Chapter Four: Almost Remembering
843 Words
The dream came back.
Liana stood barefoot on damp sand, the ocean stretching endlessly before her. The sky burned orange and gold as the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the shore. A boy stood a few steps away from her, his back turned.
She knew him.
Her heart knew him.
“Noah,” she called.
He turned, smiling—then the ground beneath her feet vanished.
Liana woke with a sharp gasp, sitting upright in bed. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs, sweat cooling on her skin. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. The unfamiliar walls of her new bedroom closed in around her slowly, grounding her in the present.
It was still dark outside.
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest, breathing deeply until the panic eased. The dream clung to her, vivid and unsettling. The sound of waves still echoed in her ears.
Almost, she thought. I almost remembered.
At school the next morning, the halls buzzed with energy, but an uneasy tension hung beneath the surface. Liana felt it the moment she stepped inside—eyes following her, whispers sharpening.
She kept her head down, but it didn’t stop the murmurs.
“That’s her.”
“The girl Noah’s been hanging around.”
“I heard Maya’s furious.”
Liana’s stomach tightened. She hadn’t done anything wrong—yet she felt as though she were already being judged.
She found Noah near the lockers, flipping through his schedule. Relief washed over her at the sight of him, quickly followed by guilt. Why did his presence feel like safety?
“Hey,” he said softly when he noticed her. “You okay?”
She hesitated, then nodded. “I had a strange dream.”
His expression changed instantly. “So did I.”
Her heart skipped. “What happened?”
“I was on the beach,” he said slowly. “And you were there. You looked scared.”
Her breath caught. “I fell.”
Noah went still.
“That’s exactly what happened in mine,” he said quietly.
Before either of them could say more, Maya appeared, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. She stopped between them, her smile smooth and calculated.
“Noah, Coach is looking for you,” she said. “Tryouts are today.”
He frowned. “He didn’t say anything to me.”
“Well, he told me,” Maya replied lightly, looping her arm through his. “Come on.”
Noah glanced at Liana apologetically before allowing himself to be pulled away.
Liana stood there, feeling the familiar ache return to her chest.
Later that afternoon, Liana’s history teacher assigned a group project.
“Pair up,” he announced. “This is due in two weeks.”
Liana froze.
Before she could move, a chair scraped beside her.
“Guess we’re partners,” Noah said, offering a small smile.
Her lips curved despite herself. “I guess we are.”
From across the room, Maya watched, her fingers tightening around her pen until it snapped.
They met at the library after school. The late afternoon sun filtered through tall windows, bathing the room in warm light. Books surrounded them like quiet witnesses.
As they worked, conversation came easily—too easily. They laughed softly, shared stories, filled the silence with comfort neither of them had expected.
“I don’t usually open up to people,” Noah admitted at one point. “But with you, it feels… natural.”
Liana’s chest tightened. “It feels that way to me too.”
She reached into her bag for a notebook and her sleeve slipped back, exposing the scar on her wrist.
Noah’s gaze locked onto it.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Liana pulled her sleeve down quickly. “I don’t remember.”
His jaw clenched. “I think I was there.”
The words sent a shock through her.
“You think… you were there when I got hurt?”
He nodded slowly. “I don’t know how I know. I just do.”
The library lights flickered suddenly.
Liana’s vision blurred.
Flashes assaulted her mind—cold water, screaming, hands slipping from hers.
She cried out, clutching her head.
“Noah!” she gasped.
He was beside her instantly, steadying her. “Liana, breathe. Look at me.”
His hands grounded her, his voice anchoring her to the present. Slowly, the vision faded.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be,” he said gently. “You’re remembering.”
Across the library, Maya stood frozen, watching them. Fear flickered beneath her jealousy.
If she remembers, Maya thought, everything changes.
That evening, Liana stood on the beach alone, waves lapping at her feet. The sky darkened as clouds rolled in.
She closed her eyes.
“I’m not running anymore,” she whispered.
Far down the shore, Noah watched her from a distance, his heart pounding.
The past was closer than either of them realized.
And it was ready to surface.
- Writer
