Memory of Us

The rain had been falling for almost an hour. Lia stood beneath the small café awning, hugging herself as she watched the street disappear behind a curtain of rain. She glanced at her phone. 10:47 PM. "He's late." She tried to sound annoyed, but the smile threatening to form on her lips betrayed her. Ethan was always late. Not because he didn't care. He simply had a talent for making her wait. A black sedan finally appeared at the end of the street. It slowed in front of the café, and a moment later, Ethan stepped out. His dark hair was soaked from the rain and he looked completely unbothered by the weather. Lia narrowed her eyes. "You're late." Ethan walked toward her, holding a small paper bag. "I know." "You said you'd be here at ten." "I know." "You're forty-seven minutes late." "I know that too." She crossed her arms. "And you don't even have an excuse?" He stopped in front of her. "I have one." "What?" He held out the paper bag. "I stopped to buy you this." Lia looked inside. Her favorite strawberry cake. Her annoyance disappeared instantly. "You're bribing me." "Is it working?" She tried to hide her smile. "No." "Liar." Ethan reached out and gently tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear. The teasing expression on his face softened. "I'm sorry." Lia sighed. "I can't stay mad at you." "I know." "You're too confident." "Because you love me." She looked away. "Maybe." "Maybe?" He leaned closer. "That's not what you said last night." Lia laughed. "You remember everything, don't you?" "Everything about you." His words were simple. But something about the way he said them made her smile fade. She looked into his eyes. "Everything?" "Everything." "What if someday you forget?" Ethan frowned. "Forget what?" "Me." Ethan took her hand. "I could forget a thousand things," he said quietly. "But I don't think I'd ever forget you." Lia stared at him. "You can't promise that." "I can." "You don't know what the future holds." "No." He squeezed her hand. "But I know what I want." "And what's that?" "You." Her heart skipped. She looked down at their intertwined fingers. "Ethan..." "Hmm?" "If something happens to me someday..." He immediately frowned. "Don't say things like that." "Just listen." "No." "Ethan." He sighed. "Fine." She smiled faintly. "If I ever forget you..." He shook his head. "You won't." "But if I do?" He looked at her for a long moment before answering. "Then I'll make you fall in love with me again." Lia laughed softly. "You'd really do that?" "As many times as it takes." She rested her head against his shoulder. "Promise?" Ethan wrapped his arms around her. "Promise." ⸻ They left the café shortly before midnight. The rain had weakened, but the roads were still slick. Lia sat in the passenger seat, holding the small cake Ethan had bought her. She looked at him. "You know what?" "What?" "I think tonight is perfect." Ethan smiled. "Even though I was late?" "Especially because you were late." "That doesn't make sense." "It does to me." He laughed. The radio played softly in the background. Lia looked out the window, watching the city lights blur against the wet glass. Then she noticed something. "Ethan?" "Hmm?" "Slow down." He glanced at her. "Why?" "I don't know." A strange feeling had suddenly settled in her chest. Like something was wrong. Like she had seen this moment before. Ethan reached for her hand. "Are you okay?" Lia looked at their hands. Then at him. "I love you." His expression softened. "I love you too." A pair of headlights suddenly appeared through the rain. Too bright. Too close. Ethan's smile disappeared. "Lia!" The sound of screeching tires filled the night. Then— CRASH. Everything went dark. And the last thing Lia heard before losing consciousness was Ethan's voice. "Lia! Stay with me!" She tried to answer. But she couldn't. Somewhere in the darkness, she heard herself whisper one final word. "Ethan..." Then everything disappeared. Even him.