Everything felt real.
Too real.
Tia lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling.
Time passed.
Minutes.
Maybe hours.
His thoughts refused to settle.
I died.
He remembered it clearly.
Slience.
Slowly —
He sat up.
The mirror stood across from him.
Silent.
Waiting.
He stared at it.
At himself.
Young.
Alive.
"…Impossible."
Then —
A voice suddenly came from outside the room.
"Ah-Tia?"
He froze.
That voice—
"No…"
Footsteps approached.
A woman entered.
Carrying groceries.
Tired eyes.
Warm presence.
His mother.
"Tia? Why are you sitting there like that?"
The bag slipped slightly from her shoulder.
"I'm home late again… sorry."
Tia couldn't breathe.
His throat tightened painfully.
His eyes widened.
"…Mom?"
She frowned.
"What kind of look is that?"
Then she smiled softly.
"You hungry?"
His mind exploded.
Alive.
She was alive.
His vision blur.
Years.
Years of searching.
Years of regret.
Years of wishing—
And now—
She was standing right there.
Tia's voice cracked.
"…You disappeared."
".... where did you go."
Silence.
Her smile faded slightly.
"What are you talking about?"
She walked closer and placed a hand on his forehead.
"You don't have a fever…"
That touch—
Real.
Warm.
He finally broke.
Tears spilled before he realized it.
Tia shook his head
"No… no no no…"
"you left me … you disappeared…"
Her expression softened.
She pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay."
"I'm here."
And for a moment—
Tia forgot the Rift.
Forgot the system.
Forgot death.
A few minutes later****
"…I'll heat up some soup."
She pulled away slowly—
Then disappeared into the kitchen.
The room became quiet.
Too quiet.
A few minutes later—
She returned carrying two bowls.
Steam rose gently from them.
placed one before him.
Tia stared at it silently.
Then lifted the spoon.
Warmth spread instantly.
Familiar.
Painfully familiar.
His grip tightened slightly.
…It's been so long.
Across from him—
His mother watched quietly.
"A-Tia…"
"Is this because of the academy?"
Her eyes filled with worry.
"You don't have to take the exam if you don't want to."
A pause.
"…Or have I not been home enough lately?"
Tia looked up.
The concern in her eyes was real.
Alive.
Warm.
"Ma…"
His voice cracked again.
"…Nothing happened."
"You don't need to worry."
A lie.
Because none of this should exist.
I died.
He remembered it clearly.
So this—
Had to be a dream.
Right?
The thought lingered.
His mother sighed softly, then reached for her phone.
"If you're really serious about skipping it, I'll contact your teacher tonight."
"The exam starts tomorrow anyway."
Tia froze.
"…Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
She looked at him strangely.
"Monday. January seventeenth."
The spoon stopped midair.
His eyes widened slightly.
Silence.
No.
Impossible.
That date—
Slowly—
He raised his head.
"…Ma."
"What year is this?"
Her brows furrowed immediately.
"Tia…"
"How old am I?"
Now she looked genuinely concerned.
"You're seventeen."
"You'll turn eighteen soon."
Seventeen.
His heart skipped.
"Tia…"
Her hand covered his gently.
"You're scaring me."
He looked away instantly.
"…I'm tired."
A pause.
"I think I'll sleep early."
Silence lingered briefly.
Then she smiled faintly.
Tired.
Worried.
"…Alright."
"But if something's wrong…"
"You tell me."
"…Yes."
The door closed softly behind him.
Click.
Silence returned.
Tia sat at the edge of the bed.
Staring at his hands.
Young.
Small.
A weak laugh escaped him.
Unsteady.
"…No."
"This can't be real."
He lay back slowly, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
why…
The room remained silent.
But somewhere deep inside—
A terrifying thought began to form.
What if this wasn't a dream?
What if...
He had truly returned?
Isolation's note:
Congratulations!!!.
If you are reading this, then you have successfully made it past the first chapters and chosen to continue this journey.
By turning to the next page, you are stepping into Delete Isolation's world of chaos,mysteries,calamity and survival.
Hehehe.
Now—
turn the page!!!!!....