Your delicate touch on his jaw makes him smile. Though his eyes are heavy, he can see you there, right beside him. A single candle on a small cake, your sweet voice filling his ears. Happy birthday, Simon.

"I love you so much, baby..." he whispers, leaning into your touch. A small tear rolls down his cheek.

He reaches out for something that isn't real. The ground beneath him absorbs his blood, his mind playing tricks on him.

Though your presence is merely a figment of his imagination, in that moment, it feels achingly real.