CHAPTER 1

Dreadful dream

The bus stop was nearly empty, a quiet lull before evening settled in. I was waiting, a little impatiently, phone in hand as I listened to Anderson's voice drifting through the line. My fiancé.

He was already at the restaurant, waiting for me, and I could picture him, sitting there with his usual charming smile, probably playing with the napkin like he always did when he was early. It was comforting in a way, predictable. Anderson was the kind of man anyone would feel lucky to have, and I knew that—I really did.

Then, out of nowhere, the bus arrived, breaking my train of thought. I hurried inside, still holding the phone close to my ear as Anderson talked, and slid into the first open seat I saw, not even thinking, just moving on instinct. But the second I settled in and looked up, my gaze fell directly into someone else's.

That's when it happened—just like that, my heart forgot how to beat.

Sitting across from me was a stranger, but no ordinary stranger. He had this face, this magnetic look, as if he was carved out of some dream. Our eyes met, and I swear, for those few seconds, I couldn't look away. I could barely breathe. His gaze was so intense, like he was seeing through me, straight to my thoughts. Anderson was still talking, his voice growing louder in my ear.

"Hello? Tania, are you there?"

My senses came crashing back to reality. "Oh! Yes, yes… I'm on the bus now, almost there," I stammered, breaking the eye contact as my cheeks burned. But as soon as I glanced up again, the bus was slowing, and the stranger was already rising from his seat. He was tall, with a natural grace, and as he reached the door, he threw me one last look—a lingering, unforgettable gaze—before he stepped off and disappeared into the crowd. Just like that, he was gone.

The bus jolted back to life, and I was left reeling, caught between the unreal feeling of that moment and the realness of Anderson's voice.

I arrived at the restaurant, feeling somehow dazed. Anderson, of course, was there, ready with that warm, steady smile. He ordered my favorite juice, talked about his day, and everything should have felt normal, familiar. And yet, as he spoke, I kept seeing that stranger's face, those eyes. For the first time, Anderson's charm felt… different. He was the same as always, but my mind was elsewhere.

"Tania, are you okay?" he asked, his hand warm on mine. "You look pale. Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"Oh, no," I laughed, feeling a little guilty. "Maybe I have a slight headache, but it's nothing, really."

He didn't look convinced. "Come on, let's get you checked out. Better safe than sorry."

By the time we reached the hospital, I was starting to feel a bit more grounded. Anderson was right beside me, handling everything, like he always did. But then, just as I stood by the reception, a wave of dizziness hit me, and the world spun. I vaguely remember Anderson calling my name as I sank into darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed, and I heard a soft voice.

"Madam, are you awake?"

My eyes fluttered open, and… there he was. The stranger from the bus, staring down at me with the same intense, unreadable gaze. I blinked, convinced I was dreaming.

"Are you… were you… on the bus?" I managed to whisper.

His mouth curved into a slight smile. "Yes, I remember. Small world, isn't it?"

My heart raced, and I felt absurdly shy, caught off guard by the warmth in his eyes. I was embarrassed, maybe even a little excited. "Thank you… I thought you were just a dream."

"Sometimes dreams aren't as far from reality as we think," he said, his voice low, and for a moment, it felt like there was no one else in the world.

Then I remembered Anderson. I glanced at my left hand to reassure myself, but my ring… it was gone. Panic flared in my chest.

"Doctor," I stammered, my voice tight. "Have you… seen my engagement ring? I was wearing it when I got here."

A strange look flickered across his face, but he kept his voice calm. "I didn't notice, but maybe it was left behind somewhere. If it's so important, I can buy you a new one."

I stared at him, my mind in a daze. "That… no, it's not just any ring," I whispered, pulling my hand back. But there was that look again in his eyes—intense, unyielding, as though he understood something I didn't.

He watched me for a moment, the weight of his gaze pressing into mine. Then, without a word, he turned and left the room. I lay back, feeling my heart race, questions tumbling over each other in my mind. Was he real, or some figment of a wish buried too deep to ignore?

I clung to the thought of Anderson, picturing his familiar, kind smile. And yet, the image of that stranger's eyes haunted me, leaving me feeling somehow adrift, as though I was teetering between two worlds—one safe and sure, the other unknown and electrifying.