spaces | grayson dolan

Walking through the sunflower field seems different. The air is more crisp than usual, the sun isn't beaming directly on me. A weird darkness is overshadowing the cottage. Maybe it's because my time in this gorgeous piece of heaven has expired.

Hunter leads me over to a patch of grass in the corner of the field, away from the cottage and the lake. It's our private space to just sit and talk.

He brings his knees up to his chest and lets out a huff, glancing at me as I keep my eyes on him. I never want to look away. Everything about his features make me smile. His sly grin, his perfectly aligned teeth.

"What?" He says with a smirk.

"I'm just admiring you." I shrug.

"I'm really proud of you, Hope. The happiness you've radiated here has been contagious."

"That's because I love it here. At first nothing made sense, but the more I've been here the more I've realized it. I don't want to leave." Saying the words stings my throat. I'm just trying to be honest with him.

The look on his face tells me he isn't happy about my reasoning. "I know you can choose to pass onto the afterlife, but it's not worth it."

"Seeing you everyday seems worth it." I point out.

"What if I told you that I don't want you to see me everyday?"

My eyes slightly widen as I watch him exhale a sharp breath. "You don't?"

"No. Remember what I said before? You need to let me go. I know hearing those words are tough, but I refuse to let you stop your life anymore than you already have."

"Look, I know that, okay?" I let out a frustrated sigh. "It's just hard for me. You were my best friend, Hunt. The only person who understood me."

"And now Grayson is that person." He says with a smile.

"What if he leaves me?" I can't help but ask.

"He won't, you want to know why? Because I see your future with him. It's amazing, little sis. You guys travel the world together, attend college together. Sure there's ups and downs but you guys end up happily married with three kids. And don't even get me started on the amount of grandkids you're going to have." He says with a glimmer of joy in his smile.

"Wait, you can see all of that?" My eyes widen in shock.

"Yup." He smirks.

"Show me. Show me the life Grayson and I are going to have."

"I don't want to spoil all of the fun. You're just going to have to trust me."

"I do, trust you." I simply nod and exhale a breath.

The fact that Grayson seems to be my one and only is nerve wracking yet exciting all at once. I've never had a boyfriend before, so I'm clueless about how relationships work. But knowing that my happiness is held in Grayson's hands puts me at ease.

"How are you really feeling about Grayson? Be honest." He scoots closer to me.

"I think he's amazing. He's sweet, and hilarious, and-"

"You're totally in love with him." Hunter says with a chuckle.

"I guess I am. I never really thought about it before, but he snuck up on me." My cheeks burn from blushing so hard.

"You guys are going to figure it out in the real world."

"So, are you telling me we're going to remember?" I raise an eyebrow.

"That I'm unsure of. I know you guys have a great life and relationship, but the one factor I'm missing is if you remember the whole thing, or if you fall for each other from scratch. I'll try to do everything in my power to make you remember."