A Name from the Past
The name arrived before the memory.
It appeared quietly—unannounced, uninvited—slipping into Daniel’s life through a glowing screen on an ordinary afternoon.
Michelle.
For a moment, the world narrowed.
The room was loud with Layla’s laughter, her small feet pattering across the floor as she chased light spilling from the window. Lala was humming softly in the kitchen, the sound warm and familiar. Life was good. Full. Rooted.
And yet—
That single name loosened something buried.
The Echo of Who He Was
Daniel stared at the message without opening it.
Hi Daniel. I’m not sure if you’ll remember me…
He remembered.
Not because the love had survived—but because the ending had never fully healed.
Michelle was a chapter from before Lala. Before stability. Before Dan
