Chapter Two

I opened my eyes suddenly, and a strange world lay before me. I couldn’t move, as if my limbs had been paralyzed. A numbness spread through my body, but what worried me the most was the person above me. His golden hair shimmered under the dim light, and beads of sweat slowly trickled down his forehead.

He smiled at me—a strange smile that carried both calmness and concern. Placing his warm hand on my forehead, he spoke in a reassuring tone:

“Move your lips…”

Then, he gently extended his finger toward my lips, as if testing me. I struggled to respond, to move. My body felt unbearably heavy, but I managed to part my lips slightly. Relief filled his features, as if he had received an answer he had been desperately waiting for.

“Your senses have returned,” he said reassuringly as he slowly withdrew his hand.

The surrounding machines began disconnecting from me, one by one, as if they had been tethering me to a world not my own. Looking around, I found myself in a room adorned with plush toys, dolls, and scattered flowers. The place felt like a stage for a lost childhood, yet it was entirely unfamiliar.

I wasn’t alone for long. The door opened, and a man and a woman entered—both appearing to belong to a completely different world.

The man, in his fifties, was of average height and dressed in an elegantly classic style. His refined attire was somewhat old-fashioned but meticulously arranged. His silver eyes gleamed with a mix of sternness and sympathy, and despite the lines of age on his face, he remained strikingly handsome.

The woman appeared younger, perhaps in her forties. Her brown hair was neatly styled, with delicate bangs brushing against the side of her face. Her blue eyes were as clear as a cloudless sky, and her skin was flawlessly smooth. She wore a simple, unadorned dress—modest yet graceful in an understated way.

Their eyes brimmed with conflicting emotions: sorrow and joy, fear and hope.

The woman cautiously approached me and sat beside me. She cupped my face in her trembling hands, staring at me as if trying to confirm that I was real.

“Aurora… my darling!”

Her voice overflowed with emotion, and tears began streaming from her eyes. She embraced me tightly, as if afraid I would slip away.

“Thank goodness… I missed you so much. I thought I had lost you forever!”

I couldn’t respond. I remained silent, overwhelmed. The emotions surging within me were too vast to comprehend.

The Father’s Words

The man, who seemed more composed, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and said,

“Elinor, give her some time. She doesn’t remember anything right now.”

The woman looked at him in shock before pleading,

“But I miss her… I just want to be sure she’s really here.”

He replied in a voice filled with quiet wisdom,

“Don’t worry, her memories will return. Let’s help her remember gradually.”

Then, he turned to me with a kind smile and said,

“I am Osman Valeska, and this is your name, my little one. You are our daughter, Aurora Valeska.”

The world spun around me. Who am I? Is that truly my name? The words stuck in my throat, and I couldn’t speak.

Placing his hand gently over mine, he spoke encouragingly,

“Don’t be afraid. Take your time to regain your memories. For now, just rest.”

Then, he suggested to the woman,

“Why don’t you prepare her favorite dish? It might help her remember.”

The woman smiled gratefully and hurried out of the room with newfound enthusiasm. He remained seated beside me for a moment, gently cupping my cheek as he whispered,

“Rest now, you’re still exhausted.”

He pulled the blanket over me, kissed my forehead like a father showering his child with love, and then quietly left the room.

A Stranger in the Mirror

I was left alone, burdened with confusion and countless questions. Who am I? Where am I? My anxious gaze swept across the room until it landed on a mirror in the corner. Slowly, I stood up, my legs trembling under the weight of my body.

I stepped toward the mirror and saw a reflection I did not recognize. Hesitantly, I reached out to touch my face, as if trying to confirm that I was real. My rosy cheeks were soft, like those of a delicate doll, and my features were eerily flawless. I pinched my cheek gently, but the sting confirmed that this was not a dream.

Then, I slapped myself hard. The sharp pain made me jolt, a small cry escaping my lips.

“This is real…”

I stared at the mirror again and whispered,

“Calm down, Yeonbi… What is happening here?”

And then, like a faint glimmer of light breaking through the darkness, the truth seeped into my mind.

I am not Aurora Valeska.

I am Yeonbi. I was living an ordinary life as a nurse, spending my days at work and escaping into the world of novels in my spare time.

But now… my soul resides in a stranger’s body.

I recalled my favorite novel, You Are Mine—the story I adored and reread countless times. A chill ran through me.

Am I inside the novel?

The Doctor’s Arrival

As I was drowning in my thoughts, the door creaked open, and the golden-haired young man from earlier entered. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with striking features and a faint, reassuring smile.

“How are you feeling?” he asked in a calm voice.

I tried to steady myself and replied weakly,

“Are you the doctor?”

He smiled and answered,

“Yes, I am Kyle Strathmore, the family physician.”

Another wave of shock hit me. Kyle Strathmore! He was one of the characters in the novel—the one I pitied the most. He was the third party, the man whose heart was shattered because of the heroine.

My heart pounded violently.

“Am I… inside the novel?”

As I struggled to comprehend the situation, Kyle approached me, carefully taking my hand as he began adjusting the IV drip.

“Don’t worry, this will be quick,” he reassured me with a gentle smile before securing the adhesive tape over the needle.

“Rest now, Miss Aurora.”

But I was no longer Aurora… I was Yeonbi, trapped in a world I never imagined becoming part of.

As he injected a sedative into the IV, drowsiness overtook me. Exhaustion weighed me down, and my eyes slowly drifted shut. The last thing I saw was his comforting smile before my thoughts dissolved into darkness.

Kyle watched as Aurora fell asleep, silently observing her delicate features. She resembled a beautifully crafted doll, carefully placed on a shelf.

“Poor thing…” he murmured under his breath, his fingers lightly brushing her forehead.

Noticing the faint red mark on her cheek, he sighed softly. With gentle fingertips, he traced the spot as an unspoken wish for her recovery flickered in his eyes.

Then, he quietly left the room, hoping she would heal soon.