I woke up in a hurry, doesn't know what happened to me before I wake up. Is this normal? I feel a painful tug in my heart, too painful to be normal. I clutch my chest in pain and look around me. it's my place, with its flowery walls and familiar inexpensive scent. I start feeling better. I'm in my house and nothing happened but why is my heart hurting too much? Suddenly, I hear a siren which is odd for such a cosy, serenely neighbourhood I'm living in. Weird. I get up after the former pain subsided and look at my calendar. Right, It's the 15th of March of the year 2020. While looking at the date I remember my task for today.

As I head out for a daily walk, I notice someone. with dark brown hair and gloomy eyes. This person looks at me and I feel my breath get caught up in my throat. I do not know why but his brief eye-contact made my insides shiver up. I try to break the contact but he-

He smiles. A sad smile.

I give him a questionable look and break the contact. After that, I go on with my day.

//

This doesn't stop that day. No. I see you again! Everywhere I go! Are you my stalker? I try to change routes- detour but you are still there.....WHO ARE YOU?

Even when I sobbed quietly late at night at my favourite spot near the river, you were there. Watching my every move from the most exhausting to the most nonchalant. Although it started getting creepy, I felt loved. Being watched over might be the worst scenario but I, love it. As it is, weird, isn't it?

I noticed you everywhere as if you didn't belong to a home. Was all your life me? Was I the main topic in your life? I tried to ignore the nagging feeling in my heart, I tried to ignore your presence but I couldn't help but get a glance of you. You looked sad and lonely, I wondered why? Why did I feel my heartbeats around you increase when I don't even know you?

And little by little, subtle visions started to swim through my memory. I saw someone. A face, a mere one. Nothing too important isn't it? But to my ultimate satisfaction, it was you. But in those blurry scenes, you seemed less sad; lonely. You didn't watch over me too. Are you someone I needed to know? Who are you really?

And little by little, your giggly, bright face starting conquering my everyday thoughts. It became annoying. But I loved it. You looked too beautiful. Were you in any chance someone precious to me? But even after how much I tried, I never remembered you.

Today, you weren't there. I almost panicked but a small part of me felt relieved knowing you weren't there but then I felt a painful tug to my heart. Am I wrong for being relieved about a mere human? Just why am I this infatuated with you? Why do you keep smiling with your stupid face in my memories? Why Do I keep feeling hurt, almost devastated whenever I catch a glimpse of you? Just, tell me who are you, stranger?

Surprisingly, you came again. Although you looked bad, with your unkempt hair that matched your brown beady orbs. Why did I notice that? Your clothes looked dishevelled, almost disgusting as if you climbed directly out of a nasty abyss. But why couldn't I care less about your condition when you reached out to me with your calloused hands? I felt rather intimidated by your intensive gaze. But I smiled, i smiled and for the second time, you did too.

It wasn't a sad smile.

Your pretty lips formed a kind smile that it made you look less intimidating. What was so wrong was how my poor heart starting clenching so hard. I almost choked. Isn't it weird how my body reacts to the most subtle gesture of yours when I don't even know you?

And from that day, you starting appearing more frequently, although still distant. You also started giving me small subtle smiles. I got attached. It's normal for someone as lonely as me, right?

One of my dreams tonight was about you. It was weirdly comforting. I dreamed of you whispering pretty words into my ears, of us playing around while laughing our hearts out. Of us gazing into each other's eyes. Of us crying together after we laughed the day off. I woke up with dried tears on my cheeks. My heart hurt so bad that I wanted to run to you. To hug you like how my dream was. To see you and cry with you over a silent memory.

And the next day, I saw you at that place, gazing at it lovingly. An ugly feeling started to bubble inside of my heart. Are you waiting for your lover? Or perhaps were you in an unreciprocated love. Were you hurt? I kept on gazing at you for hours. I don't know, I lost track. Did I become the stalker now?

But then, I heard your silent prayers. I heard them even though you weren't saying anything. I heard your inner troubles. And I also heard your heart beating for me. Me.

I ran to you, I couldn't wait for more. I ran and ran. Finally, my love was going to thrive. Although I don't even know your name I, love you. And I'm certain of that. My heart only blooms for you. 

"Hey, you," I said, with shiny tears falling from my eyes. I couldn't contain my happy tears. "I love you" And I said it.

My love turned to me with sad, lonely eyes. He seemed unaffected as if he already knew. Did he? "I love you too," and he cried.

He cried and cried. But not happy tears. They were sad tears that rolled down his left eye. It felt painful.

I hugged him. "I love you"

He nodded "I miss you" He whispered the last words as a plea.

His big body engulfed me, he felt so familiar and warm that I couldn't help but bury my face into his shoulder. "I love you so much"

He patted my back "I know" I felt his lips curl into a beautiful smile. Almost choked. As if he got used to my words. But how? Didn't we only meet a while ago?

I pulled back and held his hands. I offered him a kind smile and pulled him with me. To have fun.

//

Our days became connected like this. We would wake up, meet at the top of the hill and spent our days together. It was bliss. He seemed to know everything about me. From the tiniest unimportant detail to my favourite food. I guess he had good observing skills.

