Eske woke up in a different timeline. A time when the sun was warm but not burning, a time when the air he breathed was lighter, a time when she was at his side, and he could brush her hair without the worry she''ll fade away.


    ''Good morning, love of my life.''; he whispered close to her ear, with no intention of waking her up. ''It''s all right now. You are safe here. I promise.''


    ''You''re already awake?''; she mumbled back. Eske felt how her body relaxed against him. She had been sleeping deeply until then. Her eyes were still closed.


    ''Keep sleeping, my love.''


    ''I''m awake now.''


    ''You want coffee?''; he asked softly. ''Or some toast or something else for breakfast?''


    She opened her eyes slowly. The light from outside made them glow brighter. She yawned and suddenly ran out of the bed and back again with a small velvet box that Eske recognised.


    He sat up quickly. His heart thudded heavily inside his chest as if it wanted to escape through his rib cage, like an eager bird trapped by its wings. It took a few seconds before he found words for what was going on in his mind. ''No, Nona, don''t you dare! Gimme that! Come on, baby, gimme that!''


    ''You don''t even know what I was about to do or to say!''; she protested, hiding the small box behind her back. ''Please let me explain … please? Please?''; she pleaded.


    ''Gimme the box, Nona! This is not how it''s done!''


    ''You don''t know even what it is!''; she looked at him while he was smirking. ''Oh, you went through my things?''; she said accusingly. ''I''m shocked! What did you find there?''


    ''Everything,''; he shrugged. ''Some magazines and that sort of thing. Bridal things.''; he said, struggling to hold his laughter.


    Nona stared at him, looking into his eyes: ''You know.''


    ''Yeah, I know.''


    ''It was supposed to be a surprised.''; she said, handing him the velvet box.


    ''Well, it was when I opened it.''; he said, picking the most petite ring and taking Nona''s hand. ''Should I be on the floor on my knee?''


    She shook her head and smiled mischievously. ''I think our bedroom bed is the perfect place.''


    ''Nona Anna...''


    ''Yes!''


    ''Love, I didn''t finish!''


    ''Oh, sorry..., go ahead.''; she laughed.


    ''Nona Anna Perenna, what I meant to tell you was... I am truly happy to have met you and plan to spend until my last day by your side. I would like...''


    ''Yes!''; she interrupted.


    ''I didn''t finish. Let me finish!''


    ''Sorry, go on. Go.''


    ''Would you allow me to ask you, with no interruption...''; Eske paused in purpose, holding his laughter.


    ''Ask me? ... ask me! Go on!'';


    His face hurt from smiling. This would be the exact moment he would forgive himself and allow him to be happy: ''To marry me?'';


    Her face lit up, her numbers sang, and she glowed like a Christmas tree. ''YES!''.


    ''Yes?''


    ''Yes!''


    ''You''re sure? There is no refund!''


    She kissed him, her chest pressing against his, trying to merge, feeling each other. Eske needed this after so many years apart, and she knew it.


    ''So I wanted to ask you something, why does your ring say FM at the end and mine say AM?''; asked Eske removing the ring of his finger and showing her. ''Do I need to fix it, baby?''


    ''None is wrong. If you push that line, it will say FM and will be tuned with mine. They have a radio frequency, so we know where each one is. So, I don''t lose you, and you don''t lose me.''; she smiled at him.


    ''Who made this?''; he held her hand and examined every single detail of the tiny little gold band.


    ''Who else is supposed to make it? It was me.''; she answered proudly.


    ''I see…'', Eske continued caressing the ring. ''Why use radio frequency and not GPS?''; he asked.


    ''Because I can tune it to any radio station in the world just by pushing a little line.''; she replied, smiling. ''And also, not all timelines have GPS. So, at least, this was the broadest signal I could remember.''


    ''I''m speechless. This is fucking awesome.''; Eske couldn''t hide his excitement.


    ''Do you want to see your new house?''; she asked, changing topic.


