A/N: This one was a gift for my bestest friend ever~ (ITS NO USE IM OUTTA USE I'm talking to you, but you've already read this so... onward?)

He could have sworn he felt the ghost of her hands in his own. He could've sworn he felt lips against his forehead. He could've sworn he felt her.

But there was a saying, seeing is believing. And when he opened his eyes... there were no hands in his. There was no kiss upon his forehead. There was nobody there.

And it pained him. Wanting so badly to see her again.

Her presence lingered over him constantly. He felt it. And sometimes, her name felt so foreign to him. Like it distanced itself from his mind. And sometimes he almost forgot the exact color of blue she always wore. And he almost forgot how sweet she always smelled. A scent that matched her personality.

It hurt. To think about the softness of her hair. Or the fairness of her skin. Or the gentleness of her voice.

It hurt to think he'd never feel that softness again... he'd never see the fairness of that skin... he'd never hear the gentleness of her voice.

He'd never listen to her heart beat.

But even if he could never do all of those things, he refused to let go of he memory. He'd do anything for her. He'd walk to the lengths of the universe if only his lips were to taste her name. Everything he did was in her shadow.

Her... Shadow.

His Maria...

A/N: Also! I've lost track of what requests I had for this storybthat I didn't do so, as of this moment, they're back on and I'll try to do whatever I can! And remember, no archie characters, no prompts (you get what you get from how I see the couple falling into canon), and I don't mind reusing couples or characters! And any kind of relationship is allowed, whether that be male/female, male/male, female/female, or whatever it may be! Thanks~