Mira didn't let go of his hand.
She couldn't.
Because the moment she loosened her grip—
That strange feeling came back.
Like something was pulling him away from her.
Not physically.
But from her mind.
Her heart started racing again.
"Stay…" she whispered.
He looked at her.
"I'm right here."
But something inside her panicked.
Because it didn't feel enough.
Her fingers tightened around his hand.
As if she was trying to anchor him to reality.
"Mira?" he said softly.
She looked up at him.
And for a second—
Her mind went blank.
Her breath caught.
Because suddenly—
She couldn't remember his name.
Her heart dropped instantly.
No.
"No…" she whispered.
Her grip tightened even more.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Mira shook her head.
"I…" she started.
But the words didn't come out.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Because something so simple—
So important—
Was gone.
Her eyes filled with fear.
"I… I can't…" she whispered.
He stepped closer.
"You can't what?"
Mira looked at him.
Desperate.
Trying to hold onto something slipping away.
"Your…" she started.
Her voice broke.
"Your name…"
Silence.
Heavy.
Unreal.
His expression changed instantly.
"Mira…"
She shook her head quickly.
"No, I know you…" she said.
"I know you, I just—"
Her breath became uneven.
"I can't remember your name…"
The words felt impossible.
Because how could she forget that?
Out of everything—
Why that?
His hand tightened around hers.
"It's okay," he said softly.
But his voice had changed.
Lower.
More serious.
Because he understood what this meant.
This wasn't random.
This wasn't small.
This was targeted.
Mira's heart pounded.
"Why is this happening…" she whispered.
Her eyes searched his face.
Trying to memorize it.
Every detail.
Before that disappeared too.
"I don't want to forget you…" she said.
Her voice trembling.
He didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He stepped even closer.
So close that there was no space left between them.
"Mira," he said softly.
"Look at me."
She did.
Her eyes locking onto his.
"Even if you forget my name…" he continued.
"Don't forget this feeling."
Her chest tightened.
Because that—
That was harder.
Feelings fade.
Memories disappear.
Everything was slipping.
Her fingers trembled.
"But what if I do…" she whispered.
He shook his head slightly.
"You won't."
A pause.
Then—
"Because this is the one thing they can't erase completely."
Mira frowned slightly.
"They?"
He didn't answer.
Because even he didn't fully understand who "they" were.
But something—
Something was controlling this.
Something didn't want them to stay connected.
Her mind suddenly flashed again.
A quick image.
The room.
The conversation.
Her voice—
"Will you stay?"
His silence.
Her heart tightened.
"Wait…" she whispered.
Her grip on his hand tightened.
"I remember something again…"
He focused immediately.
"What?"
Mira closed her eyes.
Trying to hold onto it.
"It's that moment…" she said.
"The one where everything ends…"
His expression turned serious.
"Tell me."
Her breath became uneven.
But this time—
She held onto it.
"I asked you to stay…" she whispered.
He nodded slightly.
"And?"
Mira's chest tightened.
"You said you couldn't…"
Her voice broke slightly.
"But this time…" she continued.
Her eyes opened.
Determined.
"You won't say that."
He didn't hesitate.
"I won't."
Mira stared at him.
Searching his eyes.
Because she needed to believe him.
Needed to trust that this time—
Things would be different.
Her voice softened.
"Promise me…"
He held her hand tighter.
"I promise."
For a moment—
Everything felt steady again.
Like they had control.
Like they could change this.
But then—
Mira blinked.
And suddenly—
That strange emptiness returned.
Her heart skipped.
"No…" she whispered.
Because this time—
It wasn't just his name.
It was his voice.
It felt… distant.
Fading.
Her grip tightened again.
"Talk to me…" she said quickly.
He frowned.
"I am talking."
But to Mira—
It didn't feel the same.
Like something was slowly turning down the volume.
Piece by piece.
Her chest tightened.
"It's getting worse…" she whispered.
He understood immediately.
"They're speeding it up," he said.
Mira's heart raced.
"Then we don't have time…" she said.
Her voice shaking.
He nodded.
"Yes."
Because now—
This wasn't just about remembering.
This was a race.
Against something they couldn't see.
Couldn't stop.
But had to fight anyway.
Mira looked at him one more time.
Memorizing his face.
His eyes.
His presence.
Because she didn't know how much longer she had.
Before everything disappeared.