“I still don’t know what’s truth and what’s lie. Are the things happening in front of me real, or am I hallucinating?” Asahi looked at the wooden shard trembling in his hand, slowly moving it towards his throat and shutting his eyes.

  “TI TI! TI TI!”

  Morning.

  The alarm, the sunlight cracking through the curtains forced asahi to wake up from his dreams.

  “LATE AGAIN!!! SHIT!”. Asahi rolled to his side, hurrying up from the bed, already moving, scavenging from his wardrobe while the voice of his supervisor echoed in his mind- sharp, irritated. Suddenly, his phone rang.

  “TRIII!TRIII!”

  Asahi glanced at the screen; it was his mom. He looked around in frustration, thinking about how good the start of the day it is. Thinking whether to pick it up or not before eventually taking the call.

  “Hello mum” Said asahi while rushing around to somehow get ready on time, even if its too late for that.

  “Good morning son! How are you?” her eyes were trying to find him but he was nowhere to be seen.

  “Where are you sweety?I cant see you.”

  “I’m here.”He said while trying to brush his hair, still not looking at the phone kept on the bed.

  “Asahi?Asahi? Son where are you?

  He grabbed his shirt, pulled it on inside out.

  “Damn it!”He yanked the shirt off on the bed in frustration and picked up the phone.

  “Why do you call me always the wrong time? I have work to do, I have listen to those bastards, you know why?. Cause I’m here in a another country working myself through hell and you always stay at home You don’t understand how hard it is out here.” asahi didn’t even think to pause, he just said whatever came in his mind.

  The expression on his mother’s face changed . There was not even a single word said after that and she hung up. Maybe he just wanted to let out the frustration but they way he talked was not helping even a bit.

  “AUGGHHHHH!” he threw the phone on the bed as hard as he could and when back to get ready.

  The workplace required a formal attire which he pulled as fast as he could, fingers moving faster than his thoughts. Just a couple of things more - laptop, charger, documents. He glanced at the time and he was moving again. He ran down stairs to front door, putting on his socks and shoes. There was a big mirror right beside the main door, he paused in front of it, admiring himself in that suit that fits him well. For a moment he was mesmerized by himself. But then the morning replayed, the way this day started, the way he talked to him mum, everything urged him to throw his stuff and forget about it. His incompetence looking at him through the mirror.

  But could he really do it? Leave everything, drop the job and just exist somewhere? The answer was already know to him, so instead he chose motion over thoughts. Standing here, thinking about the stuff he cannot achieve will just make him suffer more. Its better to run than being swallowed by the thoughts. The commute would eat 20% of his 10 hours shift. But why was he even thinking about all this? Wouldn’t it be better to just keep running to catch to bus? The morning heat clung to him, too hot for this early. Maybe because of the rain yesterday that left the air damp and heavy. The drops of sweat running down his face were the proof of it. He turned the corner and the bus was already there.

  Doors open. People stepping in.

  Between the bus and asahi was a red light.

  “COME ON..”

  The doors shut and the bus gained momentum. He stood there, uneven breath, watching it leave.

  Now was it even worth it going to job? Asahi wiped out his phone and there was no bus for the next 28 mins. It was past 8:30 and he will surely be marked absent for half day. He clenched the phone in his hand as hard as he could but then again, his financial conditions were not for him to take a loss above the loan he already owed. While the his thoughts were clashing in his mind, an old man standing near him at the bus stop was continuously looking at him. At first asahi didn’t pay any mind. Then the old man spoke.

  “Missed bus?” He was panting. The shirt and the pants he was wearing had sweat stains on it. Looks like he ran to catch the bus too but missed. The body posture, the wrinkles were telling that he might be in his 60’s or 70’s but his face was halfway covered with hat big enough to shield him from the harsh sunlight.

  “Yes. I’m late for work.” He tried his best to not show any dissatisfaction in front of old man and tried to keep it professional.

  “Me too! But not for work. I…I was going to see my friends. Its been a while since I have seen them.”

  “Oh…Okay” he seemed rather not interested in whatever the man spoke and just vaguely answered him.

