The world around was pitch black, an endless void where nothing existed but the faint sense of my own presence. I couldn’t see my hands, couldn’t feel the ground beneath , but I knew I was here, sohow suspended in this empty realm.
My heart thudded in my chest, a dull ache spreading through . "Where am I?" I muttered to myself, my voice swallowed by the darkness. "I can’t see anything."
A soft giggle broke the silence, light and teasing, unmistakably a girl’s. It ca from nowhere and everywhere, making the hairs on my neck stand up. I whipped my head around, squinting into the void, but saw nothing.
"Who’s there?" I called, my voice sharper now, tinged with unease.
"Ezra..." the voice said, soft and familiar, like a mory tugging at my heart. "You don’t recognize ?"
My chest tightened, a rush of emotions flooding through —longing, pain, sothing warm and aching. That voice... I knew it, deep in my bones. My breath caught, and I whispered,
"Aeri..."
"Yes, Ezra. It’s ," she said, her voice clearer now, wrapping around like a warm blanket. It is Aeri—my stepmom, the woman who’d found abandoned on the side of the road when I was just a kid, who’d raised , cared for , loved like her own.
"Where are you?" I asked, my voice trembling. I turned in the darkness, desperate to see her, but the void refused to give way. "Why can’t I see you?"
"I’m right here," she said, her voice coming from behind now, close enough to make my skin prickle.
I spun around, my heart pounding, and my eyes blinked against a sudden shift.
The blackness shattered, replaced by a vibrant, living scene. I stood in a garden by a quiet lake, the evening sky painted in soft pinks and purples, the last rays of sunlight glinting off the water. Street lamps flickered on, casting warm pools of light across the grass, their glow mingling with the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. Crickets chirped in the distance, a soft, rhythmic hum that filled the air. The scent of damp earth and blooming flowers hit , grounding in this new reality.
And there, standing just a few feet away, was Aeri. My stepmom. The woman who’d been my everything growing up. She wore a sleeveless white dress, long and flowing, hugging her curves in a way that made my breath catch. The neckline dipped low, revealing a hint of cleavage, sexy but elegant, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the lamplight. Her deep, dark eyes locked onto mine, warm and knowing, a soft smile playing on her lips.
My heart flushed, a mix of love, longing, and sothing heavier—guilt, maybe, from the rejection that still stung.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion as I glanced around. The garden felt familiar, but sothing was off—like I’d been dropped into a mory I couldn’t quite place.
Aeri raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly. "What do you an?" she said, her tone light but puzzled. "We ca here together for a little walk. Did you forget already?" She crossed her arms, her lips curling into a teasing smile, but her eyes studied , searching for sothing.
I swallowed hard, forcing a quick nod. "Y-yeah... right..." I said, my voice unsteady as I tried to play it off.
My heart thudded in my chest, a strange mix of nostalgia and disorientation swirling in my head. I didn’t want to stand out, didn’t want her to think I was losing it.
Aeri’s smile softened, and she pointed toward the far end of the garden, where a faint glow hinted at activity.
"Let’s go over there," she said, her voice brightening. "There’s a nice ice cream truck by the path."
"Okay, let’s go," I said, managing a small smile as I nodded. Her enthusiasm was infectious, pulling along despite the fog in my mind.
*Tap-tap.* Our footsteps echoed softly on the gravel path as we walked, the sound steady and rhythmic. The garden was beautiful, calming, with its neat rows of flowers and the quiet shimr of the lake.
But sothing felt... wrong. I glanced around, my eyes scanning the empty path, the silent benches, the still air. There was no one else—no kids running, no couples strolling, not even the distant hum of voices. Just us. I frowned, my stomach twisting. Where was everyone?
Aeri walked two or three steps ahead, her figure swaying slightly with each step. The open back of her dress revealed the smooth curve of her spine, her waistline accentuated by the way the fabric clung to her. She looked... breathtaking, her dark hair catching the lamplight, her movents graceful but effortless. My chest tightened, a flush of warmth hitting , but it was quickly overshadowed by confusion.
Where was I? My mind scrambled for answers. I couldn’t rember how I’d gotten here, couldn’t piece together the monts leading up to this. *This is the first ti I’ve been here,* I thought, but the thought felt wrong, like a lie.
No—this place was familiar. The garden, the lake, the winding path—it was the park near our old house, the one Aeri used to take to when I was a kid. We’d play on the swings, eat ice cream, chase fireflies until the stars ca out. How could I forget that? My head spun, a dull ache forming behind my eyes. *What the hell is going on?*
"Everything okay?" Aeri’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I realized she’d turned to face , her brow furrowed with concern.
She’d stopped walking, her hands resting on her hips, the soft light catching the curve of her cheek. "You seem really disturbed by sothing."
I opened my mouth to respond, my heart pounding.
"I—" The words caught in my throat, heavy with the weight of everything I wanted to say. The rejection from this morning, the ache of missing her, the confusion of this mont—it all pressed against my chest, begging to spill out.
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