CHAPTER 111

CHAPTER 111
I got dressed, slipping into a loose shirt and shorts, then threw myself onto the bed, sinking into the softness of the mattress. A long sigh escaped me as I closed my eyes, ready to finally rest.

But just as sleep started to pull at me, my phone vibrated on the nightstand. I groaned quietly, blindly reaching for it.

It was Chase.

"Hey, can I come over after my shift? I'll end at 9 PM."

A smirk tugged at my lips as I typed out a quick reply.

"Yeah, sure."

Almost immediately, his response popped up.

"Then, see you later."

I didn’t bother replying this time. Instead, I set my phone down and glanced at the time. Three hours left before his shift ended. That meant I still had time to sleep. I let out a breath, shut my eyes again, and let myself drift off, with the thought of him visiting later lingering in the back of my mind.

When I finally drifted off to sleep, it didn’t take long before that weird dream from yesterday crept back into my mind — like my brain was determined to play it on repeat.

There I was again, standing in what looked like a school playground. The colors around me were dull, hazy, like an old photograph left out in the sun too long. And there, not too far from where I stood, was that same small figure — a young boy.

His face was blurred, like smudged paint on a canvas, no matter how hard I tried to focus. But I could hear his voice, soft yet desperate, calling out to me.

“Austin…”

That voice sent chills down my spine, familiar and distant all at once. I wanted to move, to get closer, to see his face clearly. But my feet felt heavy, rooted to the ground. All I could do was stand there, heart pounding, as the boy kept calling for me through the haze.

“Austin, come on!”

His small hand slipped into mine, warm and firm despite its size. Before I could even react, he was pulling me, and suddenly we were running — our feet kicking up dust as we dashed across the playground.

The world around us felt like it was spinning. The swings creaked in the breeze, and the sun cast long shadows that danced with our hurried steps.

I could hear his laugh, light and carefree, echoing through the air. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see his face — it remained blurred, like my mind refused to let me remember.

And still, that strange feeling grew in my chest. Like this wasn’t just a dream. Like this was something I’d lived before... something I’d lost.

But then I woke up, gasping, catching my breath like I’d just been running for real. My heart raced, my shirt clung slightly to my skin from the sweat.

What was that? My eyes stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it. Who is he? Why do I keep dreaming about that boy?

My hand moved to my forehead as a sudden, sharp pang shot through my head. I winced, closing my eyes, willing the pain to fade.

Why does this feel so familiar... yet so far away?

Shaking my head, I reached out for my phone from the nightstand, the brightness stinging my eyes for a second. I squinted at the screen—8:45 PM. I must’ve been out longer than I thought.

Just then, a message popped up.

From Chase. "I finished my shift. See you."

A small smile tugged at my lips despite the lingering headache. I sat up slowly, running a hand through my still-damp hair, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.

"Yeah, see you." I typed back, then set my phone down.

That dream… that kid… it still lingered in my mind, like a song stuck on repeat.

Was that… part of my memories? The ones I lost?

I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the dull ache building behind my eyes. That boy in my dreams—his face still blurred, but the sound of his laughter, the way he held my hand, the feeling of being needed—it all felt too real to ignore.

Do I have a sibling? The thought hit me hard, like a forgotten name suddenly whispered in a quiet room.

I’ve never really thought about it before. Or maybe I had... and just forgot.

But why now? Why does this boy keep showing up in my dreams? Why do I feel like I’m missing something important?

I leaned back against the headboard, eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying to piece together fragments that weren’t there.

I don’t know. I really can’t remember it well.

The dream lingered in my head like a shadow—too faint to grasp, too heavy to ignore. I let out a deep sigh and slowly got out of bed, my body still heavy from sleep and confusion.

Padding down the stairs, I headed to the kitchen. The cool hum of the fridge was oddly comforting as I opened it and grabbed a bottle of cold water. Twisting the cap off, I took a long sip, hoping it would cool down the restlessness stirring inside me.

And then—ding dong.

The sound of the doorbell pulled me from my thoughts.

I didn’t even need to check. I knew it was him.

Chase.

I walked to the door, already forming a smile, expecting to see Chase’s familiar face—maybe a playful grin, maybe holding some silly snack he picked up on the way. But when I opened it…

I froze.

“My son!” Mom’s voice filled the air before her arms did. She pulled me into a tight hug, the kind I hadn’t felt in months. My body stiffened for a second, still processing what was happening.

And then I saw Dad stepping out from the car, casually stretching while our driver unloaded the luggage from the trunk.

I blinked. What the hell?

I was out of words. They hadn’t told me anything about coming back tonight. Not a call. Not even a heads-up.

Mom pulled back a little, studying my face with concern. “Honey? Are you okay? Are you not happy to see me?”

I quickly shook my head and forced a small laugh, trying to push away the shock. “No, of course, I’m happy. I just… I didn’t know you were coming home today.”

She smiled warmly, brushing a bit of hair from my forehead like I was still ten. “Well, surprise.”

Yeah. Surprise.

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