During class that morning, James couldn't stop daydreaming about last night while staring at the board.

Professor Harrison was going on about Reynolds numbers and laminar flow, but James wasn't paying attention. When he finally looked at his notebook, he was surprised to find it covered in sketches of pine trees and mountains.

He had drawn them without even realizing it. 

"Mate, are you alright?" 

James looked up, to see Dev watching him with concern. Dev set aside his own notebook, and sneaked a peak at James’s sketches. James snapped his notebook shut in a hurry.

"Yeah, fine. Just exhausted, couldn't sleep last night. "

"You always seem tired," Dev said, eyeing James curiously. "But today you're really spaced out. Why aren't you taking notes? And why the doodles?"

James shrugged casually, "It's nothing, just feeling a bit bored." 

Not wanting more questions from Dev, James quickly changed the topic. "Hey, I finished my assignment! How's yours coming along?"

Dev raised an eyebrow. "You mean the one that's not due until next week?"

Shit...."Yeah, well. Wanted to get ahead."

"James." Dev looked at him seriously, "Look, I know you're going for a first and everything, but you're pushing yourself way too hard. You should really take some time off."

"I do take time off!"

"Getting some sleep or eating between study sessions doesn’t really count as time off."

 

James thought about arguing but stopped himself. Dev was right; it has been ages since he last hung out with friends or enjoyed a movie—doing anything that wasn’t linked to school or his job.

"Holidays are around the corner," he said finally. "I'll catch up on rest then."

Though Dev seemed skeptical, he decided not to press further and went back to his notes. Meanwhile, James struggled to concentrate on the lecture.

After all his classes were over, as James's left the building to head to the library, his friends waiting outside, Dev, Sophie, and Marcus, cornered him, looking at him apprehensively.

"Okay, it's intervention time," Sophie announced, with her arms crossed. "You look incrediblely fatigued, James. What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on. I'm just—"

"If you say 'busy with assignments', I'm going to scream," Marcus interrupted. "We're all swamped with assignments, but you're the best in our class! If anyone can afford to ease up a bit, it's definitely you."

"Seriously, mate," Dev added. "You keep this up, you're going to burn out before finals. Or worse end up sick."

Hey guys, take it easy," James said holding up his hands to calm them down. "I get it, you're worried and I really appreciate it. But seriously, I'm okay—just a tough night, that’s all. Promise I'll catch up on sleep tonight." 

Though they did not appear entirely convinced, but what could they do? They couldn't exactly force him to rest.

Deep down, James knew he might not keep that promise.

The Tube ride back to  Hammersmith passed in a blur. His cozy one-bedroom flat, on the second floor, was a perfect blend of Victorian elegance and modern style.

Once back home, James settled into his routine. For dinner, he warmed up some leftover curry and rice from yesterday, eating it while standing at the counter because sitting felt like too much effort. After cleaning up and making some coffee, he settled on the couch with a book on his lap to study. 

Despite his best efforts to focus, his thoughts wandered to the enigmatic Cascade Mountains.

Maybe if he closed his eyes for a bit, he'd find some peace.

The room was warm and snug.

James closed his eyes.

Just for a minute.....

Suddenly James found himself standing in an unknown forest surrounded by trees so tall they seemed to touch the sky. As he reached out to touch one, it felt incredibly real. He took a deep breath, the air was crisp and refreshing.

Above him, visible through the gaps in the dense canopy, millions of stars were scattered across the sky in an unimaginable splendor. He was mesmerised by it's beauty. 

It was the most breathtaking sight James had ever witnessed. 

He lost track of time just standing there, admiring the scenery. 

Then he saw them.

The eyes.

A pair of golden, luminous eyes glowing in the darkness between the trees. Unblinking and intense, watching him from the shadows about fifty meters away.

James should have been terrified. 

But he wasn't. Instead, he felt... drawn. He had a strange feeling like those eyes were not stranger to him.

"Hello?" He spoke steadier than he expected. "Who's there?"

The eyes didn't move.

He took a step forward. The eyes retreated, maintaining the same distance.

Another step. They backed away again.

"Wait," James called out, "Please, I just want to—"

He recognized, in an inexplicable way, the loneliness and sorrow in those eyes. The weight of those emotions struck him forcefully, like a blow to the chest.

"Please don't be sad," James whispered.

The wind picked up, leaves started swirling around him. The eyes flickered for a moment.

James took another step forward.

Just then, the eyes disappeared.

"No, wait—!"

Suddenly the forest started fading. 

The last thing he heard, right before eveything dissolved completely, was a sound that could have been a wolf's howl or may be someone calling his name.

James jolted awake to find himself sleeping on the couch, his textbook had fallen on the floor, and his coffee sat untouched.

His heart was racing and his hands were shaking.

Why did that unfamiliar forest felt more like home than any place he had ever been?

James wanted to know.