    ''Sure!''; he nodded sky-high.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.''Mr. Schrodinger, please follow me!''; she got out of bed and bowed.


    Eske stood up too and followed her, still stunned.


    The two of them walked down the corridor. The hall had nine doors. Eske opened the first one and looked at a minimalist room with white walls and wooden floors. There was a big window overlooking a huge garden.


    ''That''s the guest room.''; Nona explained.


    ''I like it!''; he exclaimed. ''What about the others?''


    ''These next rooms are reserved.''; she pointed to the door of each room.


    Eske tried to open the next door. It was locked. The other was also locked, and the next was the same. ''Should I ask or...''


    ''Not yet.''; she said. ''Just not yet. Trust me.''


    ‘Is it where you hid the cats?’


    This is the story of the boy who could hear numbers with the happiest of all endings.


    <hr>


    Alice was removed from any machinery. She was left alone in a hospital room to die alone with her thoughts. There was nothing else to do besides waiting and reading a last book. Waiting to die was a very dull activity.


    A knock on her door, and a long shadow entered the room: ''Alice?''


    She raised her eyes from the unread pages to see his face once again: ''Day is that you?'' she said. There were tears of joy in those words. It had been so many years since he''d looked at her as if she mattered, as though anything could matter more than himself. He came forward slowly, pulling a chair next to her bed and putting out his hand towards hers.


    ''How are you feeling?''; he asked.


    ''So you''re the ghost who will..., I don''t know what ghosts do,''; she smiled, confused and sad.


    ''No, no ghost darling, I''m pretty much alive.'' His smile broadened into an almost-laughing grin. Alice''s heart soared like a bird released from its cage. The man she loved most in all the world stood before her, looking just as handsome now as when they first met. If not better!


    ''How, I saw...''


    ''You saw me die after you pushed me? Yeah, I died. That was one of my most horrific death.''


    He took her hands in both of his and held them gently between his own. They sat quietly together, holding each other''s gaze until the sound of approaching footsteps made him look up. A nurse was coming down the corridor. ''She is good. If we need something, I''ll call.''; Day said to the nurse. She nodded and went away.


    ''Day, I didn''t mean to. I didn''t want to...''; Alice began, but he cut her off by placing his finger against her lips.


    ''Shhh, shh. It is all fine, all is fine.'' He leaned over and kissed her forehead softly.


    ''So what are you doing here? What happened?''; her voice quivered with excitement and fear.


    ''I''ve come back because you had a fascinating life. You are... well, were, the wife of the most remarkable time traveller that ever existed.''; he paused then added: ''Did he leave you anything?''


    Alice shook her head, unable to speak. ''No, why would he?''


    ''Oh darling'', Day sighed, ''I was hoping you would have meant something to him. How sad.''


    ''I don''t understand. You came here because of Eske?''


    Day laughed loudly. ''Yes, yes, and also to retrieve the favour.''


    The door opened, and another nurse came in: ''Ma''am, are you alright? Do you need anything?''


    ''Could you please escort this gentleman? I would like to rest in peace.''


    ''You know what is funny, Alice? If you hadn''t done what you did, I would have stayed with you. I wouldn''t have met her. I wouldn''t be able to live without her. And she doesn''t even know how much I love her. So it''s really your fault! Every fucking thing I did, I do and will do, is your fucking fault. I do hope, darling, you have a miserable death. As you have been having along all timelines.''; he came closer to her, his lips almost touching hers: ''Because if you don''t, I will be sure you do, darling. I will make sure you fucking do.''; he forced a kiss upon her mouth, forcing her to open her lips. Despite herself, she felt the pressure of his tongue inside and tasted foul blood. Then suddenly, he pulled away, turned around, walking back towards the door. As he reached the threshold, he turned back and yelled: ''Goodbye, Alice, time traveller''s ex-wife!''; and laughed as he disappeared through the doorway.


    ''Who''s that, Ms Dawn?''


    ''A ghost...''