The rain had stopped by morning, leaving the city shrouded in a heavy mist. Liora sat in her room, nursing a cold cup of tea and staring at the small wooden box in her lap. Its edges were worn, the latch slightly loose, but it still held the fragments of a life she'd left behind—a life she now couldn't escape.
Kael's face haunted her thoughts. How could he not remember her? The way he'd looked at her yesterday, his expression blank and detached, was almost worse than anger. It was as if she had been erased, as if all their shared moments, their dreams, meant nothing.
Her fingers traced the lid of the box, hesitant. She hadn't opened it in years, afraid of what it might stir in her. But now, with Kael so close, she needed to remember. She needed
to make sense of the flood of emotions his presence had unleashed.
Liora opened the box slowly. Inside were photographs, letters, and a small, worn charm—a tiny silver raindrop on a
leather cord. She picked it up, the cool metal pressing against her palm, and her mind drifted back.
"Kael"
Years Ago:
The rain had been lighter that day, a soft drizzle that made the cobblestones slick. Kael had stood under the awning of a
rundown café, his shirt clinging to his chest from the rain. His boyish grin was as bright as the world around them was gray.
"I told you it would rain," he said, holding out a makeshift
umbrella—a piece of canvas he'd pulled from his bag.
Liora laughed, shaking her head.
"You always say it's going to rain!"
"And I'm usually right," he countered, holding the canvas above her head as they walked. The charm around his neck
caught the light.
"You know, they say the rain carries
wishes. If you catch a drop, it'll come true."
She'd rolled her eyes then, teasing him for his silly superstitions. But when he'd handed her the charm a week later, saying it was for all her unspoken wishes, she'd worn it every day.
Until the day she left.
Liora snapped back to the present, her hand trembling as she placed the charm back in the box. A knock at the door startled her, and she hastily closed the lid.
"Come in," she called, trying to compose herself.
Kael stepped inside, his presence filling the room. His uniform was crisp, his movements deliberate. He stood at attention, his eyes scanning the space but never quite
meeting hers.
"You called for me, ma'am?" he asked.
The formality in his tone stung. She forced a smile.
"I just... wanted to check on you. Is everything... okay?"
Kael tilted his head slightly, as if puzzled by the question.
"Everything is fine. Is there something you need?"
"No, I just..."
She faltered, searching his face for any sign of familiarity.
"Do I seem familiar to you?"
Kael's brows furrowed slightly, but his expression remained impassive.
"No, ma'am. Should you?"
The words cut deeper than she'd expected.
"No, I suppose not," she said softly, turning away to hide the emotion in her eyes.
"That will be all."
Kael hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"As you wish."
As the door closed behind him, Liora slumped into her chair, the box still in her lap. She had been foolish to think he
might recognize her. Whatever memories they had shared, they
were gone now—buried somewhere she couldn't reach.
Later That Night:
Liora lay awake in bed, her thoughts churning. The sound of Darruk's heavy breathing beside her was a constant reminder of the life she had chosen. But as she stared at the ceiling, all she could think about was Kael. The way he had looked at
her today—so distant, so empty.
She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Darruk, and padded across the room to the window. The city below was quiet now, its neon lights muted by the fog. Somewhere out there was the neighborhood where she and Kael had grown up, where they'd spent countless hours dreaming of a future that
never came.
She leaned her forehead against the cool glass. I need to know why he's here. I need to know why he doesn't remember.
Her gaze flicked to the shadows beyond her door, where Kael
stood on guard. She took a deep breath and moved toward it, her heart pounding. Opening the door just a crack, she saw
him standing there, his posture rigid, his eyes scanning the hallway.
"Kael," she whispered.
He turned immediately, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his weapon.
"Ma'am? Is something wrong?"
"Wait here, I... need to talk to you."
He hesitated, his expression unreadable.
"What is it?" he asked, his tone careful.
"Just wait, I need to get something."
Liora moved quickly and quietly through the room she shared with Darruk, slowly opening her nightstand and retrieving the wooden box within. With it in hand, she returned to the doorway where Kael waited.
She presented the box.
"Do you recognize this?"
Kael glanced at it, then back at her.
"No."
Her chest tightened and her voice trembled .
"It's from our past," she said, her
"From a time when we... knew each other."
Kael's brow furrowed, his confusion clear.
I don't understand."
"You don't remember anything? Not me? Not this?" She picked up the charm, holding it out to him.
"You gave me this." Kael stared at the charm, his expression unreadable. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—a hint of something buried deep—but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"I don't remember, sorry." he said finally, his voice quiet.
The words felt like a dagger to her heart. She dropped the charm back into the box, her hands trembling.
"You can go, she said, her voice barely above a whisper."
Kael nodded and returned to his post without another word, the door clicked shut behind him.
Liora sank onto her edge of the bed, tears spilling down her cheeks. She had thought seeing him again would be a second
chance—a chance to fix what she'd broken. But now, it felt like she'd lost him all over again.
And this time, he wasn't even hers to lose.