  “You are young. You should not care much about work. If I were you then I would just do whatever my heart desire.”

  “Like the hell you have loan to pay, or rent for a house.” that’s what he wanted to say but still he refrained himself.

  “Yeah, I’ll try.” is all he was able to come up with.

  For the next couple of minutes the old man was just kept on babbling about the things from his youth and what he should have done. And clearly asahi didn’t think much of it. He was again lost in his mind.

  “You are you gonna catch the next bus?” asked the old man.

  “Im thinking, I don’t think booking a cab will take me back in time so I won’t be late.”

  “Then we still have couple of minutes. Why don’t i tell you a story and by the end I’ll ask you a question. You know, just to keep us entertained.”

  “I would love to but I have to call the office that I will be late so why don’t someday later?” said asahi while nervously smiling.

  “We don’t know if we will ever see each other, please just listen to me once. You can text them while I tell you story. I…..I just want to tell someone this story of mine.” his smile was somewhat showing his desperation.

  “Okay, I’ll listen to it. I’ll text my subordinates so go ahead.”

  Asahi opened his phone and started texting his subordinate that he will not be able to make it on time and ask his to cover up until then for him. On the other day the old man started telling the story but asahi kept engaged in the conversation with his subordinate, telling him about how his morning went and now he has to listen to nursery rhymes by a gramps.

  Couple of minutes passed and asahi was still texting on his phone, unaware of what is going on around him.

  “So now the question is, was it truth or was it lie? He was looking up at asahi waiting for an answer but asahi had all his attention in his phone.

  “Young man? Young man?”

  “HUH!!!”

  “I was asking, was it a truth or was it a lie?”

  “Ehhh…” he kept looking at the old man, his eyes wavering in the surrounding, clueless.

  Suddenly a noise diverted his attention towards it. I was the bus, stopped at the bus station. The doors opened, people came out. His eyes looked at the bus and then at the old man.

  “The bus is here. I’ll answer your question later. Why don’t we first get on it.”

  “You go ahead, I still have some time. I’ll catch the next bus.”

  Time? But wasn’t he late to meet his friends? He glanced at his watch.

  7:50 am.

  His mind was started questioning it, many thoughts were clashing with each other.

  But wasn’t it 8:26 when I came to the bus stop?

  Nah, It cant be my watch must have ran out of battery.

  Asahi put his hand in his pocket and took out his phone to check the time but it only left him more confused that before. It showed the exact time as the watch.

  “Hey!! You coming?” the bus driver shouted

  “Ye…Yeah” asahi tapped his bus card, stepped inside still looking at his phone. He looked out the window and the old was standing there. Just watching.

  The bus neared the subway station, but asahi’s mind was still back at the bus stop, replaying that scene over and over in his mind. Must he be half asleep? Or just too tired to notice? Well it didn’t matter cause the he have to get out of the bus and talk the subway to reach his office. But his stomach had other plans. It growled and told asahi that there is something that he is forgetting. And he knows exactly what. There’s nothing that a good coffee with some pastry can’t fix. His footsteps were moving towards his trusted old coffee shop in the station - the cramped little corner with that old lady who never seems to interest in a conversation. Except- it was not there. That small coffee shop has now an indoor sitting with ambient lighting, wooden tables, sweet jazz music and few new faces working in there. Maybe they renovated the place was what he thought in his mind but it doesn’t make any sense as he was here yesterday and there’s no way they could have done it all in a night. And the name, its identity was different. He wiped out his phone and opened the maps.

  Same station, same entrance, same coordinates but the shop wasn’t same.

  A woman, seemed to be in her early twenties, working at the counter noticed asahi standing in front of the shop.

  “Hello, there sir!” she waived while smiling.

  Asahi was not sure about ignoring her so he slowly walked towards the counter.

  “Hey!”

  “How you doing?”

  “I’m good. What bout you?”

  “I’m good too. So, would you take the regular, medium double double with a choco cookie?” said in a cheerful voice.

  His stomach tightened as he remembers that it’s him go to order, Everytime.

