ECHOES OF PAST

s standing in the kitchen shirtless, leanin

on his skin, making him look like the man I u

a liar wrapped in

e having breakfast." I close the door behind me and hang my sweat

ly, like he's looking

ah, dying and waking up ten year

"Sorry. Bad dream. I ne

buying it. His thoughts slide into my head like someone's whispe

storm brewing inside me. I step closer, pretending nothing's wrong, pretending I

r his arm as I pass hi

coffee." I want to punch that grin right

orking lat

Big meeting tomorrow

th his coworker at this point in the timeline. Back then, I

tches me, leaning back like he owns th

e it was his apartment. He loved control. Love

quiet,"

ple. His thoughts hum through my mind again. S

date, easy points. I almost choke o

think he looked at me like I was his world. All th

him with a

like

e you would. I'm going to

ice nearly breaks me. She sounds so young. So fu

stioned if Evan was reall

or lunch?" she ask

ly. "I'll meet you

é downtown. The same one where

ignored her. Now,

den tables, the smell of burnt coffee beans, and the

waving when she sees me. Her hair i

hrough the storm

ays when I sitdown. "Y

erent good or

seen somethings," she s

t hap

ten years earlier with a power I can't fully contro

me a look.

leans forward. "Let me guess. Evan d

le fades a little. "Seriously, though. I've always thoug

charming. Like a salesman. I keep waiting for t

inishes the sentence. He's hot, but he gives

w what would happen years from now.

ay quietly,

r w

ays bein

et defensive." Yeah. I used to defend him like a

. "Uh-oh. Did

she repeats, raising an eyebrow. I shrug. "

oday. But like.

warm, and for a second, I let myself forget the blood, the knife, the

ssed

inding me what's real. As I'm

t v

ext to my ear, too soft

the sidewalk. People pass me without a glance.

t home, scrolling through his phone.

ays. "Where

th Lena,"

o my head again. I should text Sarah later.

me. I'd found texts on his phone two years after this

was thinking we could

looks at me

all

"Yeah.

slowly. She's fina

. "We'll go whe

re

he can say anything else. I nee

ho will swallow every excuse, forgive every sin, and look

ll let him th

te me. And when he falls

I lie in bed

ing every thought I'd heard today. Every lie he hasn't even t

ise in my head. It's getting easier

k out the rest. The only thing I can't co

k. I turn onto my s

lack suit. A quiet that didn't feel like absence but po

y

quickly so Evan doesn't stir. An unknown nu

a second chan

ath ca

uzz. Seco

Aria. It's just

't know this number. I don't know this person. But

ill asleep. Peaceful. Una

s appear instantly, li

oon. Don't die to

t. This isn't just some random miracle. Some

ach for the curtain and peek outside. The street

ainst a lamppost like he's been there a

up. Our e

presses against me li

he lifts his p

uzzes

u