The Girl He Forgot

They said I died that night. I didn’t… I just wasn’t the same after that. Everything happened too fast. One minute I was home, next there was fire everywhere, people shouting, things breaking—just chaos. And out of all of that, the only person I could actually see was him. Ronan. I hate that name now. It’s weird because I used to trust him. Like, really trust him. No second thoughts, nothing. Then that night happened and… yeah. That was it for me. I left. Didn’t tell anyone. Didn’t even think twice about it. There was nothing left anyway, so what was the point? Now I go by Aria Vale. Not because I like it or anything—it just makes things easier. People don’t ask questions, and I don’t have to explain myself. I came back for one reason. Him. At least that’s what I kept telling myself. The plan was simple—get close, act normal, make him trust me… then ruin everything. Make him feel even a little of what I felt. But now that I’m actually here, seeing him again… talking to him like nothing ever happened—it’s not as simple as I thought. Something feels off. He doesn’t act like someone who did what I think he did. And I don’t know if that’s real or if I’m just overthinking it, but either way… I don’t like it. It’s messing with me more than I expected. And then there’s Cassian. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t have made it this far without him. He helped me when I had nothing, showed me how to survive without falling apart. So yeah, I trusted him too. Maybe that was a mistake. Because now things aren’t adding up, and I can feel it. I just don’t know where the lie started… or who it’s really coming from. All I know is I didn’t come all this way just to stop now. Whatever the truth is I’m going to find it.