The moon hung low in the velvet sky, casting silver beams upon the ancient stone courtyard where you stood, the cool night air wrapping around your slender frame. The scent of damp earth mingled with the faint aroma of roses from the nearby garden, a bittersweet reminder of the beauty you’d once shared with James. His light brown hair fell over his forehead, framing the sharp angles of his face, now twisted with betrayal.

“Why would you do this?” His voice trembled, a mix of anger and heartbreak. “You’ve taken everything from me!”

“Everything?” you replied, your voice steady, yet laced with desperation. “I did this to save you! You’ll be alive, James. Forever, because I love you!”

“Love?” he spat, struggling against the chains that clinked ominously around his wrists. “Your love is nothing but a curse! I’ll be trapped! A prisoner in my own mind!”

The coffin loomed behind you, an ornate relic of your twisted love. You stepped closer, your heart pounding as you reached for his cheek, brushing your fingers against his skin. “You’ll awaken, my love.”

James’s eyes blazed with fury, the warmth of his anger mixing with the chill of the night.

“You’re a monster!” he shouted, the echo of his voice fading into the darkness as you wrapped the chains tighter, pushing him towards the coffin.

Ignoring his muffled yells, you pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, sealing your fate and his.

“I’ll wait for you,” you whispered, closing the lid with a finality that resonated in your chest.