  “Yeah, I’ll…take the usual”

  “Coming right up!” she efficiently by picking up a paper cup and went ahead with preparing the order. Within seconds the order was on the counter.

  “That’ll be $5.67.” said the girl while handing over the items.

  “So, you guys renovated?” asahi asked causally while paying up for the order.

  “Renovated? No sir its been like this for over an year?

  “An year? But wasn’t it just a small takeaway stall.”

  “I think you are confusing us with another shop Mr. Asahi.”

  “You know my name?” visibly confused.

  “Ofcourse.” She laughed lightly “You told me yourself maybe 2 months ago? And you were here yesterday too.”

  There was no way for a girl asahi just saw first time in his life knew his name which according her he told her over two months ago.

  “But..”

  “I’m sorry sir but there are a lot of people in the line. Maybe we can talk later?” She cut before he could ask anything more.

  “Yeah…..Yeah, let’s talk sometime else.” he grabbed his order and and let the person behind him go ahead.

  “Have a good day” said the girl while smiling.

  “Good day to you too.”He walked away, scanning the room to find even one familiar thing but not even a single thing came to recognition. But then again, was he suppose to kept arguing about the cafe? No. So he chose to went and sit inside the subway, sipping from his cup of coffee and taking a bit out of the cookie. The subway started.

  “ Next stop, Bloordale.”

  Just few more stops before his destination. The journey felt normal just for once. But not for long. The subway stop at the next station, doors opened, people boarded on. A couple walked in and spotted him immediately. Their faces lit up. They came towards him.

  “Hey man, good morning to you!” the man spoke first

  “Good morning asahi.” the woman next to him was next.

  Asahi looked at their faces, all cheerful and friendly.

  “Good morning guys, how are you two doing?” even though he has never seen them but he chose to play along.

  “We are good too. Going to the office?” asked the man leaning against a pole.

  “Yeah, just like every single day.”

  “Ah..cheer up. You’ll come along.”

  The conversation kept going back and forth about small things, plans they made and asahi kept responding vaguely, playing along before his station arrived.

  “It was good to see you guys. Maybe let’s talk again over a cup of coffee.”

  “Sure, why not.” They waived each other good bye and the subway was again in motion.

  Again the same thing, thought asahi. Never seen the faces but surprisingly they knew a lot about him and he knew nothing about him. It all felt dream like. It has to be it. Not too long after he came in front of his office’s building and he came to conclusion that it’s a dream. Lucid dream. That’s was the only viable option right now.

  The doors opened. Morning was as usual, people clocking in, seated in the common area having their morning coffee, casual chatter. Asahi followed his daily routine, clocked in, took an escalator to his work area. His coworker whom he texted about being late, was already at his.

  “Morning man, somehow made it to work on time.” asahi intiated the conversation.

  “Good morning. Its good thing that you are on time.”

  “Yeah, didn’t want another point from that supervisor. I already got 5 points. Btw, you did you tell anybody about me being late ?”

  “Points?” his coworker seemed visibly confused.

  “For being late?”

  “Why would the supervisor give you points?

  “Whatchu mean? Why do you think the supervisor won’t say anything, I thought you might have told him about the text I sent you.”

  “First of all I didn’t receive any text from you and second, why would supervisor have more authority than the manager?”

  “What” asahi looked at his coworker seriously and then rushed towards his desk. The desk where he used to work, now occupied by somebody else.

  He rushed towards the manager’s office. The door was unlocked, inside there was a name plate on the table. Mr.Asahi.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  He took out his phone, there were missed calls from an unknown number. He the conversation log and there was no text from him to his coworker explaining about his late arrival.

  “Good morning boss.” A pleasant voice greeted him from behind, he slowly turned around. Every single cell of his body was trying it best not to tremble after what he witness right before his eyes.

  “Hey? I said good morning”

  “Go..Good morning, Yuki.” standing in front of him was his first love, one-sided to be exact. Someone he cherish more than anyone, someone who he left behind 5 years ago. Now standing in front of him.

  “Why do you look so pale?” She came closer to him. The trembling, the sweat buildup on his forehead was know to peak her interest.

