The universe has its own way of testing every soul within it. Sometimes through loss, sometimes through meetings that are far too brief. Some are tested by love, others by wounds that never truly heal.
Among the millions, even billions of people in existence, none are exempt from fate. Yet, the shape of each trial is always different—sometimes gentle, sometimes cruel. And in the end, everyone is forced to choose: surrender to bitterness, or keep walking even when the road is filled with thorns.
The relationship between Sera and Liam had been going well. It wasn't easy for either of them. There were days filled with arguments, moments of tenderness, and times when one of them had to lower their pride just to keep the other from breaking. Yet through all of it, there was something steady between them—a quiet strength that held them together.
A month passed. That evening, the sky glowed with a golden-orange hue, and the air was damp after a light rain. Sera and Liam walked side by side, heading home after a long day of work. The streets were still alive; shop lights flickered to life one by one, reflecting softly on puddles scattered along the sidewalk.
Sera suddenly stopped when they passed a small antique shop on the corner of the street—a place she had walked by before, yet that evening it felt... different. She stared through the dusty glass window, seeing her reflection overlap with Liam's behind her.
"You okay, Sera?" Liam asked, noticing her hesitation.
"Huh? Yeah." Her eyes stayed on the window. "Do you remember the locket I told you about yesterday?" she asked quietly. Liam nodded, glancing at the shop that seemed to be calling to her.
"Do you want to go in?" he asked carefully.
She didn't answer, but her feet began to move on their own. Her hand reached for the wooden door handle and pushed it open slowly. Liam followed her, unsure but curious.
Ding!!!
The bell above the door chimed softly. The air inside smelled of old wood and candle wax, with a faint hint of dust. Behind a glass counter filled with trinkets and relics stood an old man, smiling in a way that was both kind and unsettling.
"Ah… welcome. You've finally arrived," he said.
Sera and Liam exchanged puzzled looks.
"The destined pair who always find each other—you've met once more," the old man continued, his tone calm yet certain.
"Excuse me, sir… what do you mean?" Liam asked politely, his voice tense.
The old man's eyes lingered on them, as if he could see something beyond the surface. "The dreams you've been having… they're not just dreams. They are fragments of a story from your past lives—memories that remain unfinished."
He reached under the counter and pulled out a crystal orb. At first it looked ordinary, but as the last light of sunset hit it, two tiny red sparks appeared inside, slowly weaving together into delicate strands of light.
Liam stared at it, a heavy feeling rising in his chest. Something deep within him stirred—something he couldn't explain. He wanted to deny it, to laugh it off as nonsense, yet his heart refused. Instead, an ache spread through him, like longing for something lost long ago.
Suddenly, images flashed before his eyes: himself kneeling on the ground, holding the hand of a crying woman, surrounded by blood. He had promised never to leave her, but her face was blurred—only her voice and eyes felt familiar.
The old man smiled knowingly, as if reading their thoughts. "That's the truth. The dreams you see… they're fragments of memories from a life you once lived. Pain, love, promises—they all live on within your souls."
Sera stared at the glowing orb. The two red sparks inside were spinning faster, drawing closer until they merged into one radiant light—a dance of fate that couldn't be undone.
"If that's true… what happened to us before?" Sera's voice trembled, her eyes glistening.
The old man lowered his gaze, his tone now heavy. "Your previous life ended in tragedy. There was betrayal, tears, and blood—born from a love that burned too fiercely. Your souls carried that wound into this life. And if the wound remains unhealed, fate will repeat the same tragedy again."
Liam clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "No. I don't care who I was before. I won't let history repeat itself. I won't let Sera suffer again."
The old man lifted the crystal orb higher. The light refracted across the walls, creating eerie shapes—silhouettes of two figures embracing, fading away into nothing.
"The choice is not yours alone, Liam," he said softly. "Both of you must decide together. But…" his eyes turned to Sera, sharp and unblinking. "Be prepared. What you discover may shake everything you believe—about your love, about who betrayed whom, and about why you are destined to meet again."
The ticking of an old clock echoed through the silent shop. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he added, "My task is done. You will find another guide when the time is right. Decide—will you let it repeat again, or will you make this your final life?"
Silence fell. Then, a warm gust of wind swept through the room. The light from the crystal flared, exploding into thousands of shimmering particles that filled the air. Sera shielded her face with her hands, and Liam instinctively pulled her close, holding her tightly.
When they opened their eyes, the sound of the bell was gone. They stood once more on the city sidewalk, under the fading twilight. But the antique shop… was gone.
Only a blank brick wall remained where it had stood, with an old, nameless sign hanging loosely above it. Sera looked around in confusion, her heart pounding. "Liam… the shop…?"
Liam stared at the empty wall, then at her. "I don't know what that was," he said quietly, "but I'm sure… this is only the beginning."
The evening breeze brushed past them, soft and warm. And though the city noises had returned, somewhere in that air lingered the faint scent of candle wax and old wood—like a whisper from the past, reminding them that their story was far from over.