Miria walked alone up to the tombstone designed for her… when she was still Miria of Ashenford. The others had decided to go inspect the rest of the cave, leaving her in peace for a moment.
She observed the engravings, the prayer plaques, the wishes attached for a long time. Then her gaze stopped on a particular paper. The handwriting seemed immediately familiar. Too familiar.
She frowned, troubled, and leaned closer to read better.
"For Miria, my love.
I'm sorry I arrived too late.
I hope these words will cross the ages and reach you… so that you know you succeeded.
You succeeded in saving us and putting us in safety.
And I hope with all my heart that you will be able to live a better life, filled with happiness, love and joy in your next existence.
And if the heavens can grant my wish… I would like to have the chance to win you over if we get a second chance.
From Leo."
Miria remained frozen. Her heart skipped a beat.
"So… Asher and Leo have the same handwriting…? How is that possible…?"
She clutched the paper against her, her mind racing.
---
Outside, Asher was walking with an agitated step, his mind plagued by a thousand questions. A voice called him softly.
"Asher."
He turned around.
"Oh… Katrina. It's you."
"Yes, it's me. It gets to you, doesn't it?"
Asher pretended not to understand.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Katrina looked at him with compassion.
"You know very well what I'm talking about. Don't pretend."
He sighed at length, his shoulders sagging.
"Yes… you're right. I'm angry. Jealous. And troubled. You see, just after you all left, when I was left alone with Miria… I was humming the melody that had calmed her. She said 'thank you'… calling me Leo."
Katrina's eyes widened.
"She called you Leo?!"
"Yes," Asher answered, his voice tormented. "As if it was Leo who had sung that melody to her. And now… I'm learning that he was one of the first loves of her life."
Katrina placed a hand on his arm.
"Well… it was a bit predictable, wasn't it? After all, she's had several lives. And so have you. After Miria's death in her past life, you almost started a relationship with me, didn't you? Yet Miria didn't hold your past against you."
"Yes… yes… I don't hold it against her. It's just that… I didn't expect her to have loved someone else so passionately before me. I thought I was the only one. Their love is so deep… that they were even buried side by side."
Katrina forced him to look at her.
"Asher… listen to me. The past doesn't matter. Today… now… you're the man of her life. Maybe there was love with Leo. But remember what she said. To you… she gave herself body and soul. What the others never got to see or touch… you have. So stop tormenting yourself. For this life… it's you. And it's for eternity."
Those words gradually melted the tension in Asher's gaze. A small smile finally appeared.
"Thank you, Katrina…"