  “You don’t look so good”

  “I….” the trembling made him stop him sentence.

  “I had fever last night, its just im not feeling so good.”

  “You should have taken the day off then. You didn’t you pick up my calls and told me?”

  “Calls?”

  “Yeah calls, I gave you several missed calls. Atleast should have texted me.”

  “Yeah, ahh.. sorry about that. My phone was at silent.”

  “Took medicine?” yuki seemed visibly worried.

  “Yeah I did. I’m feeling a lot better too. But a little uneasyness.”

  “Why don’t you take a day off then?”

  “It’s okay. I’ll be all good by the afternoon”

  “As you wish.” yuki gave up asking “ Just don’t make me worried like that.”

  Worried?

  “I’ll see you by lunch break. Take care and let me know if the fever worsen” She walked out of the office entrance leaving asahi was messed up in his mind. His breathing was even now, he sat on the chair and took out his phone. The missed calls were not unknow anymore, the contact was saved as Yuki. He surfed through his call logs, yuki was there on almost every single date. The chats, the photos, the recordings, none of them were there early this morning, so why now? Is he forgetting things? Is he still in a dream?

  The food was served, shiny cutlery reflecting the light from above, rain pouring down could be seen from the huge glass window on the left. Chatter everywhere, laughter, plates clinking.

  And Yuki, sitting right in front of him, talking, smiling, eating. The morning hit like a truck, clothes still wet from all that efforts to wake himself up.

  “You don’t wanna eat?”

  Asahi glanced towards her. He picked up the spoon while gently smiling. He couldn’t taste the food.

  “Good thing you chose to rest and leave the work on the supervisor.”

  “Yeah, I thought it would be a better choice.”

  “Let’s take half day today?”

  “Why?” asahi inquired.

  “You ask to many questions! Let me cook for you, you don’t seem to enjoy this restaurant’s food.”

  “There’s no need for it. I just don’t have an appetite.”

  Yuki stared at him. “Homemade food is the best when you are sick. Let’s just ago to your place right now.”

  “Okay.” He opened his mouth to deny her but the word that came out of his mouth wanted something else.

  Yuki went ahead to pack up her things while asahi waited in the common sitting area with his bag in his hand. All that brainstorming didn’t even help a bit about the logic behind all this. If it is a dream then he will wake up by anytime. Yuki joined him at the stairs and both of them went out of his building.

  “Let’s stop at the grocery store first. I need to pick up some ingredients.”

  Asahi nodded.

  The streets were not as lively as the evenings but still there were so many faces. The grocery store was exactly the same.He followed her silently, basket in his hand. Yuki kept on talking about the stuff she was gonna make while putting items in the basket. Checked out, paid and then walked towards the subway station. Around 2:30 in the afternoon and there was not even a single seat for them. Standing next to a pole, too close to yuki, asahi hesitated but then slowly reached for her hand. She noticed, he got scared and tried to yank away his hand but she held it firmly. At that moment, the noises faded, asahi tasted something sweeter than honey for the first time. The touch that melted his mind away, the warmth in his chest wanted him to stay.

  “If this is a dream then I may not wake up from this anytime sooner.” the words echoed in his mind.

  The cafe was more lively compared to the morning. More new faces to identify. The hour of commute dissolved without resistance. His hand held someone else’s warmth. A couple of people were standing at bus stop, asahi couldn’t help himself. His eyes started wondering around, trying to find a familiar face.

  The sun hung low, birds cut across bleeding sky, the clouds painted red. If everything were to end here, he would not complain. House was the same, overflowing trashbins, the big scratch on the garage . Yuki slid the key into the front door lock but nothing could surprise him anymore. The doors creeked open. The darkness filled the inside. His hands moved towards the switch.

  FLICK

  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!”

  Light exploded.

  Asahi’s mind dropped into a dark trench, -empty, bottomless. The palms felt sweaty, the heart ready to burst out of his chest, his eyes jumping from one face to another. Loud cheers overshadowed his heavy breathing.

