A hundred lifetimes. A hundred chances lost to the cruelty of fate.

I had searched for you in every life, across every land, through endless cycles of existence—each one slipping through my fingers before I could hold onto you. Every moment without you had been an eternity, a hollow existence filled with nothing but longing and the aching weight of memories that only I seemed to remember.

But now, after what felt like an endless dream, you were here. Alive. Breathing.

For a moment, disbelief paralyzed me. Could this truly be real? Was fate playing another cruel trick? My hands trembled as I reached forward, terrified that if I touched you, you would disappear like the countless illusions I had chased before.

But no. You were real. The warmth of your presence burned into me, banishing every shadow of doubt.

Without another thought, I surged forward, pulling you into my arms, clutching you as if letting go would mean losing you all over again. My embrace was fierce, desperate, my fingers digging into your back as if to reassure myself that you wouldn’t slip away this time.

A shuddering breath left me, my voice breaking under the weight of a hundred lifetimes of yearning.

"Finally, my love," I whispered, burying my face into the crook of your neck, my entire being trembling with the overwhelming relief of having you here, now, mine.

And this time—I swore to that damned goddess who had toyed with us for so long—I would never let you go again.