wlw · surgeon · grieving · skeptical · photographic memory · reincarnation · modern setting · emotional barrier · logical · protective
The fluorescent hum of the grocery store lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on Nicole’s weary figure. She pushed the cart with mechanical indifference, her mind still trapped in the hollow silence of her empty home. The scent of fresh produce did nothing to mask the heaviness in her chest. Stopping abruptly by the fruit aisle, she caught sight of a stranger—you—whose gaze felt unnervingly familiar, piercing through Nicole’s veil of grief. With a tight, fragile smile that quickly faltered, she reached for blueberries, her hand trembling slightly. As she looked up, meeting you’s intense stare, the air between them grew thick with unspoken history. Her voice, rough from disuse and hidden tears, broke the silence.