I couldn't take my eyes off my hand.
That mark…
It was still there.
Faint. Slightly glowing.
"This can't be real…" I whispered.
I touched it gently.
A sudden warmth spread through my fingers.
And for a second—
I saw something.
A flash.
That same road.
And him.
I pulled my hand back quickly, breathing fast.
"No… no, this is too much."
I stood up from my bed and walked toward the mirror.
My reflection looked normal.
But I didn't feel normal.
Nothing about this felt normal anymore.
All day, my mind was stuck on one thing.
That boy.
His voice.
His eyes.
That strange, painful familiarity.
"Why does it feel like I know him?" I whispered.
"Know who?"
I flinched.
It was Sofia again.
"You seriously need to stop doing that," I said, trying to calm down.
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're the one acting like you've seen a ghost."
I forced a small laugh.
"If only it was that simple…"
She sat next to me.
"Okay, now you're scaring me. What's going on?"
I hesitated.
Should I tell her?
Would she even believe me?
"I… had a weird dream," I said slowly.
"Just a dream?" she asked.
I looked at my hand.
At the mark.
"Not just a dream."
That evening…
I couldn't focus on anything.
Something inside me kept pulling me.
Like an invisible thread.
Without thinking too much—
I followed it.
Step by step.
Until I found myself standing in front of a place I had never noticed before.
An old café.
It looked quiet.
Almost abandoned.
"Why does this feel familiar?" I murmured.
Before I could stop myself—
I walked in.
A soft bell rang as the door opened.
The place was empty.
Except for one person.
Sitting near the window.
My heart stopped.
It was him.
The boy from my dreams.
Real.
Right in front of me.
"This… this isn't possible," I whispered.
He looked up.
And our eyes met.
That same feeling hit me again.
Strong.
Overwhelming.
Like I was standing in the middle of a memory I had lost.
"You came," he said quietly.
My hands started shaking.
"You're real…"
He gave a faint smile.
"More real than your dreams."
I took a step closer.
"I saw you… in my dream."
"I know."
"You said I forgot you…"
His expression changed.
Softer. Sadder.
"You did."
Silence filled the space between us.
I felt a strange pain in my chest.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice almost breaking.
For a moment…
He didn't answer.
Then he stood up.
Walked slowly toward me.
And stopped just inches away.
"You really don't remember anything… do you?" he whispered.
I shook my head.
His eyes searched mine.
As if looking for something that wasn't there anymore.
"My name is Aarav," he said finally.
The moment he said it—
Something inside me shifted.
A sudden flash crossed my mind.
Laughter.
Rain.
Two people running.
Me…
And him.
I gasped and held my head.
"What's happening to me?" I said, panicking.
Aarav quickly held my shoulders.
"Hey, look at me."
I looked up.
His eyes steady.
Calm.
"You're starting to remember," he said softly.
"Remember what?"
Before he could answer—
The lights in the café flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
The air turned cold.
Aarav's expression changed instantly.
"No… not here," he muttered.
My heart dropped.
"What's wrong?"
He grabbed my hand tightly.
"We don't have much time."
That same fear returned.
"The shadow…" I whispered.
Aarav nodded.
"It found you."
The lights went out.
Darkness filled the café.
And then—
That voice.
Closer than ever.
"You can't hide her anymore."
My grip on Aarav tightened.
"What does it want from me?" I asked, terrified.
Aarav pulled me slightly behind him.
Protecting me.
His voice low and serious—
"It doesn't want you…"
He paused.
"It wants what you forgot."