Nearly two hours had passed since the rain began.

Yet I remained in the same spot beside the fountain, staring into the water as if the answer might surface again.

The name still echoed in my mind.

Nathan.

It wasn’t the first time I had felt that strange sensation… like brushing against a memory that belonged to me yet felt completely foreign. A thought that appeared for only a second before vanishing into darkness.

Could it be that the memories I lost were being pulled out by certain triggers?

And if so… why now?

Why more frequently than ever before?

Could this case be the key, slowly prying open a door I had thought permanently sealed?

“Camellia!!!”

The scream cut through my thoughts like a blade.

I snapped upright, scanning the square.

A woman was running toward the street, panic written across her face. 

Sarah.

Ahead of her, a small girl chased after a loose dog, the leash dragging behind it.

The animal darted blindly forward—straight toward the intersection.

“Hey!”

My body, frozen for so long, suddenly burst into motion.

I kicked off my heels and sprinted.

“Stop! Hey, stop!”

But the girl ignored me, focusing only on the dog.

The dog froze in the middle of the street, startled by the approaching traffic.

A car barreled toward it, the driver laying on the horn.

The rain-soaked pavement made braking nearly impossible. Tires screeched as the car struggled for traction.

The girl reached the dog first.

She scooped it into her arms, hugging it tightly.

Bracing for the impact.

“Dammit—”

I lunged forward.

At the last possible second, I tackled her sideways, wrapping my arms around her as we slammed onto the pavement.

For a moment, everything blurred.

Adrenaline thundered through my veins.

I forced myself upright, checking the small body in my arms.

The girl clutched the trembling dog tightly.

Behind us, traffic had stopped completely.

“Camellia!”

Sarah rushed forward, dropping beside us.

“Oh my god, are you okay?!”

She helped us both stand while shielding the girl with an umbrella, frantically checking her arms and legs.

“Does anything hurt? Are you okay? Tell me if something’s wrong!”

The girl remained silent.

Her small hand clung tightly to mine, trembling.

Shock.

Understandable after something like that.

I gently patted her head.

“Camellia, right?” I said softly. “Everything’s okay now. You’re safe.”

Her breathing slowly steadied.

“Ms. Ray?”

My hand paused.

I looked up.

Sarah stared at me in disbelief.

“Oh,” I said with a small smile. “Well… what are the odds?”

Her eyes widened.

“Ms. Ray! Your forehead is bleeding! And your arms, your hands, your knees too! Oh my goodness, I need to call an ambulance!”

I glanced down.

My clothes ripped, and thin red lines traced across my arms and legs. Rain washed the blood away almost as quickly as it appeared.

Nothing serious.

The adrenaline dulled most of the pain anyway.

A bystander approached.

“Don’t worry,” they said. “Someone already called the ambulance.”

Right on cue, sirens approached in the distance.

“Can I assume this is your daughter?” I asked.

Sarah nodded, pulling Camellia into her arms.

“Yes. My only child.”

Her voice shook.

“You do not know how terrified I was watching her run into traffic. I don’t even know how to thank you.”

I shook my head.

“There’s nothing to repay. I was simply doing my job.”

I crouched slightly to meet Camellia’s eyes.

“And you,” I added gently, patting her head again. “It was brave to go after your dog, but it was also very dangerous.”

She stared down at the pavement.

“You need to think about how worried your mother must have been, alright?”

She gave me a small nod.

Good enough.

Paramedics rushed toward us.

Camellia escaped with only a few scratches.

Although they still considered my injuries minor, they took longer to clean and bandage.

After answering a few questions from the responding officers, I finally said goodbye.

“Ms. Ray!” Sarah called out suddenly.

I turned.

“I almost forgot,” she said, digging through her purse. “That letter Ms. Pine left for you, I found it. I was planning to call you tomorrow.”

She handed me a small envelope.

I quickly slipped it into my purse, shielding it from the rain.

“Thank you,” I said.

She and Camellia waved goodbye before disappearing into the crowd.

The square was nearly empty now.

I scanned the area for Eric.

Nothing.

Pulling out my phone, I checked the time.

Late.

As I slipped the phone back into my purse, it began buzzing.

Eric.

A small flicker of irritation rose inside me as I answered.

“Sel, hey. I’m so sorry I’m late,” he blurted. “My sister had a panic attack, and then she invited Mia over and—”

“Mia?”

The word slipped out sharper than I intended.

“Yeah—wait, it’s not like that,” he rushed to clarify. “It’s complicated. I’d rather explain it in person.”

He continued, “I can come pick you up, and we’ll go somewhere indoors. It started raining badly.”

I glanced at my reflection in a dark storefront window.

My hair was soaked.

My makeup had long since washed away.

My clothes were torn and damp.

I looked…miserable.

My voice softened.

“Maybe we should just do this another time. I’m going to head home.”

There was a pause.

“Sel,” Eric said gently, “I don’t want to push you if you’re uncomfortable. But I really don’t want tonight to end like this.”

His tone was sincere.

“I feel awful for missing it. Especially since I was the one who invited you.”

Another pause.

“If anything, we could just order pizza and drink some wine at your place. Nothing fancy. Then we’ll reschedule the actual date.”

I hesitated.

Part of me was still embarrassed.

But another part was curious.

And he sounded genuinely remorseful.

“...Alright,” I said finally.

“I’ll send you my address.”