Myra didn’t know how to react. She couldn't tell whether it was the excitement of receiving a gift or the dread of her early morning dream becoming a reality. She brushed it off as another coincidence—a dream that was….just a dream.

Myra meticulously unwrapped the gift so as not to ruin the wrapping paper. Reading the note, ‘Happy birthday, my love. Wear this tonight,’ made her feel giddy like a child getting her favorite candy.

Small gestures like these made her feel wanted and loved. A signal that her relationship, despite all its ugly parts, was worth all the effort. Veer completed her and she was happy. That’s all that mattered.

As she unwrapped the gift, another note fell in her lap. ‘Red makes you look too sexy. I don’t like seeing other people checking you out. Only look pretty for me.’

Her lips turned into a slight frown, disappointment clearly painting her face.

This wasn’t her usual style. Yet she was grateful.

It wasn’t the first time Veer had said something like this. He always framed it as love, as protection. And she believed him. But why did it feel more like a leash than a gift?

Despite his occasional dismissive demeanor, Veer was a really caring boyfriend. He got her flowers, and gave her random gifts he thought she’d like from his work trips. He also got on well with her family and was good at his job. This was the relationship she had dreamed of all her life. Someone who will complete her, someone who would care for her like no other.

-------

Like any other day, the housekeeper came at 12pm and Myra got busy with housework. “I should prepare lunch…”

Clack. The door shut as the housekeeper left. It was 2pm in the afternoon.

Myra stood in the kitchen, dazed, as boiling pasta water spilled onto the counter. The bubbling sound snapped her out of her dissociation, “F*ck, I almost got burned.”

She sighed as the thoughts of that dream filled her mind, her left eye twitching and her hands awfully sweaty.

Something wasn’t right.

“Is this Deja vu?’ It feels so…real."

She was exhausted from all the thinking, her body screaming for rest. As soon as she lay down on her bed, she drifted off to sleep. It was the most calm she had felt all day.

----

She groaned as the doorbell finally woke her up. Rubbing her eyes, she opened the door to a smiling face.

"Hi! Hope I am not intruding.”

Myra finally registered what was going on.

"My cousin and I just moved in next door and we wanted to invite you to a small housewarming party we are hosting tomorrow."

"I am Noor by the way."

"Hey.... I am Myra. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you as well. We came to your apartment 2 days ago and met Veer. We invited him but he said he won’t be able to attend."

"Yesterday, I saw you standing by the balcony and wondered if you also lived here. I wasn’t sure but decided to drop by anyway."

"Oh, that’s alright. What time is your housewarming party scheduled?"

"It’s tomorrow at 4pm. We’d love to have you guys join us."

"Yes, sure. We’d be there. Thanks for inviting us."

Myra’s hands clutched the door, her eyes following Noor until she was out of sight.

“Hmm, that’s odd….Why didn’t he mention anything about the invite? I could have still gone to the housewarming if he were busy.”

Her eyes darted towards the clock--"Sh*t, I am already late". Veer promised to be home by 7pm.

Another memory popped up in her head.

—

Ding dong!

How’d she know that Veer would be standing at the door with a bouquet of roses in his hand? She didn’t want to open the door. She didn’t want this memory to turn into reality.

Ding dong!

—

Myra slowly moved towards the door, cautious. Veer stood there with a bouquet of roses in his hands.

Her eyes widened with fear, her lips trembling, her throat dry. She was on the verge of crying but held herself back.

"No. This wasn’t just a weird coincidence. I’ve lived this moment before. I knew exactly what he was going to say. But how?"

—

"Hi, baby! How was your day? Here take this, a bouquet of roses for my bouquet of happiness."

“Okay, that was too cheesy.”

—

“Ready for dinner?”

Veer stepped inside without waiting for an answer, disappearing into their bedroom, humming a familiar tune.

Myra stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the flowers, her ears ringing. She didn’t know what was going on anymore. Her head was filled with memories she hadn't experienced before. Yet, they were real.

Her confusion suddenly turned into a realization.

She was repeating the day of her death.