  One after another familiar face, his mom, his dad, his sister all standing in front of him. His friends from work, including his supervisor had whistles and ballons in their hands. And his dead friend, cheering the hardest.

  The cheerings slowed down a bit. His mom came to him. Her hands held gently against him cheek, the smile on her face was brighter than anything he saw today.

  “Happy birthday to my handsome son. May the god fulfill your every desire.”

  She kissed his forehead.

  “Thanks…..mom”

  “Come on now, its time to cut the cake.” He still remembers his friend’s voice.

  A hand held him arm, yuki was standing on his left, holding him close. The living room was filled with all type of decorative items. Every one had a birthday cape on. His sister brought him one and put in on. His friends brought the cake and carefully kept it on the table.

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASAHI

  8 JULY 2000.

  The candles shaped 28 flickered.

  He was twenty-five.

  And today was Feb 23rd 2026.

  Yuki gave a knife in his hand, her hand held his firmly. They bowed down a little, slicing the cake.

  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!”

  He looked at her, she was already looking up at him. Smiling.

  Yuki sliced a little piece and picked it up.

  “Many Many returns of the day. Let’s keep celebrating more till the day death aparts us.”

  His hands took the piece from her hand.

  “Yeah”

  His mom and dad were next.

  “Happy birthday to you son. We are grateful to have a son like you.”

  “Happy birthday brother.” his sister rubbed some cake on his face.

  His friends took their turns in messing his face with cake.

  “Another year to our friendship.” Asahi rubbed some cake on his dead friend’s face, slowly, while looking at him. All the words in his mind but none on his tongue.

  “Okay everyone! Bring your plates.” His dad started slicing the cake in many portions. His sister brought some savoury pastries from the kitchen. Everyone stood in a line, waiting for their turn. Asahi slowly walked to the mirror near the front door. Looking at him, all covered in cake, a birthday cone on his head. He turned his head towards the living room. Everyone was enjoying their meal. Everyone so happy, except him.

  He looked back at the mirror.

  The reflection stared back.

  Clean face.

  No cake.

  No hat.

  The glass reflected the empty hallway.

  No lights.

  No voices.

  No family or friends.

  His breath stuttered.

  Won’t form a word.

  Asahi rushed towards the living room. His eyes scanned every corner .

  Nothing was there.

  “Hey!!”

  Silence swallowed the words.

  “Where are you?!”

  A low rumble from upstairs.

  His legs moved before he could think, rushing towards his room on the second floor. He slammed the door open.

  An old man, standing there with a photo frame trembling in his hand.They locked eyes. Recognition stuck asahi first.

  The bus stop.

  The morning light.

  The same old face.

  But the expressions of the old man?

  His jaw hung open, trying to say something but too stunned to say it. His eyes wide as they could get, the wrinkles tightened. He stood there like a mannequin, looking at asahi.

  “You!! What are you doing in my room?” asahi demanded answer.

  Even though asahi was sure that it’s the same old man, something about him was unsettling. His skin was dull, the face full off wrinkles. The old man leaned more forward. His clothes were shabby and his body trembling.

  “You deaf? Is this all because of you? Ever since I met you-”

  He stood there near the entrance, all guard up and suddenly the old man spoke.

  “You….”

  “What?”

  “How? Why?”

  “What you mean why?”

  The frame slipped from his hand.

  Asahi’s gaze quickly shifted towards the frame as it fell.

  The glass shattered into many pieces. And when he looked back up, there was no one standing there. Asahi found himself standing in a broken down, old room. It sure was his room but nothing more than ruins.

  The broken wood pieces shattered across the floor.

  Rot swallowed walls.

  Mold visible through cracks.

  The ceiling sagged.

  His heartbeat felt silent.

  Suddenly

  “Thud…”

  A noise from downstairs.

  Asahi froze.

  He spotted a shard wooden shard laying aroung in the debris. He picked it up and slowly moved down he stairs.

  The noise probably came from the living room.

  He quickly turned towards the living room.

  “Shhhh…”

  “Quite. You will wake her up.”

  Yuki was sitting on the couch with a child in her lap.

  Trying to put the child to sleep.

