The pain didn't fade.
It only grew stronger.
Riya sat there on the cold ground…
her hands trembling…
her breath uneven.
Those flashes…
they weren't stopping anymore.
A car.
A scream.
Blood.
And me.
Again and again.
Like her mind was trying to force her to remember something…
something she wasn't ready to face.
"No…" she whispered, clutching her head.
"This can't be real…"
But deep inside…
she knew—
it was.
At the same time…
I was running.
I didn't think.
I didn't stop.
I just ran.
Because something inside me kept screaming—
she needs you.
When I reached the road…
my heart dropped.
Riya was there.
On her knees.
Broken.
Crying.
Just like before.
"Riya!" I called out.
She looked up.
And the moment her eyes met mine—
everything changed.
There was no confusion this time.
No hesitation.
Only one thing—
recognition.
"You…" she whispered.
My steps slowed.
Fear gripped my chest.
"Riya… listen to me—"
But she stood up suddenly.
Tears streaming down her face.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.
Her voice broke with every word.
"Why did you hide this from me…?"
I froze.
Because this was the moment I was trying to avoid.
The moment where—
truth would hurt her more than anything else.
"I was trying to protect you," I said softly.
"Protect me…?" she laughed weakly.
Her laughter was full of pain.
"By lying to me?"
"I didn't lie…" I whispered.
"I just… didn't tell you everything."
Her eyes filled again.
"I saw it…" she said.
"Everything…"
My heart sank.
"You… died…"
Silence.
Heavy.
Unbearable.
"And I was there…" she continued.
"Crying… screaming your name…"
Her voice shattered.
"Do you know what that feels like…?" she asked.
I couldn't answer.
Because I knew.
I had lived it.
"I couldn't let you feel that pain again," I said.
"That's why I stayed away."
She stepped closer.
"So you thought losing you… wouldn't hurt me?"
That question…
hit deeper than anything.
Because she was right.
Tears rolled down my face.
"I didn't know what else to do…" I admitted.
"I just wanted you to be safe."
She stared at me…
her expression slowly softening.
"But I wasn't safe," she said quietly.
"Because even without memories…"
She placed her hand on her chest.
"…my heart was still breaking."
I felt my breath stop.
"Riya…" I whispered.
She took another step closer.
This time—
there was no distance left between us.
"Tell me the truth," she said.
"No more hiding."
Her eyes locked with mine.
"I deserve to know everything."
I closed my eyes.
This was it.
No more running.
No more hiding.
Only truth.
Slowly…
I opened my eyes.
And said—
"Then listen carefully…
because this story…
ends with me dying."