What Sleeps – Extrait 37
whispered against her cheeks, a soft, silver thread that twisted, melted, traced pale veins against the mist. But the ache in her chest was a slow, heavy knot, a pulse that wouldn’t leave. Alexei walked beside her, his fingers warm, tight around hers, his eyes calm, dark, tracing the pale, shivering light that twisted between the rain. His voice was a faint, quiet hum, a gentle whisper that slipped between the quiet. “It’s over.” His voice was calm, steady. “You saw it. You faced it. Now you can let it go.” But she didn’t believe him. Couldn’t believe him. Because it wasn’t over. It couldn’t be over. The shadow was still there. The face was still there. The name was still there, twisting around her like a thread that wouldn’t let go. Andrei. It wasn’t just a shadow. It wasn’t just a ghost she carried. It wasn’t just a name she whispered in the dark. It was real. It had to be real. “Kalina.” Alexei’s voice was calm, too calm. “You’re holding on to something that doesn’t exist.” “How do you know?” Her voice was too thin, too sharp, cracking. “How do you know what I saw? How do you know what I felt?” “Because I was there.” His voice was a faint, quiet hum. “I saw the mist. I saw the shadows. But that’s all it was.” “You don’t know that.” Her voice was sharp now, tangled, a faint, desperate thread. “You don’t know what he said to me. You don’t know what I felt.” “I know what I see.” His fingers were warm, steady, his eyes dark, calm. “I know what’s real.” But did he? Did he really? Or was he just telling her what he wanted her to believe? Her chest tightened, the ache twisting, pressing, a slow, heavy knot. Her fingers slipped, her breath a thin, sharp mist that curled against the pale, silver light. “Why are you so sure?” Her voice was a faint, trembling thread. “Why do you keep telling me it’s just a shadow?” “Because it is.” His voice was calm, a faint, quiet hum. “Because you’re making it real. Because you’re refusing to let it go.” “I don’t want to let it go.” Her voice was sharp, cracking. “I want to know what it is. I want to know who he is. I want to know why he keeps appearing.” “Because you keep looking for him.” His voice was calm, too calm. “Because you won’t stop chasing him.” “I’m not chasing him.” Her voice was sharp now, tangled. “He’s chasing me.” “No.” His voice was a faint, quiet breath. “You’re chasing yourself.” “Stop saying that.” Her breath was too fast, too thin. “Stop telling me I’m making this up. Stop telling me it’s not real.” “It isn’t.” His fingers were warm, tight. “It’s just a shadow. A ghost you refuse to leave.” “I don’t believe you.” Her voice was sharp now, cracking. “I don’t… I can’t… I…” “Then keep chasing it.” His voice was calm, sharp. “But it will never leave you. Because it isn’t real.” Her fingers slipped, her breath sharp, tearing at her chest. Her pulse was a slow, heavy drumbeat that filled her ears. But he didn’t know. He couldn’t know. He hadn’t seen what she had seen. He hadn’t heard the voice that whispered her name. He hadn’t felt the cold, sharp ache that pressed against her chest, that twisted around her thoughts. She pulled away, her steps pressing against the wet stone, the mist twisting around her, a pale, silver shroud that seemed to follow. “Kalina.” His voice was calm, too calm. “Don’t do this. Don’t start running again.” “I’m not running.” Her voice was sharp, cracking. “I’m trying to see. I’m trying to understand.” “There’s nothing to understand.” His voice was calm, steady. “There’s just you.” “No.” Her voice was a faint, desperate whisper. “There’s more. There has to be more.” “Then show me.” His fingers were warm, tight, his eyes dark, watching. “Show me what you see.” But she couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Not with him. Because he didn’t believe her. Because he didn’t see. Because he didn’t want to see. “I have to go.”
⬅️ Extrait prĂ©cĂ©dent | Extrait suivant ➡️
đź”– Labels : What Sleeps, What Sleeps – Extrait 37
