The city was louder than Lily expected.
Cars roared past like angry animals. Horns screamed. People pushed and hurried across the streets as if the world might collapse if they slowed down.
Lily stood at the edge of the sidewalk, holding the strap of his worn bag tightly.
For a moment, he just stared.
Tall buildings rose into the sky like giants. Bright signs blinked everywhere. Even the air smelled different, metal, gasoline, and street food mixed together.
It was nothing like home.
A bus door slammed behind him, and suddenly, he felt very small in the middle of the crowded city.
But Lily smiled anyway.
Because today was supposed to be a new beginning.
He pulled out his phone and quickly dialled the only number he knew by heart.
His mother answered on the second ring.
"Lyruos?" she said softly.
Lily's smile grew wider.
"Yes, Mama. I arrived."
"Are you safe?"
He looked around again.
The city looked chaotic… but exciting.
"I think so," he said with a small laugh. "The city is huge. Uncle's house must be somewhere near here."
His mother sighed quietly.
"Lyruos, remember what I told you."
Her voice suddenly sounded more serious.
"You see colours differently. Don't trust traffic lights alone. Always look carefully before crossing."
Lily nodded instinctively.
Even though she couldn't see him.
"I know, Mama."
Lily had been colorblind since birth.
Red.
Green.
Yellow.
To him, they looked almost the same.
So he learned a different way to understand the world.
He watched movement instead of colour.
He watched patterns.
Shadows.
People.
It was the only way he knew how to survive.
"I promise I'll be careful," he said gently.
His mother was silent for a moment.
Then she said something that made Lily's chest tighten.
"Your uncle said the senator's family is very powerful. Be polite. Don't cause trouble."
Lily chuckled softly.
"Mama, when have I ever caused trouble?"
"You were born causing trouble," she replied immediately.
Lily laughed.
For a moment, the city didn't feel so overwhelming anymore.
"Don't worry," he said.
"I'll work in the garage. I'll learn about cars. Maybe one day I'll even become a mechanic."
His mother's voice softened.
"That would make me proud."
Lily swallowed.
"Alright, Mama. I'll call you tonight."
"Be careful, Lyruos."
"I will."
The call ended.
Lily slipped the phone back into his pocket and took a deep breath.
Across the street stood a massive iron gate.
Beyond it stretched a long driveway leading to a large mansion.
That had to be the senator's house.
His uncle worked there as the head mechanic.
Which meant Lily would live there, too.
Excitement bubbled inside his chest.
A new life.
A new city.
A new beginning.
He stepped off the curb.
Then everything happened too fast.
A sharp screech of brakes cut through the air.
Lily turned his head just as a silver sports car came racing toward him.
Too fast.
Way too fast.
The car slammed into him.
Pain exploded through his leg.
His body hit the ground hard, and his bag burst open, books scattering across the road.
The car stopped several meters away.
The door swung open.
A tall young man stepped out.
Expensive clothes.
Sharp eyes.
Annoyed expression.
Lily blinked.
His heart skipped a beat.
Because he recognized him instantly.
"Lucas…?" he whispered.
But Lucas didn't recognize him.
Lucas only looked irritated.
"What the hell were you doing in the road?" he snapped.
Lily scrambled to his feet, ignoring the pain in his leg.
He bowed his head quickly.
"I'm sorry!" he said nervously.
Lucas barely glanced at him.
Then he returned to the car.
The engine roared again.
And just like that…
He drove away.
No apology.
No concern.
No memory.
Lily stood frozen in the middle of the street.
The boy who used to run beside him under the summer sun…
Didn't even remember his name.
He slowly bent down and gathered his scattered books.
His leg hurt.
But the pain in his chest hurt much worse.
Still, Lily forced himself to smile.
Because that was what he always did.
He smiled.
Even when life hurt.
After a moment, he limped toward the iron gate.
He pressed the intercom button.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Finally, the gate clicked open.
A middle-aged man rushed out.
"Lyruos!"
His uncle stopped when he saw the blood on Lily's leg.
"What happened to you?"
Lily laughed awkwardly.
"It's nothing serious."
His uncle shook his head and helped him inside.
"Come in quickly."
As they walked toward the house, Lily looked around the massive estate in awe.
Gardens.
Fountains.
Luxury cars.
This place felt like another world.
His uncle suddenly lowered his voice.
"Be careful here, Lyruos."
"What do you mean?"
"The senator's sons live here too."
"How many?"
"Three."
His uncle hesitated.
"They're… complicated."
Lily tilted his head.
"Complicated how?"
His uncle didn't answer.
Instead, he said quietly,
"The youngest one is named Lucas."
Lily froze.
Because he had just met Lucas.
And Lucas had already forgotten him.
But Lily didn't say anything.
Because he didn't want anyone to know how much that hurt.
Meanwhile…
Across the city…
Lucas sat in a crowded bar with his friends.
Music blasted through the speakers.
Glasses clinked.
Laughter filled the room.
But Lucas stared silently at his drink.
David nudged him.
"What's wrong with you tonight?"
Lucas shrugged.
"Nothing."
Benjy leaned forward.
"What about your brother?"
"Ezekiel?"
Lucas's expression darkened.
"The war changed him."
"And it changed our father too."
For a moment, Lucas stared into the distance.
A strange memory surfaced in his mind.
Four boys running through sunlight.
Lucas.
Jeremy.
Ezekiel.
And another boy…
A boy they used to call…
"Lily…"
Lucas whispered the name without realizing it.
His friends didn't hear him.
But somewhere inside the senator's mansion…
The boy named Lily had already arrived.
Closer to Lucas than he could ever imagine.
And neither of them knew…
That the past was about to return.