  The house smelled warm. Clean

  The soft lamp light. Toys on the floor

  “Don’t just stand there.” She smiled “Your turn now.”

  His heart stuttered.

  He stepped forward-

  A voice from left.

  Asahi turned.

  “You are fired.”

  The house vanished.

  Florescent lights above his head.

  He stood in his manager’s office.

  “We have valid reasons to fire you.”

  The manager slid paperwork across the table.

  Asahi looked down towards the paper.

  Sand.

  Wind.

  Salt in air.

  “Hey!! Come here quickly.”

  Asahi found himself on a beach.

  Yuki stood beneath a striped beach umbrella, one child leaning against her leg. Farther out, two small figures chased each other through the foaming waves.

  Waiving. Laughing.

  The Ocean glittering.

  He ran towards them.

  A powerful punch hit him in the face. He dropped down on the floor.

  Boots slammed in his ribs.

  “You cunt!! You son of a bitch!!!”

  Pain in his whole body.

  He curled-

  “Hey…Hey….! You alright sweety?”

  Soft blanket. Dark room and yuki beside him.

  Her fingers gently rubbing in his hair.

  “Was it a nightmare again?”

  He could feel her warm breath against his neck.

  “Come here.”

  She embraced him tightly.

  He held her too.

  “Hey wake up!!”

  Asahi found himself sitting on concrete floor.

  Some type of military camp. Dozens of people packed together like pigs.

  A guy standing in front of him was handing him a package.

  “Here’s food for today.”

  Asahi reached to grab it-

  Ametal tray splintered.

  Wood shards on floor.

  Rot and mold covered walls.

  Silence.

  He stood there in the broken house again. Hand extended but only the wooden shard in his hand.

  “AH…………!”

  The scene tore out of him.

  He dropped on his knees, hands digging into his scalp.

  “Shittttttt…..!!”

  A hand touched his shoulder.

  He looked up.

  Yuki was standing in front of him again.

  Sunlight, Smoke from the grill. Laughter.

  He could see his friends and family there.

  Children running around with toys in there hands.

  Her mouth was moving but asahi heard nothing. He was saying something too but not even a single word was audible.

  Yuki knelt in front of him.

  She smiled, gently rubbed her hand across his hair and said something.

  She grabbed his arm and slowly pulled him towards the grill.

  And

  Silence.

  Back to the rot.

  To the cold.

  Silence again.

  He stood there in front the shattered pieces of mirror near the entrance.

  The reflection stared back.

  Wooden shard in his hand.

  He was not sure if the things he witnessed were true or his mind was playing games with him. He slowly turned the jagged tip of the wooden shard near his neck.

  “I’m gonna wake up from this. I sure will.”

  He was determined. He closed his eyes.

  The sharp point against his neck.

  Other hand ready drive it in.

  “Nooo……”

  A heavy voice shook the walls.

  His eyes snapped open.

  The old man stumbled down the stairs.

  Terrified expressions on his old face.

  “Stand back there.”

  Asahi quickly pointed the shard towards him.

  “Do not come close to me!”

  “I’ll fucking drive this through your heart.”

  His hands were now trembling.

  “Please listen to me!” the old man plead, trying to make asahi listen to his reasoning.

  “Are you behind all this?” asahi demanded answers.

  “ I don’t know what is happening and how?”

  “ What do you mean? Then why are you here if there’s nothing to do with you.” his voice was cracking.

  “Asahi!” A voice came from the living room.

  Both of them stared towards the room.

  Yuki was standing there, calling him.

  His friends, his family.

  Eating cake. The decoration was back.

  Yuki was inviting him to join them.

  The expressions of old man turned soft. He looked at asahi.

  “Go”

  “They are waiting for you.”

  Asahi looked at the old man, shard still raised towards him. He noticed something with the side eye.

  A movement.

  Yuki walked towards him as nothing else existed. As if the old man was not on the stairs. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him.

  “Are you not happy with the surprise?” she asked softly.

  Asahi just stood there.

  “Talk to her!” old man pleaded.

  “You know if you won’t tell me then I won’t know.”

