Chapter 4: The First Memory

"I want you to remember me."

The words lingered in the darkness long after he said them.

I stood frozen on the other side of the door, my hand hovering inches above the lock.

Every sensible thought in my head screamed at me to walk away.

Call someone.

Ignore him.

Pretend none of this was happening.

But another part of me—

the part that recognized his voice before my mind could understand why—

wouldn't move.

Rain hammered against the windows.

Lightning flashed briefly through the apartment.

And for the first time, I found myself asking the question I'd been avoiding.

What if he's telling the truth?

My fingers curled tightly.

"What if I don't remember because we've never met?"

Silence.

Then a quiet laugh came from the other side of the door.

Not mocking.

Sad.

"You always argue with me first."

My chest tightened.

Again.

That strange ache.

Like a missing puzzle piece scraping against a place it used to belong.

"Stop saying things like that."

"Nari."

The way he said my name made my stomach twist.

Not because it sounded threatening.

Because it sounded familiar.

Like hearing a favorite song after years of forgetting it existed.

"You used to trust me."

A sudden sharp pain shot through my head.

I gasped.

The hallway vanished.

For one split second—

I wasn't standing in my apartment anymore.

I was standing beneath a sky full of stars.

Thousands of them.

Brighter than any stars I'd ever seen.

The air smelled like rain.

Someone was laughing beside me.

A boy.

Dark hair.

Warm eyes.

His hand was holding mine.

"Nari."

The vision shattered instantly.

I stumbled backward, grabbing the wall for support.

My breathing became uneven.

"What..."

My head hurt.

The memory had only lasted a second.

Maybe less.

But it felt real.

More real than any dream I'd ever had.

"Nari?"

His voice sounded worried now.

"Are you okay?"

I couldn't answer.

Because my heart was racing.

Because I remembered something.

Not everything.

Just enough.

A hand.

Stars.

Rain.

Him.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"No..."

The front door blurred through my tears.

Why was I crying?

I didn't even know this person.

So why did remembering him hurt so much?

Another flash of lightning lit the hallway.

And before I could stop myself—

I unlocked the door.

The click echoed loudly.

Silence followed.

My hand trembled against the handle.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

I opened the door.

The hallway outside was dimly lit by emergency lights.

And standing there—

was Ren Amari.

For a moment neither of us spoke.

Rainwater still clung to his dark hair.

His black jacket was soaked.

But his eyes—

those eyes from my dreams—

never left mine.

Like he was afraid I'd disappear if he looked away.

The silence stretched.

Then his gaze lowered slightly.

To my shaking hands.

To the tears I hadn't realized were falling.

His expression changed instantly.

"Nari..."

The way he said my name was almost painful.

Like relief.

Like heartbreak.

Like he'd been waiting years to say it again.

I swallowed hard.

Every instinct told me to close the door.

To run.

To pretend this wasn't happening.

But instead—

I whispered the only thing I could think of.

"...Have we met before?"

Ren froze.

Completely.

The question seemed to hit him harder than I expected.

For a second, he simply stared.

Then he smiled.

A small, fragile smile.

The kind people make when they're trying not to break.

"Yeah."

His voice cracked slightly.

"We have."

Another tear slipped down my cheek.

Because somehow—

deep inside—

I already knew the answer.

And for the first time since this all began...

I wanted to remember.

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