The days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months. Eli drifted through time like a ghost, untethered from the life he once knew. The roar of engines and the adrenaline of the track felt like memories from another world. His phone, once alive with messages and calls, now sat untouched. The name “Serena” haunted every thought, every empty moment.
He is lost.
---
Arietta had stayed close, always in the background. At first, Eli resisted her presence, but eventually, he stopped pushing her away. She brought him food when he forgot to eat, made sure he left his apartment when the walls threatened to close in, and kept silent when he needed it most.
One evening, Arietta found Eli sitting in his garage, staring at his race car. The vibrant red paint had lost its shine, now coated with a thin