  “She’s there, everything you wanted!”

  Yuki rested her cheek against his chest and looked towards the mirror.

  “I wish the time stops here, just like this. Both of us close to each other.”

  Asahi glanced at the mirror. She was there. He was there.

  “Do you remember?” he said quietly “Our last year in college? I bought you a gift.”

  She smiled instantly. “Yeah I do.”

  “What was in it?”

  “It was a ring.” yuki hugged him tighter.

  He gently took her wrists and eased them away. She looked at him with confusion.

  “I never gave it to you.”

  Silence.

  “I didn’t have the courage to give it to you.”

  Her smile faltered.

  “Is this a joke? I’ve kept that ring with me this whole time.”

  He shook his head.

  “I’ve left you behind five years ago. You left me behind five years ago.”

  She just stared at him, not knowing what to say.

  Asahi looked at them together one last time in the mirror and started walking towards the main door. The old man took a step forward.

  “Hey, where you going??HEY!!” old man started shouting.

  “The are here. All you wanted. All you loved.” tears started rolling from his eyes, his knees buckled. He collapsed near the stairs.Yuki stood there, watching as asahi opened the door.

  Cold air rushed in.

  “You have to come back! Please” one last look back before he closed the door.

  The street was ordinary.

  Cars passing. People walking. Dog barking in a distant. The sunlight was sinking behind the buildings.

  Asahi stood there for a long moment.

  He took out his phone, face-timed his mom. The bell rang. Each ring tightened his chest.

  CLICK

  Her face appeared on the screen, didn’t say anything. Just kept looking at him.

  “I’m sorry for the morning mom.” tears slid down his face.

  “I shouldn’t have talked to you like that.”

  The sky darkened. The moonlight lit the street. The world continued as it always did.

  The Acceptance

  Yuki rested her cheek against his chest and looked towards the mirror.

  “I wish the time stops here, just like this. Both of us close to each other.”

  Asahi glanced at the mirror. She was there. He was there.

  “Do you remember?” he said quietly “Our last year in college? I bought you a gift.”

  She smiled instantly. “Yeah I do.”

  “What was in it?”

  “It was a ring.” yuki hugged him tighter.

  He gently took her wrists and eased them away. She looked at him with confusion.

  “I never gave it to you.”

  Silence.

  “I didn’t have the courage to give it to you.”

  “Yeah I know dummy.”

  “You gave it to your friend because of that.”

  A flicker in his mind.

  “Seriously, who gives a women’s ring to a man?

  “Then why does you have it?” his thoughts scrambled.

  “Cause your friend gave it to me on your behalf.” She studied his face. “You really forgot it?”

  He searched his memory.

  Suddenly a voice.

  “Could you two please join us or have you planned on spending your evening like that?” his friend stood in the hallway, grinning.

  “Come now, Let’s continue your celebration.”

  She grabbed his arm and slowly pulled him towards the living room.

  “Yeah, I remember know. I saw the ring on her finger the next day” he murmured to himself.

  How could I forget ?

  They joined the celebration.

  Laughter filled the house. Music playing.

  Asahi poured drinks with Yota. From the staircase the old man watched. A faint smile across his face. Then he turned and went upstairs.

  Years passed. Asahi married yuki. They had three kids- one daughter, two boys. He started his own logistics company with the savings they both scraped together. They grow with each other.

  They planned a family trip to a beach. Asahi went to grab drinks and food while yuki set up with the kids. When he came back he saw yuki beneath a striped beach umbrella, one child leaning against her leg. Farther out, two small figures chased each other through the foaming waves.

  Waiving. Laughing.

  The Ocean glittering.

  Something felt off. Like He had stood here before.

  “Hey!! Come here quickly.”

  Her voice woke him up. He smiled and ran to join them.

  Years rolled forward.

  There kids grew into teenagers, preparing for college.

  Life became structered for all of them.

  Asahi kept working on his logistics business while yuki opened up her own clothing brand. Every night they gather at the dinner table. The parents prepare the food and the kids set the table.

  The nights were quieter. Soft blanket. Dark room and yuki beside him.

