Elena's eyes snapped open, heart pounding, her head still spinning from the disorienting sensation of falling. She blinked, adjusting to the warm morning light flooding the room. As she squinted around, something felt… off.
Gone were the scattered papers and unfinished coffee cups that usually littered her adult apartment. Instead, her walls were covered in faded band posters, and the books on her desk were the ones she'd read years ago, back in high school. She sat up slowly, staring around in confusion.
"This can't be…."
She stumbled out of bed and nearly tripped over a familiar pair of shoes—bright pink sneakers she hadn't worn in years. Her heart raced as she moved to her dresser and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was shorter, her skin clearer, her face softer, like she remembered it back in high school.
"No way," she whispered, bringing a hand to her face as she stared in disbelief.
Elena turned around, scanning the room again. Everything was exactly as it had been ten years ago. It was as if time itself had rewound. But how? The last thing she remembered was the strange message, the dizzying darkness…
She grabbed her phone from the desk, half-expecting the blank, black screen of an old device. But it was her phone—only it was showing a date that didn't make sense. She checked the calendar app, heart pounding harder with every second.
September 1st. Ten years ago, to the day.
Her mind whirled. "This has to be a dream. A crazy, vivid dream," she whispered, running her hands through her hair. "Or maybe I'm… hallucinating?"
Just then, a voice called from outside her door. "Elena, breakfast is ready!"
Her heart clenched. It was her mom's voice. She hadn't heard that cheerful, morning-call tone in years. She took a shaky breath and opened the door.
As she stepped out into the familiar hallway, her mom looked up from the kitchen, smiling as she flipped pancakes. Her hair was tied back, a spatula in hand, just as Elena remembered.
"Good morning, sleepyhead! Ready for your first day of senior year?" her mom asked, beaming at her.
Elena froze, staring at her mother. It was impossible, but there she was—alive, healthy, and looking like she had ten years ago. Tears prickled her eyes as she fought to keep her composure. She swallowed hard, the words catching in her throat.
"Y-yeah, I am," she managed, forcing a small smile.
Her mother raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Come on, don't tell me you're nervous now. Last night, you couldn't stop talking about how excited you were to be a senior."
Elena forced a laugh, her mind racing. "Yeah, just… I had a weird dream, I guess."
As she sat down at the breakfast table, the familiar scent of pancakes filled the room, wrapping her in a strange, nostalgic warmth. For the first time in years, Elena felt like a teenager again—a mixture of nervous energy and naive optimism bubbling in her chest. Only this time, the stakes were higher.
"Better hurry up," her mom said with a grin. "You don't want to be late for the big day. And I know you wouldn't want to miss seeing Aiden."
At the mention of his name, Elena's chest tightened. Aiden. Her first love, her biggest regret. Memories flooded her mind, flashes of their happiest moments mixed with the heartbreak that followed. She'd lost him once… and now, she had the chance to change it all.
She barely managed to finish her breakfast, her mind spinning with possibilities. She could do things differently, she could make better choices this time—she could save their love before it was even broken.
After saying goodbye to her mom, Elena headed to school, feeling strangely light yet deeply determined. Every corner she turned, every familiar face she passed, brought back a flood of memories. Everything was exactly as she remembered it—the halls, the classes, the people.
And then, she saw him.
Standing by his locker, laughing with his friends, was Aiden. His messy brown hair fell across his forehead, and he wore that same easygoing smile she'd fallen in love with. The same smile she'd missed for years.
Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him, a million emotions rushing through her at once. She felt like she was seeing a ghost—only this ghost was real, alive, and within reach. She could barely breathe as she took a step forward, her hands trembling.
But before she could get close, Aiden looked up, his gaze meeting hers. His smile faltered slightly as he noticed her staring. He raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Hey, Elena," he called, grinning. "Didn't know staring was your new hobby."
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she stumbled over her words. "I… uh, sorry! I just—" She cleared her throat, trying to play it cool. "Good to see you, Aiden."
He chuckled, leaning against his locker. "Same to you. You ready for the big year?"
She nodded, her heart racing. "Yeah. This year… this year's going to be different."
As he turned to leave, Elena stood there, a small smile forming on her lips. Different didn't even begin to cover it. She had a chance to make things right this time. And she wasn't about to waste it.
To be continued.