Painful Memories

"Van… Van, my darling. It's time to wake up," A woman's warm voice said. Gentle fingers ran through his hair.

Hearing this voice even with his eyes closed, Van's heart started thundering in his chest.

[M-mum?]

Waves of joy and sorrow crashed over him. He didn't dare open his eyes even though he yearned to see her.

[…It must be an illusion!]

Van's heart was on guard, and yet he couldn't control his reaction to hearing her voice after so many years. Despite his high mental energy, despite Van's mature mind, suddenly the feelings that he had suppressed all this time burst forth - triggered by hearing a voice he that sometimes echoed faintly in his dreams and oldest memories.

 [Why?]

 [Why did you leave us…?]

A million questions battled for dominance in his mind.

[Where did you go…?]