She stared, unmoving, for what felt like minutes—maybe longer. The air in the room felt heavy, like a presence she couldn’t shake. Something tugged at her chest as her eyes traced the familiar curve of the balcony railing, the vines curling delicately over the edge. It had always been her favorite spot, the place she would go to think, to escape.
A faint whisper escaped her lips, almost too quiet to hear. “I want to walk.”
Leticia turned her head, a soft smile touching her lips. “No, that’s all right, Elena. I think I’d like to go alone.”
Elena nodded, and with a soft "Very well, Miss."
Leticia made her way toward the door, still barefoot, her footsteps slow and deliberate as if testing the floor beneath her feet. She paused at the threshold, her hand resting on the polished wood of the doorframe, and glanced back at the room. Everything felt... too real.
Too vivid.
As she stepped into the hallway, her brow furrowed slightly as she scanned the familiar furniture, the familiar paintings on the walls, and the faint scent of lavender still lingering in the air. Every piece was where it should be, down to the tiniest detail. It felt... wrong.
Why is this dream so detailed?
The question lingered in her mind like a stubborn shadow.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
She sighed softly, brushing away the nagging thoughts in her mind. If this was a dream, it was better to go along with it. What difference did it make?
As Leticia walked down the stairs, the familiar surroundings began to blur in her mind, and she felt an odd sense of detachment. Just then, a voice broke through the haze, calling her name. “Leticia!”
She turned back, her heart quickening as she spotted her brother, Sebastian, striding toward her in a royal knight uniform. He was tall and broad, just as a knight should be, his presence commanding yet familiar. “Brother!” she mumbled, her voice soft and distant.
Sebastian’s expression was serious, yet a hint of concern flickered in his eyes. He stopped in front of her, his gaze intense. “Why are you out like this?” he asked, his tone firm but laced with worry.
Leticia blinks slowly, trying to make sense of Sebastian’s words. “I was just walking. I didn’t think I was doing anything... bad.” She looked at him, confusion swirling in her hollow gaze. “Is that wrong?”
Sebastian’s eyes widened slightly, shocked by her response. It felt as if she genuinely believed she had done something wrong. The realization hit him hard, and he sighed, his voice softening. “I mean, why are you out barefoot?”
Leticia glanced down at her bare feet, the coolness of the floor suddenly registering. “Barefoot?” she echoed, almost bewildered.
At that moment, Elena came rushing down the hallway, her expression frantic. “Miss! You cannot go barefoot!” she exclaimed, holding out a pair of slippers.
Elena stopped and huffed. Sebastian glanced at Elena, his frustration palpable. “Give me,” he commanded.
Elena looked puzzled. “What?”
“The slippers! Give me,” Sebastian insisted, his gaze unwavering.
With a slight hesitation, Elena handed the slippers over. Sebastian kneeled in front of Leticia, positioning the slippers before her. “The ground is cold. You could get sick like this."
After saying that, he stood up and walked away, leaving the words hanging in the air. As he walked away, a sudden memory hit Leticia like a wave, transporting her back to a sunny day from her childhood.
***
Flashback Scene,
She was five years old, and her brother, then ten, came running toward her with a bright smile. “Leticia! I have decided!” he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Leticia blinked at him, tilting her head in curiosity. “What, brother?”
Sebastian pulled out his wooden sword, brandishing it with a fierce grin. “I will be the greatest knight of the kingdom and protect you!”
Leticia’s heart swelled with pride and joy. She smiled brightly, her little hands clasped together. “Then I can walk around freely, right?”
Sebastian nodded, a proud look on his face, his chest puffed out with determination. “Of course! I’ll always be there to keep you safe.”
Back to Present,
***
The scene shifted back to the present, the warmth of the memory fading into a chilling reality. Leticia stood there, watching her brother walk away, the distance between them feeling insurmountable. She whispered softly, her voice trembling, “You don’t need to protect me any longer, brother. Since I no longer exist.”
Her hollow gaze lingered on the spot from where he had walked away, her heart aching with each passing moment. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, a painful realization that clung to her like a shadow. It felt as though she was untethered, drifting in a world that was becoming increasingly distant and surreal.
As Leticia’s eyes landed on the slippers, a faint memory flickered in her mind—her brother’s words echoing softly: “The floor is cold. You could get sick.”
A sudden realization hit her. She could feel an icy sensation radiating through her soles, sharp and undeniable. She paused, staring down at her feet, the sudden awareness crashing over her like a wave.
Wait a minute.
A flicker of panic ignited within her.
The floor is cold.
She could actually feel it.
But how is that possible? she thought, her eyes wide with panic. Isn’t this a dream? or... or an illusion or afterlife?
Just then, Elena, who had been standing beside her, looked over with concern. “Miss? Are you alright?”
Leticia turned her gaze to Elena, her heart racing. “Elena, what… what’s the year?”
“Why are you asking that, Miss?” Elena replied, a hint of confusion crossing her face.
Panic surged within Leticia as she felt a tightening in her chest. She looked at Elena, desperation spilling over. “I asked what’s the year, Elena!”
Elena’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden urgency in Leticia’s voice. “It’s the 482nd year, Miss.”
The words hit Leticia like a physical blow. The 482nd year? A wave of disbelief washed over her. This can’t be right. It can’t be. She staggered back slightly, her mind racing to comprehend the implications.
Seeing Leticia panic, Elena’s worry deepened. “Miss, are you okay?” she asked again, her voice tinged with concern.
Leticia shook her head, confusion swirling in her mind.
I don’t understand what’s happening. I… I traveled back in time? How is that even possible?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine, a mixture of disbelief and dread washing over her.
Elena’s eyes widened, and she took a step back, her panic escalating. “I—I’m calling the Duke,” she said, her voice trembling as she turned to leave.
“Leave me alone!” Leticia shouted, the words spilling out with an urgency she couldn’t contain.
“But, Miss—” Elena began, her face pale with concern.
“I want to be alone!” Leticia interrupted, her voice rising again, sharp and filled with a desperate need for solitude. “No one is allowed in my room!”
The declaration hung heavy in the air, a boundary drawn out of fear and confusion. Leticia could feel her heart racing, the panic swirling inside her like a tempest. She didn’t want to face anyone right now; she needed to process everything alone to make sense of the impossible reality she found herself in.
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