Aarohi sat curled on the bed, hugging a pillow to her chest, her heart beating too loudly in the quiet room.
Arin sat on the floor beside her, leaning against the bed, exhausted from fear, confusion, and heartbreak.
"Aarohi," he whispered, "if it's getting too much… we can stop remembering. We can fight it."
Aarohi closed her eyes, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.
"It's not something I can turn off," she whispered back.
"It's like memories are choosing me, not the other way around."
Arin dug his nails into his palms.
He hated this.
Hated feeling useless.
Hated watching her break.
Hated seeing her heart split between two lives.
He whispered:
"What did you remember this time?"
Aarohi's breath shook.
"It wasn't one moment.
It was… many."
And she slipped into the memories again.
---
It started slowly.
Riaan sitting beside Aara at lunch wasn't unusual anymore.
But then—
He started waiting for her at the school gate every morning.
Every morning.
Even when he was late.
Even when it rained.
Even when his friends teased him.
He still waited.
The first time he did it, Aara froze.
"Why are you here?" she asked quietly.
Riaan shrugged.
"So you don't walk alone."
Aara blinked.
"But I'm used to walking alone."
Riaan smiled softly.
"I know.
But that doesn't mean you should."
Her chest tightened.
---
Then he started walking her to class.
Every day.
He carried her books without asking.
He teased her softly until she smiled.
He stood between her and the students who whispered about her.
Sometimes, he didn't talk at all.
Sometimes, his silence was comfort enough.
Aara didn't notice it at first…
but she started waiting for him too.
---
After a few weeks, Riaan began sitting beside her during study periods.
Not talking.
Not distracting.
Just… being there.
One day, Aara whispered:
"You don't have to sit here. Your friends are waiting for you."
Riaan rested his chin on his hand.
"They'll live."
Aara peeked at him shyly.
"You'll become like me. Alone."
Riaan shook his head.
"I'm not alone.
I have you."
Aara's breath caught.
She looked down quickly, pretending to read.
Her cheeks burned.
Riaan pretended not to notice —
but he saw everything.
---
One afternoon, Aara fought with her brother again.
He yelled.
She stayed quiet.
But her silence made him angrier.
He threw her notebook.
She didn't say a word.
Later at school, she sat alone behind the building, hugging her knees.
Riaan found her there.
"Aara?"
She didn't look up.
But he saw her shaking.
He sat beside her quietly.
Didn't ask questions.
Didn't push her.
Didn't pry.
He just sat.
After a few minutes, Aara whispered:
"Why do you always find me?"
Riaan tilted his head.
"Because you always hide where it hurts."
Aara blinked fast, tears collecting.
Riaan gently placed his hand beside hers.
Not touching.
Just close.
Close enough for her to choose.
Aara slowly moved her hand until her pinky touched his.
Just barely.
But it was enough.
Riaan whispered:
"I'll always find you."
And Aara believed him.
---
Another day, Aara was crying after being bullied.
A boy had made fun of her broken tooth.
Called her "half smile."
She ran into a classroom and hid behind a desk.
Riaan walked in minutes later, breathless, eyebrows knitted with worry.
"Aara…"
Aara wiped her tears quickly.
"It's fine."
Riaan crouched down.
"No, it's not."
Aara whispered:
"I don't know why people hate me so much."
Riaan clenched his fists.
"They don't know you.
If they knew you…
they'd see how gentle you are."
Aara broke again.
Riaan reached out —
hesitated —
then gently touched her hair.
Aara didn't flinch.
She leaned into his hand.
And Riaan felt something shift inside him —
something tender
and terrifying.
Aara whispered:
"Why do you care so much?"
Riaan swallowed hard.
"I don't know yet…
but I do."
Aara's heart fluttered painfully.
And that night, she wrote his name inside her notebook.
Small.
Hidden.
But there.
Riaan.
Her first habit.
Her first comfort.
Her first person.
---
Aarohi came back to the present with a broken gasp.
Her fingers dug into the pillow.
Her chest heaved.
Her tears slipped silently.
Arin touched her shoulder instantly.
"Aarohi?!"
Aarohi wiped her face.
"They became important to each other… slowly… piece by piece."
Arin's jaw tightened.
"How important?"
Aarohi whispered:
"He became her habit.
Her safe place.
Her distraction.
Her comfort.
Her first… everything."
Arin swallowed painfully.
"And do you feel it now?" he whispered.
Aarohi nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Arin's heart twisted sharply.
"Aarohi… those feelings aren't yours."
Tears slipped down Aarohi's cheeks.
"I know… but when I remember them…
they feel like mine."
Arin grabbed her hands.
"You don't belong to your past!"
Aarohi shook as another tear fell.
"But part of my heart does."
Arin's expression broke.
"Aarohi…"
She covered her face.
"It hurts so much…
feeling emotions I never lived…
for someone I never met in this life."
Arin whispered:
"Do you want him back?"
Aarohi lifted her head sharply.
"No," she whispered.
"I don't want him.
I want my life now."
Arin exhaled shakily.
"But I can't stop remembering what she felt…"
Her voice cracked.
"…and it's tearing me in half."
Arin pulled her into his arms.
"You're mine in this life," he whispered fiercely.
"I won't let memories take you away."
Aarohi held him tightly…
But behind her,
in the quiet corner,
a familiar warmth returned.
Closer.
Stronger.
More human.
And the whisper came again, soft and heartbreaking:
"You were mine once, Aara…
and I remember every piece of you."
Aarohi froze.
Arin held her tighter, unaware.
But she knew—
Riaan wasn't fading.
He was waking.
---