The question stayed there.
Between them.
"Have we really not met before?"
Anaya's eyes didn't leave his.
Not this time.
She wasn't fully strong.
Not fully steady.
But she wasn't letting it go either.
Because now—
It didn't feel like imagination anymore.
It felt like—
Something real she couldn't reach.
Reyansh exhaled slowly.
His mind—
Already ahead.
He could tell her.
Right now.
End this.
Answer every question she didn't even know how to ask yet.
Yes, we've met.You knew me.You—
His fingers curled slightly at his side.
But then—
He looked at her.
Really looked.
The confusion.
The exhaustion.
The way she was trying to hold onto something she didn't understand.
And suddenly—
It didn't feel right.
Not like this.
Not when she wasn't ready.
"…we might have," he said finally.
Careful.
Measured.
Anaya's brows pulled together.
"…might?"
"I studied in the same city," he continued. "Same schools, same areas… it's possible our paths crossed."
Half-truth.
Safe.
She stared at him.
Trying to fit that explanation into the feeling she had.
But it didn't—
Match.
"…that's not it."
The words slipped out quietly.
Reyansh's gaze sharpened.
"Then what is?"
She hesitated.
Because she didn't know how to explain it.
How do you describe something you don't remember—
But still feel?
"It's…" she shook her head lightly, frustrated, "it's not just that."
A pause.
"When you say things—"
Her voice softened.
"…it feels like I've heard them before."
Silence.
Because that—
That was the truth.
Closer than anything else she had said so far.
Reyansh looked away briefly.
His jaw tightening.
"…of course it does."
"You call me that name like it belongs to me," she added quietly.
His hand stilled.
"Ana."
She said it this time.
Testing it.
Feeling it.
And something in her chest—
Shifted.
Not fully.
But enough.
"…who used to call me that?" she asked.
That question—
That one—
Almost broke his control.
Because the answer was simple.
Me.
His throat felt tight suddenly.
Memories pressing forward—
Her laughter.
Her arguments.
The way she used to roll her eyes at that name—
But never asked him to stop.
"…someone close?" she tried again.
He looked at her.
And for a moment—
He almost said it.
Everything.
But then—
He saw it again.
The uncertainty.
The fragility.
And he stopped.
"…maybe," he said quietly.
Another half-answer.
Another step—
But not the full truth.
Anaya exhaled slowly.
Frustrated.
"…you're not telling me everything."
"No," he admitted.
This time—
No deflection.
No denial.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…why?"
Because if I do—
You'll look at me differently.
Because if I do—
I don't know if you'll stay.
Because if I do—
You might remember everything at once.
Or nothing at all.
"…because I don't know if I should," he said instead.
The honesty—
Soft.
But heavy.
Anaya looked at him quietly.
Trying to understand.
Trying to connect something—
Anything—
But her head still hurt.
Her body still weak.
And her thoughts—
Still incomplete.
"…this is confusing," she murmured.
"I know."
A pause.
"But it's not wrong," she added softly.
That made him look at her again.
"It doesn't feel wrong," she said, meeting his gaze.
"…whatever this is."
Something in his chest tightened.
Because that—
That meant everything.
And nothing.
At the same time.
He leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"…we'll figure it out."
Not you.
Not I.
We.
She didn't question that.
Didn't correct it.
Just nodded.
And for now—
That was enough.
But outside—
The nurse who had overheard earlier—
Was still thinking.
Because something about this—
Didn't sit right.
"Ana…"
She repeated under her breath.
Frowning slightly.
Because that didn't sound like something new.
And maybe—
Just maybe—
There was more to this story than either of them was saying.
Reyansh didn't stay forever.
He made sure she ate.
Took her meds.
Checked her temperature again.
"Rest," he said finally, standing up.
She nodded.
"…you're leaving?"
The question came out softer than she intended.
"I have work," he replied.
Of course.
Doctor.
It made sense.
Still—
"…okay."
A small pause.
Then—
"I'll come back later," he added.
And that—
That felt different.
Not a promise.
But not casual either.
She watched him leave.
And for a moment—
The room felt quieter than before.
Time passed slowly after that.
The medicine made her drowsy again.
But her mind—
Didn't rest.
Ana.
The name echoed again.
Soft.
Familiar.
"…why does it feel like it belongs to me?"
A knock broke her thoughts.
The nurse stepped in with a small tray.
"Time for your meds," she said gently.
Anaya nodded, sitting up slightly.
"Please take these, Mrs. Ana—"
The nurse froze.
Just for a second.
"…I mean—Miss Anaya."
Silence.
Immediate.
Anaya's gaze lifted slowly.
"…what did you just say?"
The nurse blinked, slightly flustered.
"Oh—nothing, it just slipped—"
"Why 'Ana'?" Anaya asked.
Her voice wasn't sharp.
Just—
Focused.
The nurse hesitated.
Then gave a small, awkward laugh.
"Actually… I overheard earlier. The doctor called you that."
Anaya didn't speak.
Just watched her.
"It must have just stayed in my mind," the nurse added quickly. "You know how it is."
A pause.
Then—
"To be honest, Dr. Reyansh does that sometimes. Uses short names… nicknames."
Anaya's expression shifted slightly.
"…nicknames?"
"Yes," the nurse nodded. "Especially with child patients. It makes things easier. Less formal."
Another small laugh.
"To lighten the mood."
Anaya looked down at her hands.
Processing.
That made sense.
Didn't it?
He knew she didn't like hospitals.
He had seen her reaction.
The fear.
So maybe—
It was just that.
A habit.
A way to make her more comfortable.
"…yeah," she murmured softly.
"That makes sense."
The nurse smiled, relieved the tension had eased.
"Exactly."
She handed her the medicine.
"Take these."
Anaya nodded, taking it quietly.
After the nurse left—
The room fell silent again.
She leaned back slightly.
"…you're overthinking."
It was logical.
Simple.
Nothing complicated.
And yet—
Her fingers tightened slightly around the bedsheet.
Because if it was just a habit—
Then why did it feel like more?
Why did it feel like—
That name wasn't new?
A faint flicker—
Laughter.
Closer.
Warmer.
"Stop calling me that."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it suits you."
Her breath hitched slightly.
Then—
Gone.
"…just imagination."
She closed her eyes briefly.
Trying to settle it.
Push it away.
Because right now—
It was easier to believe—
That it meant nothing.
Across the city—
Reyansh sat in his cabin.
But his focus—
Wasn't on his work.
It was on her.
Again.
"…I shouldn't have said that."
The words repeated in his head.
Still scared?
Ana.
He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly.
Because now—
Things were shifting.
She was noticing.
Questioning.
Getting closer—
Without even realizing how close she already was.
"…how long can I keep this from her?"
The answer—
Didn't come.
Because sooner or later—
She would remember.
Or—
He would have to tell her.
And either way—
Nothing would stay the same.