The first thing she noticed was that he still smiled the same way.
Small. Unassuming. The kind of smile that didn't demand attention, but softened everything around it anyway.
Ava sat across the room, her face half-hidden behind the newspaper in her hands, watching him through the café window.
He hadn't changed.
Same dark hair, slightly tousled like he'd run his fingers through it one too many times. Same easy posture, leaning against his car by the roadside, surrounded by friends.
Same laugh—low, and careless.
He was far away, yet she could have sworn she heard it clearly.
Must have been the countless times she had heard it.
For a moment…
Just a moment…
She let herself forget.
Her fingers tightened around the newspaper, the paper crumpling softly beneath her grip.
He's alive.
The thought came unbidden, her chest tightening.
The bell above the café door chimed.
Ava's gaze snapped up.
He stepped inside.
Not alone.
His friends followed behind him, still laughing, still talking.
Too many people.
Too much noise.
Too close.
Ava's breath caught.
She lowered the newspaper slowly, her pulse quickening.
She shouldn't have come here.
She had known he would be here.
And yet—
Her body moved before her mind did. She folded the newspaper quickly and set it on the table as she stood.
Leave.
That was the plan.
Walk out. Don't look back.
But as she turned—
She stepped directly into someone.
A solid impact.
Warm... and familiar.
"—Sorry!"
The word slipped out instantly.
Too fast.
She froze.
He was right there.
Closer than he had any right to be.
Close enough that she could see the faint scar near his brow. Close enough to feel the warmth of him standing just inches away.
Eli blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Ah—no, that's my fault," he said, steadying her lightly.
His hand brushed her arm.
And everything stopped.
Ava felt it immediately.
That pull.
That sharp, invisible tightening beneath her chest.
Like something snapping awake.
Eli stilled too.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"…Weird," he murmured.
No.
Ava pulled back.
Quick. Controlled.
"I'm fine," she said. Too quickly.
His gaze lingered.
Not recognition.
But something close to it.
Something searching.
"Have we met before?" he asked.
And there it was.
The question she had feared.
The one she had prepared herself for.
The one she was never ready to answer.
For a second—
Just one—
Everything inside her broke loose.
Yes.
You held me like I was the only thing that mattered.
You chose me over yourself.
You were dying… and I still stayed.
Her nails dug into her palm.
Grounding.
Stopping herself.
"No," she said.
Soft.
Final.
Something flickered across his face.
Not disappointment.
Not quite confusion.
Just… a quiet sense that something didn't add up.
"Huh," he exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Could've sworn…" He trailed off, But he didn't look away.
Ava could feel it.
That pull.
It hadn't gone away.
If anything—
It was getting stronger.
She took a step back.
Then another.
Creating distance.
Needing distance.
"I should go," she said.
Her voice sounded steady.
It wasn't.
She turned before he could respond.
Too fast.
Too abrupt.
"Wait—"
Her steps faltered.
Just for a second.
She didn't turn.
"I didn't catch your name."
Silence stretched.
Thin.
Fragile.
"…Ava," she said.
The lie felt heavier this time.
A pause.
Then—
"I'm Eli."
Her breath hitched.
Just slightly.
Barely noticeable.
Eldrid.
"Nice to meet you," he added.
Ava nodded once.
Then walked away.
The bell chimed again as she stepped out into the cold air.
This time, she didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't breathe properly until she turned the corner and the café disappeared from view.
Then—
She stopped.
Her hand rose to her chest, pressing hard as if she could hold something in place.
"Not again…" she whispered.
Her voice trembled.
Behind her—
Unseen—
The air shimmered faintly.
Like invisible threads stretching.
Reaching.
Trying to reconnect.
Inside the café, Eli stood where she had left him.
Still.
Quiet.
"…Ava," he repeated under his breath.
Testing the name.
Like it meant something.
Like it should mean something.
His chest tightened.
A strange, unfamiliar pressure.
Not pain.
Not quite.
Just…
Wrong.
He frowned slightly, pressing a hand lightly against his chest.
"…What was that?"
Around him, the café buzzed with life.
Orders called.
Laughter.
Movement.
Normal.
But for a brief moment—
Just a brief, passing moment—
Everything felt…
Off.
Like something had shifted.
Like something had returned.
And somewhere deep within him—
Buried beneath memories that no longer existed—
Something stirred.
Not a thought.
Not a memory.
A feeling.
And it refused…
to go away.