Flashes of last night returned to me in fragments, blurred by alcohol and music. I remembered us dancing, too close, our breaths mingling. His hand on mine, his heartbeat fast against me. We were only a breath away from kissing when suddenly, my phone rang.
The sound cut through everything. I stepped away to answer, though I couldn't remember who had called or what they said. I only remembered Sky coming up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. I tried to push him away, but my body refused—and maybe I didn't want to.
His lips touched mine, soft at first, then urgent. I kissed him back, my hands moving to his neck, feeling his warmth. The passion grew, wild, unstoppable. His hands traced the line of my back as if he were afraid to let go, and my fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer.
We stumbled together, laughing breathlessly between kisses, when the wrong door swung open. But we didn't care. The room swallowed us whole as we tumbled inside. His body pressed against mine, his mouth finding mine again and again. Each kiss was deeper, every touch bolder. His whispers tangled with my name, my laughter breaking between the fire of our lips.
In that moment, nothing else existed—just me, just him, and the wild heat of two people lost in each other. Afterward, I couldn't remember anything clearly. How the night ended, what happened between us—it was all a blur.
⸻
Now, in the morning, the memory returned sharper. The missing piece was my phone call. I searched for my phone and checked my call history. It was my brother who had called me last night.
I dialed him back. He answered instantly.
"Isabella! Where are you? We're still waiting for you. Come home soon. Dad's very injured, and we need you here. He has to talk to you about everything. Just come quickly. Everything's messed up."
My chest tightened. "What happened? Why does Dad need me? Why does he sound like this?"
It was the first time I'd ever heard panic in my brother's voice.
"Okay, brother, I'm coming. Just give me one day—"
"No, Isabella, no! We don't have that much time. You have to come right now. People are already thinking we're weak. Something could happen. You have to guide us because Dad… he is not in a good situation."
My heart stopped. "What do you mean? Is Dad—"
His voice cracked. "He's not well, Isabella. Please. Come now."
I swallowed hard. "Okay. I'm coming."
⸻
When I hung up, Sky was awake, his eyes on me.
"Who was on the phone? What happened? Why do you look so bad?"
I forced my voice to stay steady. "It was my brother. My dad… he had a car accident. I have to go back home."
His face changed instantly, worry flickering across it. "Then I'm going with you. You shouldn't go through this alone."
My chest tightened again. I didn't want him to know the truth—not about who I was, not about what awaited me.
"Sky, no. It's complicated."
But he shook his head. "I don't care. Last night, you saved me. If you think I'm letting you walk away into this alone, you're wrong."
His words burned inside me. A part of me wanted to let him come. To let him in. But I couldn't. Not when I knew what awaited me at home.
"Please," I said softly, forcing a smile. "Just trust me. It's better this way."
But Sky only crossed his arms, stubborn, his jaw set. He looked like a child determined to win, and for a moment, it made me smile.
"Okay, you win," I said. A smile crossed his lips, small and satisfied, but I wasn't sure if he believed me.
⸻
Now, we were at the airport. I booked a ticket for myself—and one for Sky. I looked at him and said, "Can you bring me something to eat? I'm feeling hungry."
From the departure area to the cafeteria was a thirty-minute walk, so he said, "Okay, I'll go."
While he was gone, I grabbed my bags and boarded my private plane, leaving alone. Every step felt heavier as I moved farther from Sky.
I'm sorry, Sky. I can't take you with me to the place I'm going. It's not a peaceful place, and you should be careful. Take care—and I'm sorry. You have to take care of yourself, and I have to go back to my world. I know I'm leaving everything behind. I didn't get my answer or anything else, but it was urgent to go back. I'll come back—not only for Mom, but for you as well.
I leaned back in my seat, looking out the window at the city below. Lights glimmered like scattered stars. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of what awaited me—but also knowing what was waiting for me. The thing I had refused to accept long ago.