Oh, and I learned his name finally. It was a beautiful "Lan" engraved on his neck. He later also explained what it meant. On his arms, there was a small tattoo of an orchid flower and that was the symbol of his name. I fell in love more.

As our days continued, our love deepened. We couldn't help but crave each other's presence. It was as if a nonexistent rope tied us together. Was this fate?

Lan smiled more too. His pretty smiles grew more as the day passed. And one day, he took me on a date to the amusement park. And on others, we went on a road trip, a picnic on the beach and on another we just chatted our worries away. I felt safe and sound with him. He was-

-No

became my everything.

We had no limitations. We laughed and cried together. We spoke about our future dreams and goals. He wanted to be nothing which was unsettling. "Why?" I asked.

He just smiled. "I want to be yours."

That day I cried. He comforted me for the million times with a warm pat. "I love you," he said. "I hope you remember me" He whispered.

I couldn't wish for someone more.

I didn't take his words into consideration. "I love you too" I hugged him back. My wet cheeks were ruining his favourite shirt. But, he didn't mind. I didn't feel myself until when I woke up. Turns out, I dozed off and he carried me.

I got up to look for him. There he was, sitting in the balcony gazing off the stars. I started to head over to him but stopped in my tracks when I heard him sniffle.

"Please, don't leave me," He said.

I was about to hurry when-

-"I love you and I hope you remember me."

I don't get it. Why is he praying about me? Why is he so afraid of losing me. I shrugged and went to hug him.

//

Day by day, he grew sadder. No matter how much I try to make him smile, he doesn't. I started growing sceptical. Was he bored and tired of me? But why? I love him. My heart starting growing sadder too. It hurt so bad.

And on a cold winter day, he invited me to watch the first snowfall. I wore my favourite coat and made myself pretty. When I got out, he was waiting for me with wide arms. I jumped into him and pecked his cheeks. He froze. It was new for us to share more intimate moments other than hugs. But i wanted to. I wanted to feel how my lips would touch his. And how would he, in turn, press me against him. I crave his touch so badly that I dream of it.

But he got tense and pulled off. I felt rejected and hurt but it was fine. I can't do anything without him wanting it too.

After an awkward moment, his warm smile returned back to decorate his face. He held my hands and dragged me into a spot.

It was a beautiful, frosty spot with the rustling of leaves above of us. I looked and was met by a sentimental view of the sky. I smiled and turned my eyes towards him. He had clear skin with ears pierced. His beautiful tattoo decorated his neck too.  

His eyes tingled with unspoken promise while gazing off the sky. And after a moment of me staring at him. The snow started falling and our visions started getting distracted by it. The snowflakes Dancing in front of us. And little by little, it formed a huge layer of snow beneath us.

Our voices were muffled by the occasional giggles of the nearby children. We started playing too. He was extremely skilled in getting my weaker body areas hit. He played with the snow enthusiastically, not caring about the time. We lost track.

As night came, he started getting less energetic but more emotional. I noticed a faint, lone tear decorate his glowing skin but didn't say a word. Maybe he was remembering his family. Or someone dear to him. Was it his lover? Was he in love before? And again, this ugly feeling started clouding my thoughts, making my heart tighten. I have no right to get jealous of a nameless person but I couldn't help but want to be the cause of his smiles as well as tears. It was a selfish thought. But I was his.

And after a while, he turned to face me and called me so slowly. "Love."

I turned to him and hummed a reply.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked.

My cheeks started to heat up. How could he announce this all of a sudden? I couldn't even say a word but managed to nod breathlessly.

He smiled and came closer until we could share the same breath. I gazed into his brown orbs that were glowing under the sunset. He smiled again and brought a hand to caress my cheeks. I couldn't help but lean into the soft touch. His previous calloused hands are now too soft. Like silk. He moved a little more closely. My breath hitched. Finally! This was the moment he takes my lips away. This was the moment I fully belong to him. Lan smiled, a little sadly and said in a faint whisper "I love you" and all I could feel was the weight of his own lips on mine.

And as I was enjoying myself into the kiss, my heart started to clench more painfully. Throbbing loudly. All my past memories came back in a flash. All my memories with Lan flashed over my eyes as we kissed. From all over the centuries, I had always belonged to him. And now, as we kiss, I feel him choke up with tears. And the last thing I remember was "please remember me" before I close my eyes forever.

//

I woke up in an empty place, almost empty without the presence of glass above my head. it smells expensive too. I hold my head from the pain. I feel tears on my cheeks. Where am I? And why am I crying? Why is my heart shouting for someone?

I ignore the throbbing pain and get up, I look up the calendar and Oh it's 15th of March 3020. I'm supposed to work on a new project to sustain life on Mars.

I get out of my glasshouse and head to the garden. It is a sunny day today which wasn't the norm. But then, I notice a mop of dark brown hair appearing from behind my walls. Weird. I wonder if it's a thief, I don't care.

But after an hour, the hair was still there and so was my anxiety. I sigh and go over. I open the door and look to see a stranger gaze over me. He looks surprised. But suddenly he tears up. I look at him shocked. "Who are you, stranger?"

He sniffles and dries his tears with a sad smile. "You can't remember me again."

But weirdly, this stranger had been in my dreams lately.