Dominic doesn't arrive until 11 in the evening. He had some car problems, which I understood. I hear noise from my bedroom. I take a look at my reflection one last time before walking out of the bathroom nervously.

Dom in a black suit startles me. I'm so used to seeing him with hoodies and sweatshirts on that I haven't really pictured him in a fancy attire. When he meets my eyes, I flash him an impressed smile.

He eyes me from head to toe with extreme admiration. The way he looks at me makes me feel even more beautiful. He smells so good too. I remember my sketch, and how he has all the traits I wanted my ideal guy to have.

He's everything I've ever wanted. He met me at my worst and still stayed.

"Wow." He regards me with a smile.

I walk closer to him, containing all my emotions and restraining myself from sobbing. I feel sad and happy at the same time. I'm sad, of course, that he has to go, but also happy that at the short amount of time I spent with him, I am already pretty sure that Dominic Archer is my soulmate.

He's been in my dreams consecutively for the past five years, and so have I. He has always been the one, and I know he will be the one, even after September 9. I will find him.

Suddenly, he kisses me. I welcome his mouth and kiss him back hungrily. I've missed the taste of him.

He presses me against the wall, even when there's literally a bed in the room. I moan and his hand flies to my mouth.

"Your sisters..." he reminds me, panting.

I can only smile. "They're not here." I don't know where Kate and Ella are, but I know they're okay. While waiting for Dom, Ella kept updating me. I'm pretty sure they're driving home right now though, but I don't care. It'll take more than forty minutes I'm sure.

He nods before sucking on my neck. For sure, he's ought to leave a mark. We continue kissing each other as my moans grow louder.

"I've never done this before." I tell him weakly, already feeling sensitive.

He pulls away, his eyes wide. "You.. you want to?" he arches an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

Of course he wouldn't try anything without proper permission. I cup his chin and his brown eyes glow. I press my lips against him gently and pull away with a 'just wait' expression. He slightly bows his head agreeably.

Even though I still yearned for his touch, I wanted the plan to go accordingly. I walk to my desk and press play on my iPad. It Will Rain by Bruno Mars booms. I turn to Dom and hold out my hand.

"Do you want to dance, Mr. Archer?"

Flabbergasted, he takes my hand. "I don't dance, but I'd dance for you." He puts his arms around my waist, and I put mine on his shoulders. He gazes into my eyes intensely.

"I'm flattered, Mr. Archer. But why dance for me?" I tease. I can't help but look away sometimes, well aware that I'm blushing red. I guess it's true - what they say about men staring right through you and women looking away despite the romantic attraction.

"Because I'd rather dance alone than with anyone else but you. And so if this is our last dance, then let it be the best one."

The world could be crumbling and I doubt any of us would move away from each other.

The moment brings nostalgia. I'm sure he's also recalling his dreams. I can't believe it's happening. After all those times...

Five years of dreaming about each other. Five years of dreaming about this current scenario. We didn't even know each other, but there was something brewing between us.

Who would've known he lived in the same city as me? It's amazing how the two of us wind up crossing paths. It's definitely a story I'm willing to write and tell about — girl and boy dream about each other for five consecutive years and one day end up seeing each other onscreen.

People always tell me that the best things in life are the ones that we don't plan — the ones we don't see coming.

Due to my anxiety, I like to think of nurturing planned events, but this one is an exception.

I didn't see him coming for sure. I always thought he would remain only in my self-consciousness, and I'm thankful I was wrong.

When the song ends, he unexpectedly rests his chin on my shoulder. Is he crying? I embrace him, the tears starting to escape my eyes.

The song is on repeat, and during the last chorus of the song on the fourth time it's been playing, he says something.

"I really want you to be real." He whispers, the desperation evident.

My heart swells. I don't know what else I'm waiting for. Pieces of him haven't turned to particles yet, though it's impossible he would in reality.

"We'll cross paths someday, and we'll be real," I promise him after pulling away. "You and I are going to dance once again. We'll know the storm is over, and that the rainbow has come.

"Because you are my rainbow after the storm, Dominic Archer. And I am yours. Forever."

He shakes his head, unable to contain his emotions. I wipe away my tears so that he can't see them. "We're going to laugh about this when we make it to tomorrow." I giggle, still crying.

Dom looks up and laughs. "Well, you still haven't turned to dust..."

And yet, we both know this is our last day together.
What could the dust possibly mean?

I look away from him, my heart breaking as I climb to my bed and lie down, bursting into tears. I know how much I'm going to regret acting so overwhelmed and dramatic the next day if neither of us disappears, but I don't care.

Alarmed, he slips next to me and holds me in his arms. "Have faith for us, Ann. For me."

In between tears, I sniff. "We... This..." a sudden possibility strikes me. My whole body goes still. Holy shit. "Oh shit, Dom. What if..." I sit upright, "what if the whole thing about dissolving into dust particles is a metaphor? Since it can't happen in reality.. what if... "

"What-"

"What if we wake up and forget each other?" it all makes sense now. The particles could be representing each memory we have of each other. I'll even forget ever having a dream of him.

Maybe it's why I thought of Alzheimer's — one of its symptoms definitely include memory loss. What if that has a correlation with the dream we both recently kept having? It all painfully makes sense now.

We are around 28 students in my section. Majority signed up for a research class. I could've been in another research group with different people. We could've been given another research topic, and yet Dom and I were grouped together - we were also given the topic of AD.

The world has always been toying with us.

Something in his expression changes. "No. That won't happen." And yet, he sounds doubtful.

Dom and I have always known this day was coming. It was a sign. The dreams were a warning.

But we didn't think we'd forget each other.

We hold each other for several minutes silently, neither wanting to let go.

"We'll forget each other," I cry. I oddly prefer remembering him, despite the fact that he'll go. I don't care — I'll find him.

He shakes his read before sighing. "We'll go our separate ways, but we'll eventually find each other."

My surroundings begin to blur. "You think so?" my voice comes out strangled.

"Yes. And the two of us will have such a beautiful life together." His voice comes out weak as he holds me urgently. "Ann..."

We both know what's happening. I reach out for my phone and gape at the time.

11:58 PM.

But how long will it take for you to find me? How long will I have to wait? What if you find someone else and I do too? What if we're already married by the time we cross paths? All the what ifs I have in mind remain unsaid.

"I'll be broken once again." The thought of going through quarantine without Dominic scares me. "I need you, Dom.." I realize I've lost my voice and my eyelids are starting to flutter. I don't even feel sleepy.

"You are Annika Brooke. You need no one. You are beautiful. You are you."

I begin ugly crying. He hugs me as I bury my face on his chest. He smells so good. My eyes divert to the calendar, knowing we have less than 2 minutes left.

Willing to wait...

I hold onto him, shutting my eyes as I let out another sob. I hold onto him not because he helped me heal, not because he waited, but because I love him.

Suddenly it hits me — I never felt this strongly for anyone. Even if Dom didn't love me... even if he'd forget me... as long as I know he exists, I know a part of me will always belong to him.

"Be happy. Live. Explore. Grow. Dance for me, Ann."