Chapter One

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Emma's POV

Emma’s head was throbbing, a dull, heavy ache. Everything felt strange, like she’d been dropped into someone else’s life. She blinked, adjusting to the dim light filtering through heavy curtains. As her vision cleared, her heart began to race.

This wasn’t her room.

She looked around, taking in the grand, old-fashioned furniture, the silk sheets, and the intricate designs on the high ceiling. Everything looked like it was from another century, like something from a historical drama.

“W-Where am I?” she whispered, her voice shaky.

Slowly, she pushed herself up, feeling a strange weight. She looked down and saw she was wearing a long, elaborate dress, far more ornate than anything she’d ever owned. Her fingers touched her face, feeling features that didn’t quite feel like hers.

“This can’t be happening…” she murmured, panic rising in her chest. “Am I… dreaming?”

Fragments of memory started coming back to her. She remembered the busy street, the stray cat, and the moment she dashed into traffic to save it. She remembered the blinding lights of a car – and then nothing. Just darkness. But now, here she was, in a strange body, in a place that looked like it belonged to a character from a novel.

Emma’s breath hitched as a realization struck her. “This looks like… the novel I was reading,” she whispered, her hands trembling. “No… no way. How is this possible?”

As she tried to make sense of it all, a soft creak pulled her attention to the door. Her heart skipped a beat as the door slowly opened, and a small boy peeked inside. He looked about three or four, with dark hair and big, curious eyes. His face lit up with a shy smile when he saw her.

“Mama?” he said, his small voice full of warmth and innocence.

Emma froze. Mama? She stared at the boy, her mind reeling. Was he talking to her? This little boy… was he supposed to be her son?

The boy stepped into the room, looking a bit worried. “Mama, are you okay?” he asked, his eyes searching her face.

Emma took a shaky breath, trying to find the right words. “Y-Yes, I’m… I’m okay,” she managed, her voice barely steady. Somehow, she felt an odd, unexplainable connection to this child.

“What’s your name?” she asked softly, trying to keep her tone calm.

The boy tilted his head, looking a bit confused, but he smiled. “Mama, I’m Ethan,” he said, as if it was obvious.

“Ethan…” she repeated, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. “That’s… a lovely name.”

Ethan giggled, his smile widening. He climbed onto the bed without hesitation, settling beside her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He cuddled close, his small hand gripping hers. “You’re funny, Mama,” he said with a soft laugh.

Emma’s heart melted a little. She still didn’t understand how she’d ended up here or why this was happening, but Ethan’s presence made the fear fade just a bit. He felt warm, real, and somehow… comforting.

As he leaned against her, closing his eyes, Emma instinctively began stroking his hair. She didn’t have the answers, but for now, maybe it was okay to just be here, to hold this little boy and let herself feel grounded in this strange new world.

For now, she could let go of her questions and just be his mother, if only for this moment.

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