London was nothing like her hometown. The streets were alive with energy, stories, and people from every corner of the world.
Riya stood outside the residency building, clutching her bag nervously.
"You look like you might run away."
She turned to see a tall young man with calm eyes and a confident smile.
"I'm not running," she replied quickly.
"Good," he said. "Because this place changes people."
"I'm Riya."
"Aarav."
Something about the way he said his name felt familiar, though she was certain they had never met.
Over the next few days, Riya discovered that Aarav was one of the most talented writers in the program. His stories were deep, emotional, almost… prophetic.
And strangely, he seemed to understand her thoughts before she spoke them.