The pendant was still warm in my hand.
Even after I woke up.
I sat on my bed, breathing slowly.
My heart hadn't calmed down yet.
"Don't leave me…"
The words echoed in my mind.
Those were my last words to him.
But something still felt incomplete.
Like one final memory was missing.
The whole day passed in a blur.
I couldn't focus on anything.
Not lectures.
Not conversations.
Only one thought stayed with me.
Tonight.
I needed to sleep again.
Because I knew—
The next dream would show everything.
That night, I didn't wait.
I turned off the lights early.
The pendant resting near my heart.
My eyes closed.
And the dream returned instantly.
But this time—
There was no road.
Only rain.
Heavy rain.
I stood near the lakeside.
But everything looked darker.
More real.
Then I saw us.
Me.
And Aarav.
We were arguing.
"I have to leave!" I heard my voice say.
"You don't understand," Aarav replied.
"I do understand," I insisted.
"This town… this place… it's holding me back."
He looked hurt.
"And what about me?" he asked softly.
Silence.
Rain fell harder.
"I'll come back," I said.
But my voice sounded unsure.
"You don't know that," he replied.
I turned away.
"I need to go," I said.
I started walking.
Fast.
Angry.
Confused.
"Ritu, wait!" he called.
But I didn't stop.
The rain blurred everything.
The road slippery.
Then—
Headlights.
Bright.
Too bright.
A loud horn.
I froze.
Everything happened too fast.
Aarav ran toward me.
"Ritu!" he shouted.
He pushed me.
Hard.
I fell to the side.
And then—
Silence.
The world slowed.
I looked up.
The car had stopped.
People shouting.
Rain still falling.
And Aarav—
Lying on the road.
"No…" I whispered.
I ran toward him.
My hands shaking.
"Aarav! Wake up!" I cried.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"You're okay…" he said weakly.
Tears streamed down my face.
"I'm so sorry…" I sobbed.
He smiled faintly.
"Don't leave me…" I whispered.
He tried to speak.
But his voice faded.
The rain washed everything.
The memory blurred.
And suddenly—
I was back on the empty road again.
Aarav stood in front of me.
Tears filled my eyes.
"You saved me…" I said.
He nodded.
"You forgot that part," he replied gently.
Guilt hit me hard.
"This was my fault," I whispered.
"No," he said firmly.
"You lived."
"But you…" I started.
He shook his head.
"You remembered now. That's what matters."
The dream started fading.
"Wait," I said.
"One more thing… why am I seeing you?"
He looked at me quietly.
"Because you never said goodbye."
My heart tightened.
"And neither did I."
The light faded.
I woke up.
Tears on my face.
The pendant cold now.
But my heart…
Finally understood everything.
The accident.
The guilt.
The dreams.
It wasn't fear.
It was unfinished goodbye.