𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓶𝓮~

As I cycle down the street, I suddenly see a girl fall. Concerned, I quickly park my cycle and rush over to her. Her knees are bleeding. “Are you okay?” I ask gently as she looks up at me, eyes brimming with tears. “No,” she whispers, before bursting into sobs. “Wait, let me take a look at your wound,” I say softly, kneeling down to examine her knees. “Can you walk?” I ask, watching her try. “No,” she says again, struggling to stand. Seeing her in pain, I offer her my hand. “I'm Oliver, and you are—?” “I’m—” “Sir? Excuse me, sir?” I blink and open my eyes to find a flight attendant standing in front of me. “Sir, we’ve landed,” she informs me kindly. “Oh, okay,” I reply, still half-lost in the dream as I grab my luggage and step off the plane. While booking a cab, my phone rings—it’s my mom. “Hello, Mom.” “Hello, Oliver! Did you reach the airport?” “Yeah, I’m just sitting in the cab right now,” I say as I settle in. “I’m so happy you’re finally coming back after so many years.” “Yes… ten years.” “I can’t believe it’s been that long.” “I know, right? Anyway, I’ll talk to you later—my phone’s almost dead.” “Oh, okay then. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.” “Yeah, okay. Bye, Mom.” I hang up and lean my head back on the seat, closing my eyes. “Sir, mind if I ask you something?” the cab driver says as we drive. “Sure, go ahead.” “You’re going home after ten years? That’s a long time.” “Hehe, I know, right?” “My parents would never let me stay away for so long. How did yours allow it?” “Well, when I was fifteen, I moved to Portland for higher studies. I stayed there with my grandparents and aunt. And now… I’m finally back in L.A. after ten years.” “Oh, so your parents must have visited often?” “No… they never came. Not even once.” “What? Really? Why?” “I guess… because they don’t have a good relationship with my aunt.” “Oh…” “Yeah. But my sister, Chloe—she used to visit me every three months.” “Oh wow. You know, every family has some kind of drama. Even mine does, haha.” “You’re right.” “We’re here, sir.” “Oh, thank you—and keep the change,” I say, handing him the money. “Thank you, sir,” he says cheerfully before driving off. I walk up to the front door and knock. It opens, and there she is—my mom. “My son… Oliver!” she says as she pulls me into a tight hug. Suddenly, my sister comes running and throws her arms around me too. “I missed you so so so much, Oliver!” “I missed you more, Chloe,” I say with a laugh. “How have you been, bro?” she asks. “Chloe, let him come inside first. He must be tired—it’s not like he’s leaving again,” Mom scolds lovingly. “Yeah, come in! I made your favorite—cheese pasta!” “Aww, thank you so much, Chloe. I brought gifts for you—I’ll give them after I unpack.” “Hehe, yay! Thank you, Oliver!” As I step inside, I glance around. This house… it’s where I learned to walk, to talk, to read. My childhood lives in these walls. I step into my old room and feel a wave of nostalgia crash over me. Everything is just as I left it when I was fifteen—the superhero posters, action figures on the desk, comic books on the shelf, my Iron Man bedsheet. I sit on the bed, finally feeling at home again. After changing into comfortable clothes, I begin unpacking. Chloe walks in and hugs me from behind. “I missed you so much, Oliver.” “I missed you too, little sis. Now come sit here and see what I’ve brought for you—I know that’s what you’re waiting for,” I tease. “Hehe, you already know!” she giggles. “Of course, I’m your brother,” I say, handing her dresses, makeup, snacks, and a brand-new pair of headphones. “Oh my God! Thank you SO much, Oliver!” Chloe exclaims, hugging me tightly. “I love you so so so much. You’re the best!” “Hehe, you’re welcome.” “But how did you know exactly what I wanted? Especially the headphones?” “I’m your brother, remember? I know everything. And I saw how much you struggled during our video calls—you kept telling me you couldn’t hear me every two minutes. So, I got you these. Do you like them?” “Like them? I love them! This is my new favorite thing ever!” “I’m glad,” I say with a smile. “I’m gonna go show Mom!” Chloe says, running out excitedly. Left alone in my room, I look around and slowly open the cupboard. My eyes scan over pieces of my teenage life—my astronaut nightdress, old coloring books, pencil boxes, slime-making kits, DIY crafts I made when I was fourteen. And then—I see it. “My old phone!” I gasp, pulling it out. “This was my first phone ever. I wonder if it still works…” “I kept it safe all these years,” Mom says softly as she walks in and sits beside me. “I missed you, Oliver,” she says, wrapping me in a hug. “I missed you too, Mom… but why didn’t you come visit me?” “You already know the answer to that. Your aunt and I never got along. It would’ve been… a disaster if I had come. Are you angry with me?” “No… I’m not mad. I just… missed you a lot.” “I’m glad to hear that. I’m not letting you go anywhere again.” “And I’m not leaving anymore,” I promise. “Oh! Here—Chloe made your favorite cheese pasta.” “It’s really good,” I say, taking a bite. Later, I turn my phone back on, the screen flickering to life. Nostalgia floods me as I scroll through old photos, apps, and games. Then—I find something. A photo of me on my cycle. I zoom in. There’s a girl in the background, standing at a distance. “Wait… is that…?” I whisper. It’s the same girl from the dream I had on the plane. The one I helped after she fell off her cycle. “This is… really weird,” I mumble, turning off the phone. Next day After getting dressed and eating breakfast, I’m just sitting on the couch when Mom comes up to me. “Aww, my son is looking so handsome,” she says, hugging me tight. “Lol, Mom…” “If you’re getting bored, maybe go to the nearby café? Grab a coffee?” “Okay, I’ll be back in a while,” I say, heading out.