The question burned in his skull, but instinct screamed: Ask. Now. Before she vanishes.
"Who are you?"
The girl blinked, thrown.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know you," Ethan said, voice tight. "But you act like I do. Like… this is normal."
She tilted her head, studying him like a puzzle.
"Why would you say that? We've always been together."
Ethan's heart skipped.
"No. I…" He choked. How to explain without sounding insane? "I don't remember meeting you."
Her frown deepened. Not angry. Confused.
"You're the one who always forgets," she whispered, more to herself than him.
Her words sent a chill down Ethan's spine.
"Forget what?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she stepped closer—slow, like movement might decode him.
Ethan didn't back up, but his body stiffened.
Her closeness felt wrong—familiar and foreign at once.
"Ethan… are you okay?" Her voice dipped with worry.
Hearing his name in her mouth made his skin crawl.
"I'm…" He swallowed. "Trying to figure out what's happening."
She tilted her head, straight hair swaying. "You don't need to overthink it. You always come back."
The words choked him.
"Come back?"
He pressed a hand to his temple. None of this fit. If she knew him so well… why did she feel like a stranger?
"If we've been together this long…" His voice cracked. "Why don't I remember any of it?"
She smiled softly, like she'd expected the question.
The panic hit. He couldn't leave now.
Took a step forward, hand reaching for her—like touching her could anchor him here.
"Wait…" His voice frayed in the wind.
But the girl didn't flinch. Same calm stare. Hair dancing in the breeze.
Then—she smiled. Not a goodbye smile. A knowing one.
Like she knew he'd return. Like this had happened a hundred times before.
Ethan tried to speak—but the void swallowed him first.
Everything went black.
Then—
He woke up.