That day felt different.
I don't know why…
but something in the air…
felt heavier.
Like something was about to change.
I saw Riya again—
standing near the same road.
The road…
where everything had once ended.
And started again.
For a moment…
I froze.
Should I go to her…?
Or stay away… like I always did?
But before I could decide—
she turned.
And saw me.
Our eyes met.
And just like always—
time slowed down.
She started walking toward me.
But this time…
there was something different in her eyes.
Not just curiosity.
Not just calm.
Confusion.
"Why do you keep avoiding me?" she asked directly.
I stayed silent.
Because I didn't have an answer she would understand.
"I'm not avoiding you," I said softly.
She stepped closer.
"Then why does it feel like…
you know me more than I know you?"
My heart tightened.
She was getting closer.
Closer to the truth.
"I don't—" I started to say.
But suddenly—
she held her head.
Her expression changed.
Pain.
Sharp.
Sudden.
"Riya…?" I stepped forward.
She stumbled slightly.
Her breathing became uneven.
"I… I can see something…" she whispered.
My heart stopped.
"What do you see?"
Her eyes widened.
Tears formed instantly.
"A road…
blood…
you…"
My chest tightened.
"No…" I whispered.
Not yet.
Not like this.
Her voice shook—
"You're… lying there…
and I'm… crying…"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I've seen this…
I've felt this before…"
She looked at me—
like she was finally seeing me.
Not as a stranger.
But as something more.
"Who are you…?" she asked.
That question…
felt different this time.
Deeper.
More real.
I stepped closer slowly.
Every part of me wanted to tell her the truth.
But I remembered—
if she remembers everything…
maybe she'll feel that pain again.
And I couldn't let that happen.
I gently held her shoulders.
"Riya… look at me."
She did.
Her eyes trembling.
"You're safe," I said softly.
"That's all that matters."
She kept staring at me…
like she was trying to hold onto something slipping away.
"Don't… go…" she whispered.
My heart broke.
"I'm not going anywhere," I lied gently.
Because I knew—
I always leave.
Just in different ways.
Her grip on me tightened for a moment…
then slowly—
she let go.
Her eyes blinked.
And just like that—
the confusion faded.
"Sorry…" she said softly.
"I don't know what just happened…"
I forced a small smile.
"It's okay."
But inside…
everything was shaking.
Because this time—
she didn't just feel something…
she almost remembered.