the same level of passivity. Trying not to doubt the strength of her conviction, she turned and strode out of the room. The front door slammed shut and the car engine came to life while resigned stillness arrived through the windows to fill the emptiness of the room.

I can't imagine what I'd do
Without you
Without you

Without warning, she rushed back into the room. She picked up the picture and replaced it, letting it lean against the base of the light. Once again, she turned to leave and stopped at the door's threshold. Glancing back, she looked at the one love she tried and failed to forget.

Sending a fervent wish to their self-appointed protectress, Night, she asked for hope as the best outcome for the future. Tonight, she would not let him leave the beach shore. She would do her best to let the bonfire warm their lonely nights and hold on to him for dear life. Their magical twilight was about to begin.