"How many times can someone fight fate…?"
That question kept echoing in my mind.
I looked at the shadow—
at myself.
"If I go back…" I said slowly,
"…what will I lose this time?"
For a moment…
everything went silent.
Then the shadow spoke—
"Memories."
My breath stopped.
"What…?"
"You can save her again," it continued calmly,
"but this time… she won't remember you."
My heart shattered in an instant.
Riya…
forget me?
All those moments…
those feelings…
our love…
gone?
"That's not fair…" I whispered.
The shadow tilted its head slightly—
"Neither is fate."
Tears filled my eyes.
I turned back—
Riya was still there…
holding my lifeless body…
crying like her world had ended.
"I can't leave her like this…" I said.
My voice trembled.
"She'll break…"
The shadow stepped closer—
"Or maybe… she'll heal."
Those words hurt more than anything.
Heal…
without me?
I clenched my fists.
"What if I don't go back?" I asked.
The shadow didn't hesitate—
"Then this is where your story ends."
Silence.
A painful silence.
I closed my eyes.
All the memories flashed in my mind—
her smile…
her fear…
the way she held my hand…
the way she said—
"You won't leave me, right?"
A tear rolled down my cheek.
"I promised her…" I whispered.
And I never break my promises.
Slowly…
I looked up.
"I'll go back."
The shadow smiled faintly—
as if it was expecting this.
"Then remember," it said,
"This time… you will save her life…
but lose your place in it."
A sharp pain hit my chest.
But I didn't step back.
"I don't care," I said.
"As long as she lives…
that's enough."
The shadow raised its hand.
A bright light started surrounding me.
"Then this is your last chance…"
Everything began to fade.
The world blurred again.
And just before everything disappeared—
I whispered—
"Goodbye… Riya."
⚡ The Restart…
A loud screech of brakes echoed again.
My eyes snapped open.
I was back.
The same road...
the same moment…
the same accident about to happen.
Riya stood beside me—
confused…
unaware.
She looked at me—
"Do I… know you?"
My heart broke silently.
But I smiled.
"No…"
I said softly.
"You don't."
And without wasting a second—
I ran toward the car again.