  “Hey…Hey….! You alright sweety?”

  Her fingers gently rubbing in his hair.

  “Was it a nightmare again?”

  It has been happening for sometimes that he was not able to sleep comfortably. Those scenes woke his up at night. Scenes of him living in a military camp or getting in fights at bars.

  “Come here.”

  He could feel her warm breath against his neck. She embraced him tightly.

  He held her too.

  Time passed by a blink of an eye. All of their children grew upto be capable individuals. The daughter joined her father to expand the company along with one of her brother. And the youngest of them all went to help his mother out.

  They married. Started their own family.

  Once a week they do get-together with their families and friends at their parent’s house.

  Food filled tables.

  Drinks flowed freely.

  Laughter spilled into the evening air.

  While the children busied themselfves with work and responsibilities, asahi and yuki embraced their quiet retirement rhythm- afternoon with their grandchildren, slow mornings.

  It was everything he wanted

  yet-

  Something felt missing.

  A quiet pressure in his chest, an absense he couldn’t name.

  One such evening he felt the same pressure in his chest, out of breath. He sat down on a chair with his head down trying to figure out what the feeling.

  A hand touched his shoulder.

  He looked up.

  Yuki was standing in front of him again.

  Sunlight, Smoke from the grill. Laughter.

  He could see his friends and family there.

  Children running around with toys in there hands.

  “Not feeling well?” even aging was not able to hide her beauty.

  “Idk, I feel like I’m forgetting something. Something that will take all this away from me.”

  Yuki knelt in front of him.

  She smiled, gently rubbed her hand across his hair.

  “If it’s something that will take all this away then it’s not worth remembering.”

  “Come on! Your kids want to spend their evening with their dad.”

  She grabbed his arm and slowly pulled him towards the grill.

  It was another evening.

  Asahi came home from after a heavy day helping out with neighbourhood work. A large mirror stood across from the front door catching him as he stepped inside and removed his shoes.

  He noticed couple pairs of small slippers sat neatly on the racks.

  He smiled

  He straightened his back and looked at himself in the mirror.

  Older. Worn but accomplished.

  Then something clicked in his head. A flicker of his memory standing in a suit, admiring himself just like today.

  But after that?

  Blank.

  “Kids, I’m home!” he called out.

  Couple of children ran down the staircase and wrapped their hands around him.

  “Grandpa”

  He laughed and lifting one slightly off the ground.

  “Oh! I don’t see jake and samantha here.” he said casually.

  The kids looked at each other.

  Yuki came down.

  “Jake and samantha?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Those two, where are they?”

  “Who are those?” her expressions didn’t change.

  Something inside him shifted as he has remembered some blurred things. The room felt slightly tilted.

  “I’m tired.” he muttered “I wanna go sleep.” he walked past them and went to his room.

  An unease weight settled in his stomach.

  The next morning he reached across the bed.

  Empty.

  “yuki?”

  But no response.

  He went and put on his slippers, tried to find her.

  Kitchen.

  Bathroom.

  Backyard.

  But she was nowhere to be seen. He stood in the living room, heart beating faster.

  From the corner of his eye he noticed something.

  There was a huge family picture in the living room.

  Gone.

  He stepped closer, just a clear patch of paint.

  He searched his entire house.

  Drawers. Cabinets. Wardrobes. Walls.

  There were no pictures.His clothes were hung neatly in the wardrobe but not even a single thing of her.

  No jewellery. Not dresses. No nothing.

  His breath quickened.

  He ran down. Grabbed his hat, shoved his feet in the shoes, and bolted outside.

  He ran through the neighborhood towards his children’s houses. He rang the doorbell for the first one.

  Someone else opened the door.

  One after another stranger.

  Then memory struck. Something like going in hurry to a bus stop. He ran towards it.

  A bus was pulling away as he arrived. Through the departing window he saw something.

  Himself.

  Younger.

  Standing on the other side of street, watching at the bus left.

  Earlier he thought that he might be mistaken but as he crossed the road and step closer-

  The face.

  The Posture.

  The eyes.

  It was really him. He remembers now.