Aria started counting the hours.
She didn't mean to.
It just… happened.
By midday, she had already checked the time more times than she could count. Classes blurred together, conversations faded in and out, and everything felt slightly off—as if her real life had taken a step back while something else quietly took its place.
Night.
That's all she could think about.
It should have scared her.
The way she was starting to need it.
The way she was starting to look forward to a place that wasn't real—
—or at least, wasn't supposed to be.
But instead, there was something else.
Anticipation.
---
That evening, she didn't fight sleep.
She welcomed it.
Aria lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for only a few seconds before closing her eyes, her heart already beating faster.
Be there.
The thought came naturally now.
Like it belonged.
---
The cold wrapped around her almost instantly.
She inhaled sharply as her eyes opened, her body already adjusting to the shift.
The park.
But something was different.
The air felt… heavier.
Quieter than usual.
Aria frowned slightly, stepping forward. "Hello?"
No answer.
Her chest tightened.
That had never happened before.
Her gaze moved quickly to the bench—
Empty.
A strange feeling settled in her stomach.
"No," she muttered, shaking her head. "No, no—he's always here."
She walked faster now, her steps echoing softly against the path as she reached the bench. Her eyes scanned the park, searching.
Nothing.
Just empty paths and flickering lights.
For the first time since this started—
He wasn't there.
Aria's chest felt tight in a way she didn't expect. Disappointment hit first, sharp and sudden… followed by something worse.
Fear.
"What is going on?" she whispered.
The wind picked up slightly, brushing past her like a quiet answer that didn't make sense.
She turned in a slow circle.
"Okay, not funny," she called out, her voice louder now. "If you're here, just—"
"I didn't think you'd come."
Aria spun around.
He was standing a few feet behind her.
Closer than usual.
Her breath caught.
"Don't do that," she said quickly, pressing a hand to her chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry."
But he didn't sound sorry.
He sounded… distant.
Aria frowned, taking a step toward him. "Where were you?"
He shrugged slightly. "Here."
"You weren't on the bench."
"I don't always have to be."
"That's not true," she said immediately. "You're always there."
He didn't respond.
And that silence said more than words.
Aria slowed, her expression shifting. "Something's wrong."
"It's always wrong," he replied quietly.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "This is different."
He looked at her then.
Really looked at her.
And for a moment, she saw it again—
That same hesitation.
Like he was standing on the edge of something.
"Why do you keep coming back?" he asked suddenly.
The question caught her off guard.
"What?"
"You know something isn't right," he continued. "You feel it. So why are you still here?"
Aria stared at him.
Because the answer was obvious.
Because it had been obvious for a while now.
But saying it out loud felt… different.
"I don't know," she said at first.
He didn't react.
Didn't look convinced.
Aria exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping for a second before lifting again.
"That's not true," she admitted.
His expression shifted slightly.
"Then what is it?" he asked.
Her heart started beating faster.
Not from fear.
From something else.
Something she wasn't used to saying.
"You," she said.
The word hung between them.
Simple.
Honest.
Real.
He went completely still.
Aria swallowed, suddenly aware of how close they were.
"I come back because of you," she added, softer now.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
Didn't move.
And then—
He let out a quiet breath, like something inside him had just given way.
"You shouldn't," he said.
But there was no strength behind it this time.
"No," Aria replied gently. "You shouldn't tell me that without explaining why."
A faint, almost tired smile appeared on his face.
"You're not going to stop, are you?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Silence.
But not empty.
Not anymore.
He looked away briefly, running a hand through his hair like he was thinking—really thinking—about something he'd been avoiding.
Then finally—
"Aria."
The way he said her name made her chest tighten.
"I need you to understand something," he said.
Her stomach dropped slightly.
"Okay…"
"If I tell you this," he continued, "things are going to change."
"They've already changed."
"Not like this."
Aria hesitated.
But only for a second.
"Tell me anyway."
He studied her face, searching for doubt.
For hesitation.
He didn't find any.
So, slowly—
He nodded.
"Alright."
The air felt heavier now, like the world itself was holding its breath.
Aria stepped closer without realizing it.
"What is it?"
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he said something else.
"My name."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"You asked before," he said quietly. "About my name."
Aria's pulse quickened.
"Yeah…"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"Ethan."
The name landed softly.
But it didn't feel small.
It felt like something important.
Like a door opening.
Aria repeated it in her head.
Ethan.
It fit.
Too well.
"Ethan," she said out loud, testing it.
Something in his expression shifted when she said it.
Not fear.
Not regret.
Something closer to… relief.
"Now it's fair," she added quietly.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Yeah. I guess it is."
For a moment, everything felt… normal.
Like two people meeting.
Talking.
Existing in the same space.
Not a dream.
Not something strange or broken.
Just—
Real.
Aria looked at him, really looked this time, her chest tightening slightly.
"Ethan," she said again, softer now.
He met her gaze.
And this time—
He didn't look away.
But just as quickly—
The streetlight above them flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
Stronger.
Aria's smile faded.
"No," she whispered.
Ethan's expression darkened slightly.
"It's happening sooner," he said.
"What is?" she asked quickly.
But deep down—
She already knew.
The same feeling.
That unraveling.
That pull.
"Why does this keep happening?" she demanded.
Ethan didn't answer right away.
Then—
"Because we're not supposed to keep meeting like this."
Her chest tightened. "Says who?"
He looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was no hesitation.
"Everything."
The word hit harder than it should have.
The wind picked up again, colder now, sharper.
The park flickered around them, the edges of everything starting to blur.
Aria stepped closer instinctively.
"No," she said. "Not yet."
Ethan didn't move.
But his voice softened.
"Aria…"
She shook her head. "We just—You just told me your name. You don't get to disappear right after that."
A small, almost helpless smile appeared on his face.
"I don't control it."
"Then I will."
Before he could react—
Aria reached for him.
Her hand found his.
And just like before—
Everything stopped.
The wind.
The flickering.
The breaking.
Silence.
Stillness.
Ethan's eyes widened slightly.
"Aria…"
But this time—
She didn't let go.
"Stay," she said.
It wasn't a question.
For one suspended moment—
It felt like it might actually work.
Like the world was bending just enough to let them exist.
Together.
But then—
The light shattered.
The air cracked.
And everything fell apart.
---
Aria woke with a sharp breath, her hand gripping her sheets tightly.
Her room spun for a second before settling.
Dark.
Quiet.
Real.
But her heart was racing.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
She stared at her hand again, her fingers slowly relaxing.
"Ethan," she whispered.
The name felt different now.
Not unknown.
Not distant.
Real.
Too real.
Aria lay back slowly, her thoughts racing.
Things had changed.
Just like he said they would.
And somehow—
She knew this was only the beginning.