Parallel || YinWar

3

They spent the last few hours deciding to take the next step. It was clear that the examination that awaited them concerned not only their fears and pain, but also their relationship with each other. The knowledge that they had to separate at some point to return weighed on both of them.

When they finally stood in front of the door of the portal, Yin looked at War and could see the grief in his eyes. "Are we really ready?" he asked quietly. "What if we never see each other again?"

War took a deep breath and looked Yin firmly into his eyes. "I don't know. But I know I've changed. And that you meant more to me than I ever thought possible."

Yin felt his heart heavy. "I don't want it to end. I don't want you to just disappear."

"Me too," War said, and for a moment it seemed as if time was standing still. "But we have to. To get back to the real world, we have to let go, of what we love the most. So, we need to let go of each other."

Yin nodded and closed his eyes. "I hope you'll be happy wherever you are."

"You too," War replied, and at that moment it was as if they had said everything they ever wanted.

They looked at each other with tears in their eyes and for one last time, they kissed each other deeply, then they entered the portal. And when they went through the door, the parallel world disappeared, and everything went silent.

Yin and War crossed the portal and immediately felt the world around them change. They felt how time was diltating and at the same time accelerating, as if everything and nothing existed at the same time. It was as if they were walking through a wall of fog that lay around them, but they were no longer in the parallel world in which they were trapped.

"It... it feels different," Yin said, his voice trembling slightly as he looked at the empty street in front of them.

"Yes," War replied and also looked around. "It's like we're back, but not quite. It doesn't really feel like.... real"

They were standing on a street that looked the same as the one they had crossed, but something was different. It was quieter, and the sounds of the city were muffled, as if the world had stopped at that moment.

"It's like a dream," Yin murmured, taking a step forward. "Are you sure this is the reality?"

War stood next to him and looked at the empty streets. "I don't know. It's hard to say. But I think we're here. Just... somehow different."

They stood there in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts, while the time around them seemed to stand still. The wind blew gently through the streets, but there was no sound to be heard except their own breath.

"It feels like we've lost everything and won everything at the same time," Yin finally said, looking at War. "But at the same time I feel... empty."

War nodded. "Me too. It's like a part of us is left behind."

"A part of us?" Yin looked at him questioningly. "Which part?"

"I don't know. Maybe the part we found in the other life," War said in a soft voice. "The part that brought us together."

Yin suddenly felt dizzy when he understood the words. Not only had they returned through the portal, he somehow knew that this was the end of their journey together. And yet he could not free himself from the idea that he was still carrying a part of War within him.

"We've changed," Yin said softly, looking at the floor. "But... how am I supposed to live if a part of me has stayed with you?"

War slowly turned to him, and his eyes were thoughtful. "I don't know. Maybe... maybe we have to learn to live on on our own. Without the other person..."

Yin shook his head. "I don't know if I can do that. I love you way too much"

"I love you too," War said, taking a step towards him. "But maybe that's the only way."

At that moment, the pain came back - the pain they had both felt when they knew they had to separate. But despite this pain, they also felt a strange relief. They were back, they had found their way back to their reality, but the price was high. And now they had to decide what they would do with what they had been through.

"I will never forget you," Yin said, and the words came so quickly that he could hardly believe himself. "You're the part of me I never want to lose. But I know it's over now."

"I know," War replied with a bitter smile. "But maybe it's better that way. Maybe we need to focus on ourselves now before we can find each other again."

It was hard for Yin to hear those words. And yet he knew they were true. They had found each other in another world, but now that they were back in their own reality, they had to let go. It was the end of a journey, and somehow it felt like the beginning of something new at the same time – even if it meant separating from each other.

"I hope you find the happiness you're looking for," War said gently. "And that you find your way, Yin."

"You too, War," Yin replied, feeling his throat tighten. "I hope you find your peace."

And then, without another word, they turned away from each other, as if the universe itself pulled them in different directions. The pain of the farewell was palpable, but deep down they knew that this was the right thing to do – that they had to let go to really be free.

The weeks passed, and both tried to find their way back to everyday life. But it was hard. It felt like some part of them still stayed in each others heart. Yin tried to distract himself with his work and his friends, but the memories of War kept coming back.

He remembered the long conversations they had, the smiles and looks that said more than words could ever tell. But time had changed him. He was no longer the same person who had gone into the parallel world. Something had opened up in him, and he knew that he could not undo this change.

One evening he was sitting in a cafe when he suddenly felt that he was being watched. He looked up and his eyes met those of a stranger who was staring directly at him. It was only for a moment, but Yin could see the pain in those eyes. A pain that seemed strangely familiar to him. The stranger looked away before Yin could even react, but at that moment he knew that this was more than coincidence. Maybe it was a sign.

The same evening when he went home, he couldn't stop thinking about War. He thought of all the things they had experienced together, of what they had been through, and of the love he still felt even though they had separated. And suddenly he knew that he would never really forget War. The memory of him would live in him forever.

Years passed, and Yin and War had somehow managed to live on. They had changed, had grown and had accepted the pain of loss. But they kept thinking of each other and deep down both knew that there was only one thing they still had to do: find the one who had meant more to them than anything else in this world.

They returned to the place where it all began – the bar. It was a strange feeling, but bith knew that they would find an answer here.

And then, that evening, when War entered the bar, their eyes met. Yin stood at the end of the room, just as War had seen him in his memory. A year later, in another time, in another world, they found themselves again – even though they didn't really know it.

They walked towards each other, and although there were no words, they knew exactly that the connection they had once shared still existed. Maybe they had changed. But at this moment, they definetely knew, that the love they had felt before, would never end and both will meet each other again, no matter in which world they live, what they have been through together or how much they changed.

"I missed you, Yin"

"I missed you, too, War"

Their lips meet each other and their hearts still pounding, like before, full of love. And that's when they knew: They are made for each other, forever.