โค๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ 17: ๐ป๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐ โค๏ธ
495 Words
The room fell into complete silence.
Aria stared at Ethan in disbelief.
"There has to be a mistake."
Ethan slowly shook his head.
"The forensic team repeated the test three times."
"The results never changed."
Aria's voice trembled.
"I've never seen that ring before."
Adrian looked at her.
"I believe you."
She turned to him, surprised.
"You... do?"
He nodded.
"If you were hiding something, you wouldn't look this frightened."
For the first time that day, Aria felt a small sense of relief.
At least Adrian trusted her.
---
Later that afternoon...
Adrian drove Aria to her mother's apartment.
Neither of them spoke during the journey.
The silence between them was heavy.
As they arrived, Mrs. Collins welcomed them with a warm smile.
"I'm glad you're both here."
She noticed the worried expressions on their faces.
"What happened?"
Aria sat beside her mother and gently took her hand.
"Mom... have we ever known the Knight family?"
Mrs. Collins froze.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
"Why are you asking that?"
Adrian noticed the change in her expression.
"You know something."
Mrs. Collins lowered her eyes.
"There are some memories..."
"...I prayed would never return."
---
She stood up and walked toward an old wooden cabinet.
From the bottom drawer, she pulled out a faded photo album covered in dust.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside were photographs taken years ago.
Birthday parties.
Family picnics.
Children laughing together.
Then...
A single photograph slipped onto the floor.
Aria picked it up.
Her breath caught.
The picture showed two little boys standing beside a young girl.
One of the boys was Adrian.
The other was Damien.
And the little girl...
Looked exactly like Aria.
"No..."
She whispered.
"That can't be me."
Mrs. Collins closed her eyes.
"It is."
Tears filled Aria's eyes.
"You mean..."
"I knew Adrian and Damien when we were children?"
Mrs. Collins nodded slowly.
"You three were inseparable."
---
Adrian stared at the photograph.
Pieces of his childhood began flooding back.
A little girl laughing in a garden.
A silver ring she loved to play with.
A promise they made beneath a large oak tree.
His heartbeat quickened.
"I remember..."
Aria looked at him.
"What do you remember?"
Adrian smiled sadly.
"You always said..."
"'No matter how much we grow up, we'll always find our way back to each other.'"
Aria's head suddenly throbbed.
A sharp pain shot through her temples.
Flashes of forgotten memories appeared before her eyes.
Children laughing...
Someone crying...
A house on fire...
A man shoutingโ
"Run, Aria!"
She screamed and collapsed to the floor.
"Aria!" Adrian shouted, catching her before she hit the ground.
She clutched her head tightly.
"I... I remember..."
Before she could finish...
The lights inside the apartment suddenly went out.
Everything was swallowed by darkness.
Then...
A familiar voice echoed from outside.
"Looks like her memories are finally returning."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Damien..."
The voice laughed.
"No..."
"It isn't Damien."
โก๏ธ ๐ป๐ ๐ฉ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
... โก๏ธ
- Writer
