Elena Garcia woke up at her usual time, prepared breakfast, and packed lunch boxes for her children.

As she worked on the food, she looked at the empty seat where Bian usually sat.

She glanced up at the clock and asked her other children, 

"Hasn't Bian woken up yet?”

“Don't know, Mom.” 

Vivian responded to her mother.

Completing the final lunch box, Elena made her way to Bian's room.

Bian was never late for breakfast.

Sometimes she even woke up before everyone else.

Is she unwell?

When Elena reached Bian's room, she turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

"Bian, wake up, or you're going to be late for…”

Elena assumed Bian was still asleep, but Bian was already almost ready for the day.

She stepped closer and asked, 

“Are you okay? Why are you running late today?”

Bian looked at her mother and replied, 

“I just overslept, Mom.” 

Elena observed her closely. She noticed Bian lacked the usual energy she had in the morning. 

"You seem a bit tired. Did you not get any sleep last night?”

"I'm still feeling sleepy, Mom."

"If you're ready, come downstairs.”

Elena's gaze flickered over Bian's face once more before she turned to leave the room. 

Bian turned back and looked at the mirror. Her expression was unchanged as she examined her reflection.

Everything appeared as it always did, yet when her gaze met her own eyes, her expression changed into one of dissatisfaction.

Bian placed her hand on the mirror.

"These aren't Bian's eyes. These things shouldn't be here, at least for now."

Bian's eyes lacked vitality, expression, and feeling.

They were filled with emptiness and numbness, indicating a state of deep regret.

Sigh…

"How's Bian?"

As Bian uttered those words, a shadow slithered across the mirror's surface.

{She is sleeping.}

"How long will it take for her to wake up?"

{Very soon. You pulled her before things got dirty.}

"I wanted to do that earlier. But…"

{Child, don't be hard on yourself. Whatever happens will happen. None of us can change that.}

“...”

{Just do what Bian usually does. That time still hasn't come for her to remember anything. Not yet.}

With those cryptic words, the shadow vanished from the mirror, leaving behind an eerie silence in the room.

Bian left her room and went down to the dining room.

After she caught a glance at her siblings, a bitter smile came to her lips—a smile full of guilt.

Bian clenched her hand and took her place at the table.

When the driver called, Bian didn't waste a second leaving home.

As Bian sat on the bus, she closed her eyes as if waiting for this very moment.

****************

“Sis, wake up. Sis.”

I was abruptly awakened by a voice.

As I opened my eyes, a sense of déjà vu hit me, as if something like this had happened before.

I blinked, looked outside, and was taken aback.

“We are in front of the school!?”

“Why are you saying it like you are supposed to be somewhere else?”

The students laughed at what I said.

I didn't say anything to them and got off the bus.

My head was throbbing with a dull ache.

I leaned against the side of the school gate and massaged my forehead.

Lost in a haze of bewilderment, I found myself in a cloud of confusion; my thoughts were all over the place, as if caught in a whirlwind.

I remember that last night, the shadows didn't torment me in my dream.

It was the first time I had a quiet dream in my home.

I also remember having a conversation with Mom earlier this morning with someone else…

Snap…

“Ugh… this headache.”

Wait, did I really speak with Mom?

I think I saw her this morning. 

She was talking with... ugh..

What did we talk about?

A shiver trailed down my spine as fear slowly infiltrated my mind and emotions, tightening its grip on the fragile threads of my memories.

A sudden touch on my head jolted me back to reality. 

When I looked up, I found Jia staring at me with a furrowed expression.

“What are you doing in the middle of nowhere?”

Her voice was laced with anger.

“Why are you angry?”

I became perplexed by her behavior and asked her, but my question seemed to only stoke the flames of her anger.

“I asked you first. What are you doing?”

Flustered, I attempted to cool her down by answering as fast as possible.

"A…alright, let's take a breath. I was just trying to recall if I had chatted with my mom.”

“Why are you thinking of that here?” 

“I just…” 

“Do you need to think about that now?” 

However, she started questioning me one after another without allowing me a moment to collect my thoughts.

It's futile to speak another word. Even thousands of words won't reach her now.

I don't know what made her angry, but Jia is the scariest when she gets angry. 

So, the safest option is to stay silent.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? What's with the sudden silence?”

Yet, it doesn't seem like she'll let me choose that; staying silent is now out of the question, too.

I must be crazy for thinking of stupid things out of nowhere.

"I did have a chat with my mom. I was pondering what we were talk... W..wait, no, I... I mean, I wasn't thinking about anything.”

I hastily corrected myself after seeing her fiery expression.

Jia didn't say anything and signaled for me to walk forward.

Flustered, I started walking without saying anything further.

But seriously, what made her so angry?

Buzz..

After taking a few steps, I heard some buzzing sounds behind me.

Just as I was about to glance back, Jia held my hand tightly and walked forward. I wanted to ask her if she had heard anything.

"Don't say a word. Let's just keep moving. We're going to be late for homeroom.”

Jia had a grim expression, and it stopped me from saying anything.

As we arrived in front of our classroom, she loosened her grip considerably.

"You go on ahead. I'll join you inside in a bit.”

Observing her unusual display of intense emotions, I held back my words and walked into the classroom.

It's rare for Jia to show extreme emotions like this. She entered the classroom as I settled into my seat.

Her expression looked much better, as if nothing had happened a few minutes ago.

Sigh…

***************

The weather carried a crisp chill, but it was not as cold as winter.

Everything around was blooming with vibrant colors of flowers. The weather and the scenery could lift anyone's spirits.

With that energetic spirit, students were introducing themselves to each other. Some of them knew each other from their previous school.

Their laughter and excitement made the classroom more joyful.

However, there was a girl who didn't even look at the other students; her gaze was fixed on the outside.

A fellow student approached her and introduced herself.

“Hi, I'm Ava Bennett, your seatmate.”

The girl didn't bother to look at her seatmate.

“Jianna Windward.”

Her answer showed she had no interest in engaging further.

Feeling awkward, Ava turned to the student in the back seat.

"Hello, I'm Ava Bennett," she greeted them with a gentle smile.

"Hello, I'm Bian Garcia."

When Bian introduced herself, Jianna looked back and stared at her.

Jianna frowned, made a displeased expression, and swiftly redirected her attention ahead.

[And thus, that was how Jia and I first met.]

[Bian Garcia]