The silence was suffocating.
Ha-rin could feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on her. The woman who had just embraced her moments ago now looked stricken, her elegant features twisting in distress. The sharp- yet so gentle featured man, who seemed to be the head of this family, tensed. And the young man—the one who had called her sister—froze, his blue eyes darkening.
"You… don't remember?" the woman beside her whispered.
Aurelia swallowed. Her throat felt dry. Her hands, still trembling.
She needed to say something. Anything.
"I… I'm sorry," she murmured.
The woman let out a shaky breath, gripping her hands tightly. "No, my love, don't apologize. You've been through so much..." Her voice wavered, as if she was forcing herself to stay calm. "You almost—" She stopped, biting her lip.
The man beside her placed a hand on her shoulder. "The physician said she may be disoriented for a while. Losing some memories after what happened is not uncommon." His voice was deep, calm but she caught the flicker of worry in his eyes.
She lowered her gaze. What exactly happened to me?
The young man who had called her sister had yet to say a word. He just stood there, fists clenched, jaw tight.
"Do not worry, dear," her mother reassured, stroking her hair gently. "Your father and I will make sure you recover fully."
Father. Mother. Family.
A foreign concept.
Ha-rin had never known such warmth. The last time she had anyone close to family, they had abandoned her. And yet, these people—these strangers—were looking at her with nothing but worry and relief.
After looking at the mirror she could vaguely make out who they are and who might she be but the important question remains, how is she here?
Aurelia felt a lump form in her throat.
Would they still be this kind if they knew the truth? That their daughter was gone, and someone else was in her place?
She couldn't dwell on that now.
For now, she had to play along.
She forced a small nod "Thank you."
Her mother smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes.
—
Later That Night…
The room was quiet. Everyone had left, urging her to rest. But she couldn't.
She sat up in bed, staring at her hands. They were smaller, delicate, unfamiliar. This isn't my body.
Carefully, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood. Shemade her way towards the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
The girl staring back at her through the mirror was beautiful, almost ethereal.
Sapphire-blue hair cascaded down her back, soft and wavy, catching the dim candlelight. Her eyes—deep violet—were wide and sparkling. Her pale skin was flawless, untouched by the sun.
This was "Aurelia"