Chapter 26: If I were your boyfriend...
The place looked huge—no, beyond huge—like an entire country had sunk into the earth.
The ground had caved in like a meteor had crashed down with unimaginable force, tearing the land apart.
Under the dark sky, scattered with glimmering stars, the vast crater sparkled with eerie beauty. The sharp contrast between the stillness of the stars above and the silent destruction below... it was breathtaking. Strange and surreal. [Imgincmt]
Leo slowly stepped forward, drawn toward the rusted bridge rail. His eyes wandered across the pit, and his fingers tightened into a fist over the cold metal. The wind gently brushed against his face, carrying with it a weirdly nostalgic chill.
"This place..." he whispered, voice rough, like the words dragged up from somewhere deep inside.
"This is the place... You always used to come with your parents," Raphael said softly as she walked up beside him.
"They said you loved it here. Always insisted on visiting. It was beautiful, wasn’t it? Like... magical. That’s why I brought you here. Maybe... maybe it’ll help you remember something?" Her lips curled in a hopeful smile, but her eyes flickered with worry, searching his face for any sign of recognition.
Leo let out a low hum and shook his head slowly. "I’m not sure..." he muttered under his breath.
Raphael’s faint smile faltered, her hope quietly crumbling. She sighed softly, folding her arms. "Well... it’ll take time, I guess. I shouldn’t rush it."
Leo gave a small nod. Somewhere inside, he wasn’t even sure if remembering was the right thing. He was in a different body.
Maybe some memories just weren’t meant to return.