As Mia and Liam lay in their respective hospital beds, drifting deeper into the void of their comas, her whispered prayers reached beyond the confines of their physical realities. In an ethereal realm, somewhere between dreams and the cosmos, the universe had heard Mia's heartfelt plea. But the response was shrouded in mystery, one that would lead her to an extraordinary yet bewildering journey.
Mia opened her eyes in a world that felt both strange and strangely familiar. She was surrounded by vibrant colors—bright greens of nature, vivid blues of the sky, and the soft warmth of sunlight warming her skin. She blinked, trying to process her surroundings, but nothing felt solid; everything was a blur of sensations and images, her memories from her past life fraying at the edges.
Time flowed differently here. Days turned into weeks without a clear measure of how long she had been in this alternate reality. It wasn't until she noticed the faces of those around her—kind and welcoming yet utterly foreign—that she began to grasp the surreal nature of her situation.
Her new family consisted of nurturing Korean parents and an older brother who doted on her with affection. In the mornings, they would gather at a large dining table filled with delicious Korean food, laughter ringing out, a stark contrast to the isolation she had felt back home. As she navigated this new life, she felt oddly comfortable yet deeply disoriented.
Her parents were well-off, affluent professionals who worked as lawyers. They spoke of their success with great pride, and their home was filled with comforts Mia had only dreamed about—a regal beauty that echoed through their spacious house in Seoul. The feeling of safety wrapped around her, but within her pried the nagging question: What happened to her?
Seeing her reflection in the mirror one morning, Mia's ebony skin and unique features reminded her that she didn't quite fit the mold of her adoptive family. "Maybe I was adopted," she whispered softly to herself, the only conclusion that brought her a shred of peace. In this new world, she discovered that she had been adopted at the age of four from Atlanta, a truth that felt like a ghost from a life long past.
She was a senior in university, enrolled in one of Korea's prestigious institutions, studying to become a producer. Every class opened her up to a world she had longed to be part of—the creativity, the music, the energy. Mia thrived in this environment, and her passion for production ignited a fire within her.
As she walked through the campus, the chatter of students and the cultural vibrancy pulsed around her. She made friends who adored her for her assertive spirit and creativity. It was comforting until one day she began to notice something peculiar. Posters of Liam—her Liam—were plastered across walls and in storefronts around the university. Large images of him smiling, holding a guitar, surrounded by adoring fans, were everywhere.
"Who is that?" she asked her friends one day, her heart pounding, hoping they would understand that the boy with the warm brown eyes was more than a celebrity to her.
"Liam Kim! He's our pride! A member of Eclipse! How do you not know?" her friend laughed, but Mia's heart sank. She could hardly comprehend what was happening. He was a part of this world too.
Confusion gripped her heart. Was this reality merging with her past? Why was Liam famous here as he was back home? It felt like pieces of her old life were colliding with this new existence she was slowly settling into.
Over the weeks, Mia learned that her adoration for Liam mirrored those of her classmates. They often teased her about how fiercely she defended him, mimicking moments when she would passionately argue against any negative remarks toward him or the band. They all knew her as a loyal fan, with her parents fully aware of her devotion to Liam and Eclipse.
"After you finish university, we'll help you apply for a job at the management company that manages Eclipse," her father promised her one day, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
The thought thrilled Mia—an opportunity to work in a field she loved and be close to Eclipse and Liam. But as enthusiasm bubbled within her, a nagging doubt clawed at her insides. What was this world, and how did she end up here?
Despite the chaos of her overwhelming circumstances, the truth hung heavily in her mind: she somehow had to make sense of this reality with the connection she felt to Liam. And every time she passed his posters, she couldn't shake the unfamiliar knot of longing that churned in her chest.
Was something greater happening beyond their comprehension? Mia, bathed in love from her adoptive family, felt grateful but also lost. This life had everything she wanted, yet it lacked the one thing thather heart yearned for—the connection she had with Liam. There was a persistent longing to understand the bridge between this new existence and the one she had left behind.
As she settled into her routines, attending classes and socializing with friends, the echoes of her prayers reverberated in her mind. "What is this place? Why am I here?" she wondered, often reflecting on the experiences she had lived through in her past life. The familiar places from her memories—the streets of Atlanta, the scent of her childhood home, and, most importantly, the laugh of the boy who had once filled her heart with joy—were now faded remnants.
Despite the extravagance and support that surrounded her, Mia found herself haunted by dreams of her life in Atlanta. The visions of her beloved city, the essence of who she was, intertwined with fleeting images of Liam, both his struggles and his laughter. When the sun went down, she lay awake, staring at her ceiling, unable to shake the profound sense of unfamiliarity in her heart.
One day, while strolling through the bustling streets of Seoul, she was reminded of her love for music when she passed a little coffee shop. A familiar song floated through the air—it was an Eclipse track that made her stop in her tracks. Recognizing it instantly, she felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. The melody unlocked memories she had tucked away, bridging her two lives momentarily.
"What is it about him that resonates so deeply with me?" she thought. Further reflection began to unravel the threads of her existence.
The more she learned about Liam in this new world, the more the pieces started to click into place. She noticed the contrasting reactions of people on the streets; some adored him for his talent, while others were critical, a reminder of the tumultuous nature of fame. Yet, it was undeniable—this version of Liam was also utmost beloved.
"You're always defending him, Mia," her best friend joked one day. "You're practically his lawyer!" To which Mia responded with a small, wistful smile, the ache in her heart reminded of the boy who felt like a plea for help wrapped in a melody.
Despite how surreal everything felt, she couldn't ignore the thought that perhaps she had another chance—an opportunity to impact Liam's world as she once wished. With newfound determination, she resolved to find a way to learn more about him, to understand what had led him to such enormous fame here.
But the question loomed larger each day: would she ever discover the truth regarding her existence? And, more importantly, what would it take for her to bridge the gap between this new life and the one that seemed so distant yet tethered to her soul?
Mia wandered deeper into Seoul, magnetically drawn to everything that whispered Liam's name. She felt her heart swelling with purpose—for now, she was determined to carve out her own path in this vibrant, uncharted life that lay ahead, even as the shadows of her past life lingered like a faint breeze. In this newfound sense of hope, she vowed to help him even from afar, to be his light, wherever they might find themselves in the universe.
And in the depths of her heart, Mia yearned for the day when their destinies would align once more, when they would finally catch hold of the threads connecting their lives—both past and present. Only then could the mysteries swirling around them begin to unravel, guiding them both toward a brighter future.